War Vet Lounge

Seamaiden · Mar 18, 2013

I need to thank the original poster, lazarus718, for starting this thread. It led directly to me reconnecting with my old friends.

Seamaiden · Mar 31, 2013

Bump-a-lump. Happy resurrection day!

I think this is the best forum to ask about a new treatment I've been told about for PTSD called EMDR.

What is EMDR?

EMDR therapy is recognized as an effective form of trauma treatment in numerous practice guidelines worldwide. In the US, this includes organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and Department of Defense. More than twenty randomized studies support the effectiveness of the therapy in the treatment of PTSD. Further, more than twenty randomized studies have demonstrated positive effects of the eye movements. Click here to see an annotated list of guidelines and studies.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)1 is a comprehensive, integrative psychotherapy approach. It contains elements of many effective psychotherapies in structured protocols that are designed to maximize treatment effects. These include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies2.
EMDR psychotherapy is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach to address the experiential contributors of a wide range of pathologies. It attends to the past experiences that have set the groundwork for pathology, the current situations that trigger dysfunctional emotions, beliefs and sensations, and the positive experience needed to enhance future adaptive behaviors and mental health.

So, basically, if I can find a practitioner, they'll be sacking me out like I used to sack out horses when saddle training them. This plus a recent arrest may prove helpful for me, and this treatment may be helpful for others.

I sure would like to know where our vet-farmers are and how y'all are doing. :)

GanjaAL · Mar 31, 2013

Happy Easter Lady! I am here and well getting ready to start my garden. Some days are good some days are bad... but I have a great support system, was given some great coping skills and I have my safe place.... my home. These I think are key to helping me and know you are not alone. PTSD is a bitch.... but together we can overcome!

Seamaiden · Mar 31, 2013

I have a good support system, too, but our counselor isn't trained in the EMDR stuff yet, so she can't help me with it.

It's been difficult dealing with the panic episodes when certain things occur. I'm not accustomed to not being able to conquer my fears, I AM the "Get the fuck back on that horse and RIDE IT, motherfucker!" girl. I remember one time when I was a kid, my pony threw me and just beat the shit out of me. What do you think I did? I got back up on that little bitch and held on tighter, that's what I did. I was afraid of sharks, I mean really stupidly afraid, so I learned to scuba and force myself to look. Afraid of eating it on a motorcycle, so I got my endorsement and my own bike and conquered that fear.

But, how do you get over the fear of being attacked? Those are the new coping skills I need, because I'm not going to stage another attack to help me get over my fear. Since it happened here at home, that's made being at home really difficult for me.

That's where, I think, vets may be helpful to people like myself, because I learned that there are a LOT of farmers who've suffered violent attacks, of course we have lots who are vets and as a group, we can help each other, educate each other, and lean on each other.

I will overcome it. I will.

GanjaAL · Mar 31, 2013

You never get over it... that is what you have to accept. The only thing you can do is be prepared and do your best not to let it happen again. Self defense classes, security, weapons training, ect. I know this is not part of our culture in this community but.... bad people are bad people and no amount of wishing it away will change that. Fear is the killer and causes my agression as my dealings are with horrid thoughts of doing harm to those who seek to do my family harm..... also, my counseling was faith based and I was lucky to find her.

Fear can enslave you or you can control it and use it to your advantage. Hope this helps lady. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Oh.... I almost forgot.... YOu have to choose not to be a victim. That is not a will of the mind but being prepared and vigilant about your souroundings.

Seamaiden · Mar 31, 2013

Absolutely it does, it helps a great deal. Thank you.

GanjaAL · Mar 31, 2013

Not sure where you are at and what your finances are like but in the day and age we live in... there are more and more classes on this subject.

blazer · Mar 31, 2013

Well sea a 45 makes me feel better,does not fix problem,but most people will hit soft targets(unarmed or less armed)they want to take path of least resistance,human nature,not sure if you guys pack or not. Prolonged exsposure therapy can maybe help they make you relive traumatic episode as much as possible to desensitize you to the experience,also there is congitive process thinking,i think thats what its called helps you think in steps so you can figure out your triggers, still working on it all myself still ,prob forever ,but atleast with a piece can potentially save your lifes in my experience.gives me some control back I guess until they take away guns from people with ptsd looks closer and closer.

lone420ranger · Apr 1, 2013

Just a question to toss out for my bros out there...the VA Psychiatrists (2 of them) have diagnosed me with PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, mainly of the Depression end.

The pain clinic in Ann Arbor put me on morphein and Methadone for pain about 4-5 years ago for bad pain (Degenerative Disc Disease and really bad arthritis in my knees).

I absolutely love smokin' herb and started while in Vietnam (1968).

Anyway, my current Psychiatrist has me on several anti-depressants and mood stabilizers which have definately helped pull me out of the black hole i was in. But I have still been smoking on and off. The problem is, the Psychiatrist is ADAMANT that i give up weed, telling me the anti-depressants and mood stabilizers will not be able to do their jobs to the fullest unless i give up weed. She even referred me to a shitload of papers in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the AMA concerning the negative effect of using weed and other recreational drugs while taking the drugs the Drs give me.

I can't stand being around people ...any kind of loud noise freak me out...i do not drive my car any more...i'm not happy any more...

If the Dr gives me a drug screen, the VA will cut off my pain meds. I take them as directed and they work...better than weed alone works.

I don't know what to do.

Any advice? Any of you face this dilemma?

Seamaiden · Apr 2, 2013

I thought the VA had instructed their docs to stop that crap. I know we've had farmers and I've read many other growers in the past years who complained of this exact problem, but I could have sworn the VA had instructed docs to stop in med states. I'll have to look around to see if I can dig up the story.

I've got arthritis going much stronger after an injury, and I've started taking glucosamine and it has helped a great deal. My right foot doesn't hurt like it used to, and the knees aren't constantly aching. Strenuous activity puts a hurtin' on me, but it's not as bad as before I was taking it.

Ok, off to see if I can dig up that story.

Seamaiden · Apr 2, 2013

Oh my goodness. So, the doc may be acting within the allowable spectrum. Can you get a new doctor, or can you present her with information that suggests/shows the opposite?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/health/policy/24veterans.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

GanjaAL · Apr 2, 2013

I personally stay away from the VA at this time as I am unsure what they will use against me on the matter. They are funded by the fed so I can see them siding with them and not the state.

GanjaAL · Apr 13, 2013

Well my friends... I am having a very rough day. Almost done with my revamp but I am way off today and could not finish. Trying to spend some time with the family and hope that helps. Not a good day for me. PLease keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Seamaiden · Apr 14, 2013

How are you doing today, Ganja? May whatever the rough bit is pass with a quickness. Prayers and love, my friend.

GanjaAL · Apr 14, 2013

Better. Spent the rest of the night with the family and watched the fights on TV. Thanks lady.

Seamaiden · Apr 22, 2013

Mornin' folks. :)

blazer · Apr 24, 2013

GoodMorning sea!

Seamaiden · Jan 14, 2014

I've gotta bump this thread again. I miss the vets we had here, am wondering about how you all are doing and, well, you all have been on my mind is all.

New members, I'm sure we've got at least a couple of vets here, yeah? This thread's for you.

Drifting13 · Jan 14, 2014

TY for bumping this Seamaider. :DDidn't know there was a vet thread here. :cool:
I'm an USAF vet 1976 to 1980. Just started my dry-out period today. I'm 6 weeks away from my VA Dr. visit that has full blood & urine work ups. Twice a year I gotta go through this shit to protect my pain management.
Looking forward to hearing from all the other vets here on the Farm...

boo · Jan 14, 2014

thanks for all you guys and ladies have and continue to do for us...we all know freedom isn't free but many our brothers and sister still to this day pay the price...I've been lucky to have been picked up by the wounded warrior foundation, they're helping me deal with a few issues and are just great folks...I give back what I can with my service dog Dutch...folks love to just be near him, is that too much to ask...

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