Depression, anxiety, and insomnia. How would i let BH health know how hard it is for me to perform my military duties everyday?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:48:08 -0400

I feel like I’m not getting anywhere with my depression and anxiety and with everything that has happened over the last few years while in service has really taken a toll mentally on me, I have been seeing BH but they keep saying I’ll get better. But i feel like the longer that I’m in the worse it’ll get just not happy with anything anymore. I can’t request to get a chapter 5-17. Idk what else to do.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 17 at 2022 12:44 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:44:33 -0400

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2022 3:38 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 15:38:04 -0400

My opinion:
In the Army are you allowed to talk to the clinic patient advocate, clinic supervisor or head psychologist/psychiatrist or whoever is in charge when you think that you are not getting proper care? If you are able to do so this would be the time to do it. Also, pursue your own chain of command senior enlisted/First Sergeant, XO or even the chaplain to be an advocate on your behalf? In my past life I spent much time in conversation with the clinic's enlisted supervisor regarding various ongoing personnel cases,
If it gets to the point where you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others you need to call 911.
I wish you the best.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 17 at 2022 4:06 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 16:06:04 -0400

Go to the post emergency room. Tell them you are need a lot of help and how miserable you feel. That should get the ball rolling. Keep me informed.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 17 at 2022 4:08 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 16:08:57 -0400

I wrote a PTSD Paper that had helped many. Would you like to read it?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Aug 17 at 2022 11:17 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 23:17:03 -0400

Do you have a treating psychiatrist and/or psychologist? If no, get one. A series of intake appointments ain't gonna cut it. You need actual TREATMENT. If yes, and they are not helping, ask for a new one. Yes, you have that right.

Is your Chain of Command aware? It isn't right, but it is true: Often times a Command Referral gets more action than a self referral. If no one at the clinic is taking you seriously, talk to your Commander and ask him/her to either call over and "fix" them (preferred) or officially refer you (may have long-term consequences, so think before you act.)

Are you currently prescribed anything? If no, maybe it is time to explore meds? If yes, do you actually take it as prescribed? (Not a judgment - I, myself, am HORRIBLE about taking my meds.) If yes, maybe it is time to look at changing medicines and/or dosages.

Bottom line, get help. And get BETTER help.

In the meantime, talk with Chappy and your Master Resilience Trainer. Both should be able to provide you with some coping tools / skills. May not be able to get you "better" but they can at least keep your head above water.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 18 at 2022 7:33 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 07:33:19 -0400

One, seek a higher level of support. You are in a position that allows for excrement care if you seek it out. The emergency room is a good idea, you then have to open up to treatment. Think about leaving the service without being validated, then think about seeking care and building your health portfolio while in familiar territory.

You then work toward VA acknowledgement ensuring mental health care as soon as you transition, whatever that looks like.

You don’t want to get out flat footed. So, work toward treatment and possibly enjoy the military, or prove your case and receive the care and benefits due.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 18 at 2022 12:18 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 12:18:53 -0400

Mental Health issues take time. If you feel your need's aren't being addressed speak to your leadership, chaplain, Primary Mental Health Provider, Patient Advocate and you can escalate within Mental Health if you feel you aren't being assisted correctly. If you ever feel overwhelmed head to the ER and let them know what you are dealing with and experiencing. You can't self initiate a chapter but that's a good thing. Just use Medical and this could potentially lead to a med board instead of a chapter which is what you want in the long run. Just hitting the ejector seat seems like a quick solution but you want to get this stuff documented and processed correctly

Response by Bethina Lee made Jul 10 at 2024 12:12 AM

Bethina Lee — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:12:42 -0400

This is a tough one, I was diagnosed with CPTSD, the meds suck at first because you don't want to take them; it takes approx 3 weeks to 130 days for them to be effective and to have any noticeable mental/emotional change. But also you have to find a doc that actually know wth they are prescribing. I have met service members & vets that the meds prescribed actually are counterproductive to each other. Lots of medical research at NIMH, New England Journal of Medicine, Hopkins, Brown, Yale, Duke, Mayo, etc they have published studies online. Please also educate yourself on the different meds, their function, their carrying methods & chemicals, side affects, etc..all this information is available online.
This is a HUGE help to retired Vets & Active Military..previous military You Tube, he is excellent, very relatable and gives tons and tons of good advice.
He is a former member of SEAL TEAM 3

https://youtube.com/@jockopodcastofficial?si=l98sr90D__rPGMR-

Also Jordan Peterson is someone to check out..
They basically give you the details and break down the basics of PTSD, coping mechanisms, how to change/adapt, etc..

I found out that as long as I could identify the trauma triggers and the logical/scientific reason "Why" behind my habitual behaviors & mannerisms, that I learned over time how to correct them.

I hope this helps, I have tons more resources if anyone needs to ask questions. I WILL STATE THIS...In No Way Am I a Professional...PLEASE seek a doctor's advice, therpist, or psychiatrist that knows what they are doing! They do have to register with state and federal medical boards to maintain their license, check to see if there are any complaints or open legal cases. Word of mouth reference, research the doc/therpist with previous clientele & ask for their credentials, schooling background, specialities, etc..put them under a microscope! If you can go straight to a specialist, Neurologist ask for an EEG; I had to with my daughter & her autism, the pediatrician had her on medication that was meant for a full grown man. My daughter is like 5'1" at 88 lbs..she spent a couple of years on the wrong meds. If you want a complete scientific analysis, there is a lab that takes your blood samples, runs your DNA/RNA, and see which meds are the most affective and which will not work with your body chemistry. That is how my daughter finally ended up on the right meds...
Lineagen Labs, this will cost you out of pocket 400 but worth every single penny.

@jockopodcastofficial