Do You Have an Invisible Disability?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:04:49 -0500

What are Invisible Disabilities when it comes to Veterans and Service Members? This is a question that YOU KEEP ASKING FOR EVER ON RALLYPOINT! Let's help!

Examples: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Mental Health issues as a result of Injuries, Internal Disease, and many other medical conditions and diagnosis that can affect our veterans and service members.

If you suffer from one of these conditions or diagnosis then take action in 2020 and beyond to connect with other veterans, service members, and civilian supporters that want to provide support through social engagement and sharing/caring with each other.

Warriors for Life (WFL) Virtual Group Support can provide that sharing and caring link. Reach out to COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs via message here on RallyPoint or via email to get connected with others experiencing the same issues. Email: [login to see]

If you know service members, veterans, or civilian supports that want to get connected, get engaged, provide peer-to-peer support or be a part of something great through a virtual helping hand with encouragement and hope that meets weekly to stay in engaged, then send them our way - Victory for Veterans (VFV) Non-Profit Organization dedicated to providing support.

VFV Web: http://www.VictoryForVeterans.org

We meet on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays and look to add Wednesdays and Thursdays in the first quarter of 2020.

You're Important to us and we care! COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs, Chairman, VFV

Home | Warriors For Life

Here at Victory For Veterans, we know that sometimes all it takes to change the world is a little support. Since our founding in 2016, we have been determined to make an impact.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Dec 28 at 2019 2:15 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:15:39 -0500

Please pass this on!
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PO3 Lynn Spalding PO1 H Gene Lawrence SSG William Jones Maj William W. 'Bill' Price LTC Stephen F. ] Alan K. SGT John " Mac " McConnell ] Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col Charlie Brown Sgt Randy Wilber MSgt John McGowan Cpl Private RallyPoint Member PO3 Bob McCord SPC Margaret Higgins Sgt Albert Castro

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Dec 28 at 2019 2:37 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:37:41 -0500

AMEN COL Mikel BURROUGHS!
WE DO CARE!

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Dec 28 at 2019 2:38 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:38:17 -0500

Posted to FB

Response by SGT Steve McFarland made Dec 28 at 2019 2:43 PM

SGT Steve McFarland — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:43:22 -0500

I tell almost every Veteran I meet about WFL and invite them to join us.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Dec 28 at 2019 3:37 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 15:37:54 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Invisible disability is a very accurate definition,Col, rising to a crisis and handling it like a professional leaves the impression that one is fully capable.What is not visible are the after effects,being physically ill,emotionally drained for long periods with outburst of rage over seemingly insignificant incidents or prolonged periods of depression or isolation.
I wish you great success in your endeavors to support everyone suffering from this.

Response by PO1 H Gene Lawrence made Dec 28 at 2019 3:58 PM

PO1 H Gene Lawrence — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 15:58:25 -0500

I posted to Facebooks. I sure am suffering some cognitive issues, since my recent head injury. Sure isn’t much fun. It is slowing down my things I do on RP. It is so frustrating.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 28 at 2019 4:09 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 16:09:36 -0500

Mild case of PTSD, and a TBI mild case.

Response by SSG Robert Mark Odom made Dec 28 at 2019 4:17 PM

SSG Robert Mark Odom — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 16:17:38 -0500

Thank you for sharing this information with us all.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Dec 28 at 2019 4:27 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 16:27:45 -0500

A never ending source of frustration for those with one. My wife does.

Response by Sgt John H. made Dec 28 at 2019 6:40 PM

Sgt John H. — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 18:40:08 -0500

Starting to come out of my latest episode. I will see how it goes. Thank you for keeping me in the loop.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2019 6:58 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 18:58:34 -0500

Great treatise on 'invisible injuries' Col., Shared to FB friends ! TY for sharing ! HHHOOOOAAAHHH !!!

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Dec 28 at 2019 8:37 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 20:37:02 -0500

This is not the PC answer but it’s the truth as I know it. You are free to disagree. Back in the day, people sucked it up and dealt with adversity head on. I understand that PTSD is real and for those who actually have it, I empathize... but it seems to be over diagnosed and for some a crutch.

Response by TSgt David Whitmore made Dec 28 at 2019 8:47 PM

TSgt David Whitmore — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 20:47:03 -0500

I don't even know where to start.
When I retired, the VA had already determined that I was a Disabled Veteran (100%, Plus) due to all the injuries, and subsequent repairs of said injuries incurred as a result of my service; but I feel weird.
I know I'm not a 'wounded warrior'. Right?
The guy from the VA, when he called said that if any of the things they actually counted all of a sudden became 'healed' let them know and they'll add in one or more item they hadn't counted. All incurred during my time in service. So, I'm just 'Disabled', can't work. Even if I wanted to.
20 years ago, when I retired, nobody could see my injuries. Nowadays, one can see them in pretty much every movement.
Then, after I turned 65, the military through Tricare started to encourage me to want to seek my healthcare through civilian doctors; where I have to train all new doctors in my current treatments as they tell me "No, you don't have that disease or issue, you really have this new diagnosis.
And now, the government, in the auspices of the Social Security Administration claims that I'm no longer 'disabled' as I turned 66; and my SSDI turned into SSI.

So, am I still a Disabled Veteran? Or not?
It's rather frustrating.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2019 10:30 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 22:30:55 -0500

Yes a totally invisible, etc, Bi-Polar-1

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Dec 29 at 2019 1:52 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 13:52:28 -0500

Great source of information! Thank you!

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Dec 29 at 2019 5:43 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 17:43:16 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I look forward to the upcoming support groups.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 29 at 2019 6:46 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:46:03 -0500

Thank you for posting, my friend COL Mikel J. Burroughs I have a number of invisible disabilities based on sexual trauma as a child, concussions and amnesia, etc.
Thank you, my friend SP5 Mark Kuzinski for mentioning me.

Response by LTC Gene Moser made Dec 29 at 2019 10:58 PM

LTC Gene Moser — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 22:58:45 -0500

Mine aren't that as bad as those listed by COL Burroughs, but I have a severe hearing loss in my left ear and type II diabetes. The hearing loss came from being a field artillery officer before the Army issued ear plugs and shot anybody not wearing them and the diabetes came from the little known use of Agent Orange along the DMZ in Korea, 67-68, when I was there. So no, I'm not in a wheelchair or such.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Dec 29 at 2019 11:24 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 23:24:41 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs yes.

Response by Lt Col Warren Domke made Dec 29 at 2019 11:50 PM

Lt Col Warren Domke — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 23:50:27 -0500

I have never considered myself disabled, but I may have had some mental health issues as a result of my service and perhaps also as a result of a failed first marriage that at least partially resulted from my tour in Vietnam. There was stress and I think the marital issues affected my performance as a military officer at the time. Eventually these led to my decision to voluntarily separate from extended active duty after ten years. I continued as an Air Force Reservist and retired with a total of 31 years service. I was strong enough to make it through this part of my life successfully, but I wonder if others may have been less fortunate. I would recommend that service members, particularly those exposed to hazardous or combat duty carefully monitor their mental health, preferably with professional help. This should be considered a form of health maintenance and be separate from other measures of duty performance success.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Dec 30 at 2019 12:37 AM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:37:47 -0500

Posted to FB groups

Response by SSG Michael Doolittle made Dec 30 at 2019 2:09 AM

SSG Michael Doolittle — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 02:09:03 -0500

Many of my fellow Vietnam Veterans are dealing with various affects of Agent Orange, and those in the first Gulf War suffer from what was called "Gulf War Syndrome" as a result of the toxins from oil well fires and other materials... Along with PTSD, there is a companion trauma referred to as a "Moral Injury"... I never heard of this one before, but during a conversation with our County Prosecutor who also helps with our Veteran's Court, he brought this up... So I did some research on the subject, and I believe that a significant part of my PTSD is contributed to a moral injury... That day at the Battle of Soui Tre, in the closing minutes of the battle when it was almost a certain mass enemy overrun of our Fire Support Base Gold, Lt Col John Vessey, Captain Cartwright the Battery Commander and myself prepared this 105 that had been damaged, and fired point blank range of under 25 meters at an enemy human wave attack of 700 to 1,000 NVA and VC with 4 rounds of the never before used Bee Hive Rounds.... While the actual count was very hard to make, in the 2 minutes it took to fire these rounds, we killed between 300-400 of that mass attack... At the end of the battle and perimeter sweeps 881 enemy were killed... In front of that gun was a shredded mass of humanity, I was stunned, probably in shock, and I have always felt this dreaded sick feeling when ever I had to think about it, as that is how I feel at this moment recounting it.... I have felt a "tear in my soul, and in the fabric of my humanity".... I have been in counseling now 6 months for PTSD, and it has made no difference as far as I can tell, yet this discovery of the aspects of the moral part of the injury, has made some difference in understanding this dilemma.... Many injuries do not bleed....

Response by SGM Major Stroupe made Dec 30 at 2019 8:09 AM

SGM Major Stroupe — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 08:09:42 -0500

A key to identifying what is bothering you is to seek assistance. There are numerous resources to assist. Start with a friend, a spouse, a counselor, clergy person or whomever you may trust. Don't try to fight the battle alone. Know that there are plenty of people willing to listen and assist. Don't try to be a doctor and self diagnose, talk and get assistance. God bless all of those in the critical fields of assistance who volunteer their time and talents to assist our veterans.

Response by Sgt Ivan Boatwright made Dec 30 at 2019 8:01 PM

Sgt Ivan Boatwright — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:01:19 -0500

Invisible is unseen or unknown by any but the person involved with attempting to deal with it. The ways to cope are running and hiding but that means giving up family, even if you have already done so because it is less painful to deal with family who cannot comprehend what you feel when you are unable to define it in entirety or truly understand what makes yourself function beyond desire to make-up for the pain you caused and continue to cause by your very nature of fear of making more mistakes and not being able to control the world around you.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2019 8:30 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:30:30 -0500

Yes

Response by SGT Tom Hasey made Jan 9 at 2020 5:23 PM

SGT Tom Hasey — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:23:14 -0500

Unique group of Veterans who have PTSD because they were poisoned with deliriant poisons by American citizens. Some of these veterans might be combat veterans, others are Cold War veterans like me. For more information see Facebook: Tom Hasey (Stephen)

Response by SGT Tom Hasey made Jan 9 at 2020 5:28 PM

SGT Tom Hasey — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:28:17 -0500

I have PTSD, not because of combat, but because of Domestic Terrorism (American vs. American) within the USA long after I was fully released from military service. read for more info: https://spiritandnaturehome.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/gangstalking-a-threat-to-public-safety.pdf

gangstalking-a-threat-to-public-safety.pdf

Response by CPO Jack De Merit made Jan 20 at 2020 3:33 AM

CPO Jack De Merit — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 03:33:09 -0500

I have had an invisible disability since 1964. While serving off the coast of Vietnam our ship was affected by Agent Orange. We were not aware of the problem until 1966. A number of us put in for Agent Orange exposure but we were all denied. When the first list of ships exposed to Agent Orange was published, my ship, the U. S. S. Kearsarge was on it. When the second list was published the Kearsarge had been removed. I wrote to everyone I could think of to find out why and nobody had an answer. The fact that we never set foot IN VIETNAM was the reason to deny us. What they did not take into consideration was that being an Aircraft Carrier, we did not need to set foot in Vietnam. Our Jets, Prop Planes and Helos were sprayed with Agent Orange and brought it back to the ship. After the second and third attempt to get Disability I gave up. I sent my fourth attempt on December 27th because they decided, nearly 60 years later, that we were exposed to Agent Orange. It will be interesting to see how long it takes to get approved if at all. During my six tours IN VIETNAM I worked directly for an Admiral carrying out special assignments and had to sign a 50 YEAR NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT in 1966 before I left the ship. Therefore, I could not claim that I set foot on the ground in Vietnam until 2016.