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Mental Health Mental illness and addiction

I couldnt agree more. When i told my grandsponser i was on pain meds, benzos and schizophrenic medication he just shook his head. Ive had sponsers tell me to get off and i refused. I think AA is for people who are perfectly fine except for alcocohol or drugs. Then they get past that and make things more diffucult for others. I need all these meds to be ok so thats not the place for me. Its suggested all the time but by people who dont know thevinner workings of the program. Its funny cause Bill Wilson suffered from horrible depression in the 40's and 50's and was medicated. My how we spin things over time. Good stuff man. Keep it coming
 
closeau said:
Gotcha thelung. Ive seen their pamphlet at dual diagnosis meetings and theres like 19 steps, lol. So much needs to be done for people like us. I love my shrink but she always asks, still going to meetings every 2 weeks. Im saying no tomorrow cause im not. Their hurting me now not helping. Its outdated anyway. The link between mental illness and addiction needs to be looked at more closely. Modernization of all addiction care should be employed. Anyway, i could go on forever but fact is were still in stone age in treatment. My mental illness fuels my addiction and vice versa. Thanks for checking in. I hope more people do and a good convo can be started cause for some reason people like us got hit with both. I talk to my dad and he has neither and i often wonder what thats like. To have nothing gripping you down. Using with addiction and suicide with mental illness. Plus other medicalbproblems and financial hole. Its all to much sometimes but we strive on!!!
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I believe without a doubt that addiction and mental illness are related. It's so unfortunate that are government does nothing to help those who are stuck in this vicious cycle. When I fully expressed myself and explained all of my MH issues I was Baker Acted by the VA and hauled off to the local hospital by local Police and then immediately piss tested. I was treated like a criminal and it just made my situation worse. It's a shame, because our government knows the nexus between the 2 but knows how much money it will cost to truly help people who have this problem. They rather Let us OD and die. With Veterans if you are disabled and collecting a check for your disability and you test positive for illegal drugs you lose your benefits.

I hate the fact that addicts are looked at and called junkies. The worst part for me is nobody understands my MH issues and it is looked at as a weakness especially in my family even with my own wife. I am a CPP also so the only thing that helps me and make me feel better is when I take my pain meds. That is the only joy in my life. It a hard as I have a son who is 7 who deserves better.
 
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Assuming that pot would count makes it even more fucked up as some find medical marijuana to alleviate symptoms. :|
 
Yeah, Colorado, Cali, and Washington its fully leal and in other areas likr DC its medically legal. I recently hrestd thats its now medically legal in all dtated but they dtill pisd trst me. Idk. Ive smoked marijana off and on since i wads 12 and itd been incredibsly helpful. Then there have been timrs its brought anxiety. I get tested for my pain meds but if i could smoke it. Boredom is a big hinderanve to me but im not bored emehrn im dtoned. Ive learned to adapt with it but it was goo. If i ever grt off opites ill start back but until then ill keep adapting. Sorry for spelling errors. My keyboard is jacked.
 
The problem is I don't think the VA recognizes it in all states where it is legal when it comes to Vets and their meds. Especially benzos and pain meds. The saddest thing about it for vets and anyone with PTSD I am sure medical marijuana would alleviate mostly all symptoms of PTSD especially the anger and rage and wanting to hurt others.

I know some friends that live in states where it is legal and they have severe PTSD with violent outbursts and the only thing that keeps them calm and peaceful is medical marijuana, it's like they are the person they were before they had all the trauma. One friend described to me as something he uses to actually find his true self and he found a very peaceful nonviolent person.
 
Im of the opinion that all our veterans need better care. No drug tests for disability and idf weed helps PTSD. Eqip them with what they need like the wepons ans vehichles when their there but just as much tecnology when they come home. Theres no doubt you come back from daily combat youre gonna be mentaly ill in some way. Help them. Least they can do to go over to protect oir oil. Im for anything that helps these men and women
 
Man in the Dark said:
The problem is I don't think the VA recognizes it in all states where it is legal when it comes to Vets and their meds. Especially benzos and pain meds. The saddest thing about it for vets and anyone with PTSD I am sure medical marijuana would alleviate mostly all symptoms of PTSD especially the anger and rage and wanting to hurt others.

I know some friends that live in states where it is legal and they have severe PTSD with violent outbursts and the only thing that keeps them calm and peaceful is medical marijuana, it's like they are the person they were before they had all the trauma. One friend described to me as something he uses to actually find his true self and he found a very peaceful nonviolent person.
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The vets in my town do an amazing thing: they collectively grow pot and pass it out for other vets every other Monday. My husband is a vet with an agent orange caused cancer (not to mention many other problems from his time in Viet Nam). He is so grateful for this service.
 
That is awesome. Vets take care of rachother caused that what their trained to do but i believe it goes deeper. They know very fee people are gonna give their time to help veterens so they stick together like the brotherhood they are. Good for them and passing out weed, thats America
 
herbavore said:
The vets in my town do an amazing thing: they collectively grow pot and pass it out for other vets every other Monday. My husband is a vet with an agent orange caused cancer (not to mention many other problems from his time in Viet Nam). He is so grateful for this service.
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I am so sorry to hear about your husband, that's horrible. I will definitely send some good vibes and prayers for you and him. His service is appreciated, as is yours. I have heard about and read about that program, that is so great. It's nice to see people getting medicine that will help them more than it will hurt them. I need to move.

i believe all Vets should have access to medical marijuana and not have to fear of having their earned benefits taken away.
 
I wish medical marijuana was an option in my area. It's so sad to see how many vets here (Camp Lejuene, NC) serve back to back tours, come back with serious mental health issues, try to deal with it on their own leading to self-medicating, and then get discharged and forgotten. The area doesn't have a decent mental health facility, the one they do have just pushes psych drugs and has many more patients then they can realistically accommodate, and no adequate resources for addiction.

We end up with a large population of vets that have to wait months just to see someone, and their issues don't get addressed properly, and then they leave with a script for benzos, an antidepressant, and sometimes adderral if they can't concentrate. Eventually many of them find their way down to Wilmington for inpatient treatment, but by that time the damage is done and they have lost everything they worked so hard for. They deserve so much better.

I won't even address Tricare as they're just as bad, and so many doctors no longer take Tricare because they don't make a large enough profit. The whole situation is heartbreaking.
 
Moreaux said:
I wish medical marijuana was an option in my area. It's so sad to see how many vets here (Camp Lejuene, NC) serve back to back tours, come back with serious mental health issues, try to deal with it on their own leading to self-medicating, and then get discharged and forgotten. The area doesn't have a decent mental health facility, the one they do have just pushes psych drugs and has many more patients then they can realistically accommodate, and no adequate resources for addiction.

We end up with a large population of vets that have to wait months just to see someone, and their issues don't get addressed properly, and then they leave with a script for benzos, an antidepressant, and sometimes adderral if they can't concentrate. Eventually many of them find their way down to Wilmington for inpatient treatment, but by that time the damage is done and they have lost everything they worked so hard for. They deserve so much better.

I won't even address Tricare as they're just as bad, and so many doctors no longer take Tricare because they don't make a large enough profit. The whole situation is heartbreaking.
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Wow, you are 100% correct completely spot on. You work for the VA or are you a Vet? It's nice to know there are people who care what happens to us. That is exactly how the MH system works with the VA especially those with PTSD, just keep the Vets medicated with benzos and AP so they don't hurt anyone and it won't come back to bite the VA in the ass. There are a good amount of Dr's who do care and try to help. It's just the whole system is flawed. The sad thing is most of these Vets will be the first one's to help other in need, especially if they are being attacked but somehow people's perception of Veterans are that they are crazy right wing gun toting killers.

It's a very sad situation when it comes to Vets and substance abuse. I am prescribed multiple medications, I have been prescribed Klonopin by the VA for 7 year with no plans of taking me off of them. You are right way too many vets do self medicate as it is difficult to deal we some of the things that we have seen and had to do, and that goes for all services. I still would have not changed a thing when it comes to joining the military as I am proud of what I accomplished and endured. I am in my 40's and I see some of the younger generation as they can't even get through a presentation in high school or college without having to be medicated. The problem is they are given a crutch.

I know how hard things can be as I was in the same position but there was no way around it or any meds to help me get through it I didn't even know what anxiety was back then but, I just did it or I failed. I think it made me stronger, things have definitely changed. Being in the military is sometimes do or die or you can be seriously injured. It definitely builds character.

Great post, Thank you
 
closeau said:
That is awesome. Vets take care of rachother caused that what their trained to do but i believe it goes deeper. They know very fee people are gonna give their time to help veterens so they stick together like the brotherhood they are. Good for them and passing out weed, thats America
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You are so right. If all Vets had access to medical marijuana they wouldn't need a large majority of their medication. It's very alarming the amount of unnecessary medications we are prescribed.
 
Man in the Dark said:
Wow, you are 100% correct completely spot on. You work for the VA or are you a Vet? It's nice to know there are people who care what happens to us. That is exactly how the MH system works with the VA especially those with PTSD, just keep the Vets medicated with benzos and AP so they don't hurt anyone and it won't come back to bite the VA in the ass. There are a good amount of Dr's who do care and try to help. It's just the whole system is flawed. The sad thing is most of these Vets will be the first one's to help other in need, especially if they are being attacked but somehow people's perception of Veterans are that they are crazy right wing gun toting killers.

It's a very sad situation when it comes to Vets and substance abuse. I am prescribed multiple medications, I have been prescribed Klonopin by the VA for 7 year with no plans of taking me off of them. You are right way too many vets do self medicate as it is difficult to deal we some of the things that we have seen and had to do, and that goes for all services. I still would have not changed a thing when it comes to joining the military as I am proud of what I accomplished and endured. I am in my 40's and I see some of the younger generation as they can't even get through a presentation in high school or college without having to be medicated. The problem is they are given a crutch.

I know how hard things can be as I was in the same position but there was no way around it or any meds to help me get through it I didn't even know what anxiety was back then but, I just did it or I failed. I think it made me stronger, things have definitely changed. Being in the military is sometimes do or die or you can be seriously injured. It definitely builds character.

Great post, Thank you
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I'm not a vet, but my Dad (Vietnam) and husband (Gulf) are. Both are retired and fortunately suffer no issues. I've lived in the area for two decades and these are issues that I've witness.
 
One thing that I have noticed is that it seems to me that while finally Viet Nam era vets are getting more help (almost 50 years later!) it is at the expense of the Kuwait/Iraq/Afghanistan vets. Another thing I have noticed is that VA care really varies from one locale to the next. (We are lucky to go to one right next to Stanford so they share many doctors and resources.
 
herbavore said:
One thing that I have noticed is that it seems to me that while finally Viet Nam era vets are getting more help (almost 50 years later!) it is at the expense of the Kuwait/Iraq/Afghanistan vets. Another thing I have noticed is that VA care really varies from one locale to the next. (We are lucky to go to one right next to Stanford so they share many doctors and resources.[/QUOTE

You are definitely right about VA care in different areas. I live in a large city and the main VA Hospital is pretty bad but some of the larger outpatient clinics are really good plus some of them are connected with a major university which really helps. I am happy to see the Vietnam era veterans get The care that they deserve especially when it comes to agent orange which should've been addressed immediately upon returning. They have been doing good with the OEF OIF vets. It was the WWII and Vietnam Vets that suffered the most neglect upon returning especially the Vietnam era which I have family members that are veterans from both of those wars such an unfortunate situation.
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Im happy to hear Vietnam vets getting the care they deserve finally. My Uncle did 3 tours in Vietnam and it really ruined his life. I can remember 2 instances where i was a child in late 70's and wounds were still fresh and he lived in my grandparents attack and we were talking and he was really nice then got really mean an told me to leave before he hurts me. That was a close up veiw of PTSD but didnt know it at the time. I was just really scared of him throught my life till hevpassed of alcoholism. Theres that link with addiction. Think WW 2 vets had none of this technology and care. They were tough SOB's. Not to sat Vietnam or war on terror soliders arennt tough. Not at all. Thats how i snap out of a pity party, thinking of what they go thru in combat then after. Makes my problems seem stupid. I intent on getting involved with the Wounded Warrior project. I would love to give some of my time to talk with these soldiers or whatevers required. I once took an AA meeting to the VA hospital and most in there were Vietnam vets and it was a very diffucut hr. They were very agressive and said they dont wanna hear about not drinking and rightfully so. Gonna tell a bunch of men who been thru what yhey been thru notbto drink. Like one giy said, i did my time im gonna do what i wsnna do. Just coordinated by hospital administyation so they can ssy see, were helping. I dont blame them a bit for bitter. Needless to say, anything that helps these men and women should be inplemented no msttrr cost or time. They gave us out freedom and we can never pay them back but we can help them and try to allieviste the mental and physical hardships they go thru. Im glad this thread has taken this turn for its something i feel passioatly about. Thanks guys and gals
 
closeau said:
Im happy to hear Vietnam vets getting the care they deserve finally. My Uncle did 3 tours in Vietnam and it really ruined his life. I can remember 2 instances where i was a child in late 70's and wounds were still fresh and he lived in my grandparents attack and we were talking and he was really nice then got really mean an told me to leave before he hurts me. That was a close up veiw of PTSD but didnt know it at the time. I was just really scared of him throught my life till hevpassed of alcoholism. Theres that link with addiction. Think WW 2 vets had none of this technology and care. They were tough SOB's. Not to sat Vietnam or war on terror soliders arennt tough. Not at all. Thats how i snap out of a pity party, thinking of what they go thru in combat then after. Makes my problems seem stupid. I intent on getting involved with the Wounded Warrior project. I would love to give some of my time to talk with these soldiers or whatevers required. I once took an AA meeting to the VA hospital and most in there were Vietnam vets and it was a very diffucut hr. They were very agressive and said they dont wanna hear about not drinking and rightfully so. Gonna tell a bunch of men who been thru what yhey been thru notbto drink. Like one giy said, i did my time im gonna do what i wsnna do. Just coordinated by hospital administyation so they can ssy see, were helping. I dont blame them a bit for bitter. Needless to say, anything that helps these men and women should be inplemented no msttrr cost or time. They gave us out freedom and we can never pay them back but we can help them and try to allieviste the mental and physical hardships they go thru. Im glad this thread has taken this turn for its something i feel passioatly about. Thanks guys and gals
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Thanks for caring for our Vets, believe me it's appreciated. Sorry you had to go through that with your uncle. The Vietnam Vets had it difficult when they came home. They were spit on called baby killers and treated horribly. Like these guys had a choice most were drafted and didn't receive any kind of treatment they deserved.

Thanks again Closeau
 
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