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Seeking Advice Re: Mental Illness and Seeking Treatment
08-08-2012, 09:51 AM
Well... I don't mean to bring drama or anything... but I'm pretty sure I got some serious problems.
The most serious one right now is depression. I know I've been prone to it and it runs in my family... but lately I've been concerned that I may actually need to get treatment for it, because in retrospect I think it has been a large part of why I've had so much trouble over the last ten years of my life.
I already know that I'm ADD. I've been told by my mother that there has been a diagnosis for it, but I have no clue how to find the man that made that diagnosis - it was so long ago I don't even remember it. My mother was at least able to provide the man's name and where he might be located... but it's a needle in a haystack.
I'm worried that I may also be somewhat autistic. I have loner tendencies and I have extreme difficulty relating with people. It's weird that I can be polite and sociable with strangers... case in point where when I was cranking for the mess decks on my ship and we made a major port visit to Vladivostok on the Russian's Victory Day - huge political deal, complete with Ambassadors visiting the ship for a dinner party hosted on the flight deck. I chatted up a US Navy Captain and his wife while serving. They were so charmed that they brought me over to my CO to say just how so.
And yet, there are times I put my foot in my mouth so badly that people give me these looks as though to say, "What in God's name is your malfunction?"
Anyhow... has anyone here on the boards had any experience in dealing with a mental health system of any kind? Exactly how should I go about seeking treatment and what are things I should look out for? I already know that there isn't much that my veterans benefits can do for me... my issues are most likely all pre-existing to my term of enlistment and they're mostly concerned with trauma inflicted on the battle field. I already applied anyhow, but with the current backlog of applications here in Texas it's gonna be a long time until I hear back on it.
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hmmm, I can't be much help. but I dealt with depression myself while I was growing up. So here is my $0.02
The best advice I can give is: find someone you think you can trust.
I know it's paradoxical to say 'you need to trust a complete stranger who you have never met before (aka your psychologist)', but we all make snap judgements every day. And if you can find someone who you are predisposed to listen to, it helps a great deal in making progress.
Or at least it did in my case. Cause part of dealing with of the root causes with my own depression, was listening to someone lay out some uncomfortable truths in how I was coping with life at the time. And I never would have listened to what they were saying if I hadn't trusted them.
Sorry to only have such vague, and potentially obvious, advice. But in retrospect that is the best I can offer.
I hope it helps and good luck.
-Terry
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"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
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Quote:I'm worried that I may also be somewhat autistic. I have loner tendencies and I have extreme difficulty relating with people. It's weird that I can be polite and sociable with strangers... case in point where when I was cranking for the mess decks on my ship and we made a major port visit to Vladivostok on the Russian's Victory Day - huge political deal, complete with Ambassadors visiting the ship for a dinner party hosted on the flight deck. I chatted up a US Navy Captain and his wife while serving. They were so charmed that they brought me over to my CO to say just how so.
And yet, there are times I put my foot in my mouth so badly that people give me these looks as though to say, "What in God's name is your malfunction?"
At the very least, I can reassure you that this is perfectly normal. I do it all the time myself. So does everyone.
Depression wise.... people really don't talk about it over here. You're already a leg up on about 90% of Irish sufferers to even mention it to someone. Whether that's positive or not, I'm not sure.
All I can say is, what I thought might've been depression was more a sense of ennui and frustration at a lack of movement in my life.... things have changed now that I'm working
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BA, you might want to mention your concerns to your family doctor. He (or she) may know a psychologist who could see you sooner than the VA staff could...
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blackaeronaut Wrote:I'm worried that I may also be somewhat autistic. I have loner tendencies and I have extreme difficulty relating with people. It's weird that I can be polite and sociable with strangers... case in point where when I was cranking for the mess decks on my ship and we made a major port visit to Vladivostok on the Russian's Victory Day - huge political deal, complete with Ambassadors visiting the ship for a dinner party hosted on the flight deck. I chatted up a US Navy Captain and his wife while serving. They were so charmed that they brought me over to my CO to say just how so.
And yet, there are times I put my foot in my mouth so badly that people give me these looks as though to say, "What in God's name is your malfunction?" Effing up a conversation with other people is perfectly is a normal thing that happens to everyone. 
I think though you need to elaborate on what you mean by sticking your foot in your mouth, since there is a huge difference from making an insensitive and cutting remark unintentionally, to simply talking down to another person. :S
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Well, as to the VA, they'd still treat you, but you would be kind of far down as to the priority list. In CA there are Mental Health clinics basicly run by the counties (by state mandate) so you might want to check if TX does the same. However, in both cases its also a matter of just how severe your symptoms are and what other resources you might be able to call on, you might not be 'sick' enough (at the moment) or have other resources you should try and tap first. Still, checking with them should be your first step as if you dont qualify for treatment with them they might be able to refer you to someone who can help.
As to the rest... hrm. I see quite a bit of myself in you, though not quite as bad. I wound up in the hospital under a 72 hour hold before I was able to get any significant help, heck before I believed there was anyone who even gave a darn about me. So your ahead of the curve in that respect probably. Also, unlike myself at the time you have us. I cant speak for the others, but if you ever need to just talk about it all drop me a PM and I'll listen. Can't guarentee my thoughts and suggestions will be worth a darn for you, but I will listen.
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I have to say I would never go to a state/county clinic for anything serious, which this definitely is.
They tend to be where just-graduated students work to get experience.
I went to one for dental work once and swore never to do so again. Worst experience of my life.
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robkelk Wrote:BA, you might want to mention your concerns to your family doctor. He (or she) may know a psychologist who could see you sooner than the VA staff could... Part of the problem with bouncing all over the place like a bunch of gypsies is that we really don't have a family doctor. Or at least I don't. Pretty sure my folks don't have on at this time, either. :p
Quote:Weng Fook wrote:
I think though you need to elaborate on what you mean by sticking your
foot in your mouth, since there is a huge difference from making an
insensitive and cutting remark unintentionally, to simply talking down
to another person. :S
Well, it's not just in conversation. My actions also work out this way. One day I can whip up a wonderful breakfast for my family or someone else I care about, just because I felt like it... and then the next I'm messing around with their computer without their permission because something about it irks me. This same behavior kinda carries over into conversation. If I'm not really actively focusing on whether or not I should or should not say or do something... yeah.
Quote:Star Ranger4 wrote:
Well, as to the VA, they'd still treat you, but you would be kind of far
down as to the priority list. In CA there are Mental Health clinics
basicly run by the counties (by state mandate) so you might want to
check if TX does the same. However, in both cases its also a matter of
just how severe your symptoms are and what other resources you might be
able to call on, you might not be 'sick' enough (at the moment) or have
other resources you should try and tap first. Still, checking with them
should be your first step as if you dont qualify for treatment with
them they might be able to refer you to someone who can help.
Yeah, I kinda gathered this much already. I did manage to talk to a rep over one of their dedicated IRC applets... and the over all impression I got was, "Go ahead and apply, I see no reason not to... but you're probably not gonna be all that high on the list of priorities."
Quote:Star Ranger4 wrote:
As to the rest... hrm. I see quite a bit of myself in you, though not
quite as bad. I wound up in the hospital under a 72 hour hold before I
was able to get any significant help, heck before I believed there was
anyone who even gave a darn about me. So your ahead of the curve in
that respect probably. Also, unlike myself at the time you have us. I
cant speak for the others, but if you ever need to just talk about it
all drop me a PM and I'll listen. Can't guarentee my thoughts and
suggestions will be worth a darn for you, but I will listen.
Thanks. That kinda reminds me of my first two weeks in Boot Camp. We were kinda in limbo for a bit because more than half the recruits that were to make up our division got delayed by the snowstorms (this was February 2007).
But anyhow, thanks for the encouragement. I might actually take you up on that offer sometime.
Quote:ECSNorway wrote:
I have to say I would never go to a state/county clinic for anything serious, which this definitely is.
They tend to be where just-graduated students work to get experience.
I went to one for dental work once and swore never to do so again. Worst experience of my life.
Yeah, Texas does have a state-run mental health system... complete with a flagship hospital near one of the so-called 'city-bases' (gutted remains of military bases here in town that the city planners have been desperately trying to salvage for the past decade - base closures hit San Antonio pretty hard). And I suspect that you'd be right about it. Still, I'm gonna do some asking around, see if I can find people that have sought treatment in the state system before... they offer a 'pay what you can' option, and that is enticing all on its own, given what psychiatric therapy costs.
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