I work for a DOD Army Depot. Ever since my first deployment to Balad in '04 up-armoring FMTV's, I've had severe anxiety and depression, probably due to several near death experiences. I did a year in Iraq in '08 at Liberty working on MRAPs and saw some awful stuff. I did a year in Kuwait in '10 working on MRAPs as well. I've had a short fuse and panic attacks/REALLY bad depression a few times a year. I don't know who to go see to check me out and see if I do have this. I'm on Zoloft and Xanax to help mellow me out but it doesn't always work. What would you guys suggest? Thanks in advance.

 

Have you talked to your primary care physician? They should be able to recommend a therapist,psychologist or psychiatrist. You are asking for help now so that is a good sign. Talk to us...

 

I saw a psychiatrist a few years back, he diagnosed me with severe depression and anxiety. My primary care physician put me back on the same meds that my psychiatrist did, and he's really easy to talk to. Gonna try to make an appointment next week. Had someone steal some of my tools at work this week and I left a note saying that if they did it again I'd kick their teeth down their throat. SO I had a big meeting with one of our head bosses this evening. He said since nobody was offended by it he could let it go, as a first and only warning, otherwise he'd have to ban me from the Gov't facility and have me arrested.

 

Do you drink or do any other kind of drugs? You don't have to directly answer that. If you are, you are making the problem worse and your meds aren't going to do their job.

 

No, no drinking or drugs. I'm a reserve police officer so I stick to prescriptions. If I have 1 beer a year I've done something, and usually I'd only drink half of that and it'll get hot.

 

Gtfo!!!

 

Seriously?

 

Definitely let the docs know your current meds don't work. Talking to a psychiatrist couldn't hurt or even just talking to friends would help if you can't get an appointment.

 

I've talked to friends that I can trust. The meds are helping, but I have to take more of one to calm down sometimes. My friends have helped a lot, but I have a very low tolerance for stupid people. Hopefully my doc can get me in early next week. Maybe he can refer me to a specialist if needed.

 

You're a reserve police officer? I respect what you did and feel you on what you're going through but man I wouldn't want to run into you armed and dangerous having a panic attack or being pissed

 

If I'm not feeling 100% I stay at the house. Only have to do 8hrs a month.

 

Man if you live in fort worth then pm me and I'll see if I can get you some help or at least be an ear to listen.

 

Thanks bro.

 

Yes, I know how you DOD boys lived, come over into a grunts world then talk about PTSD.

 

as being active duty myself im aware of the differences that we have and the civies do but its still possible for some to develop some form of reaction. yes they may not have been out on patrol or having to deal with dragging your friend out of the line of fire after hes been hit, but the camps still get shelled and attacked every now and then. to each his own man. if he says he saw some **** then he saw some ****.

anyways OP i replied to your post in the military section didnt see you had double posted.

 

red, you should just leave it alone man.

 

Being mortared was an everyday occurrence. Be the one who drug in most of the **** that was seen and we know the difference. That's it.

 

**** happens when you're chasing that big pay check. I'm ex-military and now I do force protection work for the DOD, so I've seen both sides. I work with a guy who lost an arm and almost lost his leg too over there for like his 3rd VOLUNTARY deployment. Its not the same deal the soldiers go through, but he def paid the price for all that money he was making. Solders do it for an insulting amount of money...

 

.....

 

Damn Nick, see you in two weeks grunt. Too much sand got in your **** this time, lol.