Hey! His pillow is loaded!

OK, so I wasn't going to write tonight cause I was tired, but here I am. I tweeted (is that correct?) my experiment of my experiences with the VA. I would like to think that this would be boring and a short post, however, I suspect that this little adventurer is going to be an interesting one. So, I got a call back this afternoon. Cool. oh, but wait. How many of you out there, took a call from the VA, and just when you were feeling like you got through the mundane questions to verify who you are and that you were actually about to get something accomplished, you hear...

" Be fore we go any further, do you feel like you are a threat to yourself or someone else?"

What?

Would I call you if I were going to OFF myself or someone else? Who does that? Does anyone actually call the VA and report that they are about to commit a capital crime and or suicide? How did this get in the routine of asking personal questions about PTSD or the like? Or, maybe because I have PTSD and that it is a "Mental Health" issue, that it goes hand in hand? If I have PTSD, and it is a Mental Health issue, does that  mean I am a threat to myself and or others? Is that assumed?

Alright, alright. Not that big of a deal. I know, but I "feel" like a patient when they do that. I "feel" mentally deficient when asked that. Normal people don't get asked that. They should ask that every time you by a car. More people die in cars than anything else. I can buy a car that weighs 2 tons, and does 200 miles per hour, and I can tell you right now, NO ONE, will ask me if I'm a "threat to myself and or others"! I was in a war zone, nicknamed The Murder Capitol of the World,  for over a year, with hundreds of ways to die, let alone pulling the Godd damned trigger myself, hell if I didn't do it then ... well, I guess I was a threat to others back then. I slept in a room full of 'Threats' and that's what made me feel safe. Nothing like having a 'Whack job' machine gunner sleeping one bunk over when the shit hit the fan out in the city. Slept better knowing he was there. This 'Nut Ball' slept with a loaded 9mm under his pillow.

"Hell no I'm not going to wake him up for duty! You do it, smart ass. I sleep in the same room with him, his pillow is loaded!"
My Lt. was never amused by things like this, nor did he ever wake up my friend.

As far as I know he only ever fired it once in his sleep. I was on a mission, and apparently would have lost a toe had I not been. No worries. Like I said, killing and dieing were in abundance where I was,

"No, Mr. VA rep, I'm not a threat to my self or others today, I would just like an appointment to get normal again, so stop asking that freaking question please."

After that, I think I got through the rest of the call. Looks like Ill be set up for a round of appointments. I know you are all waiting with bated breath to find out how this all turns out. Trust me, so am I.

Now the question is, Does the VA assume that I do not have a real life job and will they set the appointments smack in the middle of the day? every other day for the 4 or 5 appointments that they will want me to go to? Also, will I be asked to join a 'group' and will this appointment setter just sign me up for 'group' therapy? You know, to just 'chat' about my experiences, with other vets, in a safe, warm environment. I feel like I'll be walking into a white sterile Progressive commercial and Flo will bounce out speaking about Glitter and Unicorns!
Sorry, visual.
Ive never been, but I have this picture in my head that it will be like an AA meeting.

"Hi, my name is Mike and I... um, used to kill bad guys, and stuff... and I got shot at allot... and this one time, at ARMY camp, I almost got vaporized my a 120mm Katusha rocket."  WHOAH!!!

Sorry. If you have ever been to one of these groups don't get pissed, I just don't know. If you are in one of these, please, by all means, help me paint this picture.

OK, bets on. How many appointments in the next two weeks? Extra points if you name a them, and will I be assigned a "group"? and for extra credit, does Mike have enough vacation time to use to go to these meetings with out raising suspicion at work?

A post for another time. Come clean with work about your issues with PTSD and being seen by Mental Health at the VA and asking for the time off to go?
Or
Say nothing, and not make it to enough appointments because the VA schedules them all at different times and you don't have enough vacation or sick time because you just started this job because you lost your other job, by having a your job 'eliminated', which happened, coincidentally, exactly 3 weeks prior to you having a flashback, in a stall, in the bathroom, at said work place? (see: "Hey Buddy, you OK in there? Wars Over." post)

Hmmmm. We shall see.



Stay tuned.
Mike