Hey y'all. Jake Hollingsworth here. To make a long story short...Did some time with the grunts (1/5) and 1st Recon back in the late 90s. Got out and went to med school and became a psychiatrist. After that joined the (Ch)air Force and spent 8 years there as a psychiatrist. As an Air Force psychiatrist did a deployment to Afghanistan and toured FOBs via helo.
Glad that JL invited me to the TPFL site to help out and be a part of the community. Although I'm a psychiatrist, at least I can speak the truth of what psychiatry is and give some commentary. I agree that current psych treatments for PTSD are garbage (for the most part), but there are things coming that may be better than the stuff we currently have.
I'm not here to be anyone's psychiatrist. I'm here as a member of the community. I got out of the Marines before things got real, but this may have been a blessing. I was able to get out and acquire some skills and knowledge that may serve a better purpose for our community. I spent a blink of an eye in a warzone, and served as a doc, not as a killer. So I don't claim to have seen any of the shit that some of y'all have.
That's my story. Hopefully I can contribute something to the community. But at the end of the day it's members of the community that are gonna get people out of the depths of PTSD (or whatever you call it); not the VA, psychiatrists, or meds, and move us all towards "The Perfect Fucking Life."
Looking forward to seeing how this goes. Thanks to JL for putting this together.
Get Some!
Sounds like you have 2 options. Pros and Cons to both.
Pete, you could also use Voc Rehab to fund your new career path if you choose to do something like that. I'm sure you could get it through the VA. It's a pretty simple process and I know dudes who've gotten their pilots license, rotary wing, and multi engine rating, etc on it.
Well goddam Chainsaw, don’t they know you’re the 3rd Strongest Man in Iraq? Hey bro some other options for you can be going back to school, getting your Nursing degree, pursuing aviation, etc. Just found out my EMS job will require everyone to be vaccinated but will accept religious exemptions. That’s the route I’m going. Doing that with the Guard too. I have until June next year with them. Tell all the Gunslingers that “Tadpole” says hello. If I can do anything for you give me a call. 770-833-9215. Were hiring for Flight Medics in SC Guard and several EMS helicopter companies in your area. 7 days on 7 days off schedule at EMS.
Tadpole
I have a bitch and moan I'd like to share. First, bro this is a great idea. Can't wait to read your book. You're an inspiration to me because I would like to write a book or some such shit myself. Remember when you got fired from being my TL on the MEU because you got into a fist fight. HAHAHA.
Now here's my bitch...
I have worked for the Asheville Fire Department for 4 years. It's an okay job. 10 24 hour shifts a month makes for some nice free time. Unfortunately the city of Asheville is a liberal cesspool, so the majority of my calls involve scrapping up bums or extinguishing bum camp fires that got out of control. The city has implemented a new policy where we either need to get vaccinated for COVID or get tested every week. A good handful of guys said, "Fuck you! We aren't doing any of it." I complied with the weekly testing because the city compromised and allowed us do at-home testing, and I decided this isn't the hill I want to die on. I'll wait until they mandate vaccination. Last Saturday there were enough people who called in sick due to the new policy, and it being a sunny Saturday in western NC that the fire department was severly short staffed. This caused the fire department to implemented their mandatory overtime policy. I received a text at 0645 telling me I got hired for mandatory overtime. I climbed up on my high horse, and responded with something along the lines of "This situation was created by the new discriminatory policies and mandates. Therefore I refuse to work today." I thought I was doing the right thing, standing up for Truth, Justice, and the American Way! Plus I'm not a slave. How can they make me work whenever they want? This isn't the military. Of course that went over like a fart in church. Now I'm under investigative suspension, pending termination or demotion for insubordination. I think the chief wants to make an example out of me in an effort to suppress any more subversive, rebellious behavior. I guess that's fair and makes sense, but it still fucking sucks. I've never been in trouble at AFD before, and I am going to fight. But NC is an "at will" state and they could probably fire me if they don't like my t-shirt. That's my bitch. Suggestions? Advice? Job opportunities?!? My friend Clint recommended "Ripping the chief's larynx out, and as he looks around in confusion biting his nose off his face."
Thank you for being here Jake; I am certain any insight you have will be invaluable. I have a friend that is a clinical psychologist for the VA in Florida and his guidance is the only reason I am alive today.
Welcome aboard!
Dude. So good to have your insight in this thing. Thanks, man. We need more like you, brother. But really… Who else is going to go from having to get a congressional waiver to join the Marine Corps then be a grunt in the Marines then be a Recon snake eater and then be an Air Force POG and then be a shrink? Dude you are one of a kind. Thank you so much brother and so good to see you here.