Rant on VA Service Animal process. : Veterans

I’m just wanting to rant about VA Services at this point. Okay, a little background about me.

Served 2011-2014. Had knee surgery and almost destroyed my back during that timeframe. I also had anger issues, sleeping issues, severe depression, and anxiety, all of which are rated. Just through the past 2 years I have been seeing someone about my mental issues and let me tell you, it has not gotten any better. My mind races most nights until my mind finally winds down which can take all night sometimes up to the next morning. Unwanted suicidal thoughts ravage me. I don’t like being alone but yet I find myself wanting to isolate myself from the world almost every day. It takes a lot of energy for me to socialize due to my anxiety issues.

Well, within the past 2 years, my psychologist diagnosed me with PTSD. Which I know is directly related to my knee surgery and the anesthesia I was given for the procedure. I haven’t been the same since that day.

Moving on… I have since thought about figuring out how to obtain a service animal. One that is trained to identify certain traits with my condition of depression and anxiety/ PTSD. I’ve talked to my psychiatric doctor and he is clueless. He likes the idea but has no clue what he should be doing to help me. It’s aggravating. I feel the longer I go on alone, the worse off it’ll be and it’s not getting any easier. People really don’t understand what PTSD does to someone. It’s like your brain is literally attacking you. Imagine having no control of your entire right arm and all it does is punch you in the face so hard to knock you out. That’s what this feels like, at least for me. It’s hard for me to talk to my family due to trust issues. I don’t want everyone and their momma knowing my issues and so I don’t talk to my family about them. It’s why I have a therapist to talk to about these issues. My therapist agrees that I should also get a service animal, but because she isn’t a psychiatrist, her hands are tied. All she can do is advise it.

I’ve looked into ADA-approved service animal providers but the paperwork required is daunting. I’m unmotivated to even try to fill out over 10 pages of information. I can’t even fathom why they would make someone that is diagnosed with PTSD fill that out knowing it will be a difficult issue for some. I hate the VA, really. They’re good only when you get 100% or TDIU P&T, which is what I have. It definitely helps financially but that is it. I just don’t know what to do at this point. Medication only does so much and I’m at the end of my rope essentially on solutions.

Maybe someone here that has gone through the service animal process can help me out to understand or guide me in obtaining one that will help me. I know I need a service animal because they are trained very well to check warning signs and sort of gently interrupt and distract a person with mental health issues like the ones I have. That’s really all I need. Not someone that will be intrusive or aggressive. Just something that will be kind and gentle. Any help is much appreciated.

Sorry for the long post.

EDIT: I did find a link about a bill that passed Congress this month to assist the VA in providing service animals to veterans struggling with mental health issues and it looks hopeful.