Diagnosis: PTSD

[ThexMrs]

I found out yesterday that I've been diagnosed with PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I thought that I had it but no one had told me that I was diagnosed with it. I'm not sure what to think about it or how to handle it.

Has anyone else been diagnosed with this?
How did you handle it?

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Weekends suck love, not many people on to answer.

Is this not a new person who diagnosed this to you, who has not really gotten to get to really know you yet, yet other's have not ever diagnosed you with this?

You obviously have something in the past that did stress you out immensely and it is being suggested to you, that you haven't dealt with that pain yet, or properly acknowledged it, talked it out, let it go.

Does this sound familiar to you?

CW

[hayleyf605]

I haven't experienced this directy but remember that it's only a label, you are not the diagnosis, it doesn't define you. Sometimes having a label, or a definition for how you feel can help you in accepting your feelings and working through them but you aren't any different just because someone has attributed you this label. Obviously something traumatic has happened to you and the remnants of that event still live with you or affect you. This is true for most people and isn't something to be scared of. I would recommend in the first instance talking about what it might be that's affecting you or of concern. xx

[ThexMrs]

No, actually what happened was I met with my new counselor and she was going over my files while I was there and she mentioned that my previous counselor diagnosed me with PTSD and something else that I can't remember. To myself I was like, "What?" I had no idea. He hadn't told me that that is what I was being diagnosed as.

There have been MANY traumatic experiences in my short life.

My father committing suicide.
My mother trying to, twice.
My mother's mental abuse.
My mother's alcholism.
My father's alcoholism.
My uncle's alcholism that almost killed him a few months ago.
My father beating my mother and brothers.
My rape(s).
My time in the psych ward for suicidal thinking.

Many, many things.

And now... My boyfriend cheated on me yesterday after being together a year.

I don't want them to define me. I don't think that they do. It's just now there is a name for what I have. It's kind of a scary feeling to know that there is something wrong with me. I always knew that something wasn't right. I am a self mutilator. I know this is abnormal but now there is a disease that goes with it. It's just frightening to me.

[hayleyf605]

Don't let it add to any anxiety you might be feeling. I'm glad that you're seeing a counsellor to discuss things. That diagnosis doesn't add to your problems, it merely describes them. I would suggest that you discuss it through with your counsellor, it might be that putting a name to your feelings has made you confront them which can be difficult but, with time, I'm confident that you'll be able to deal with them and get throught it xx

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Don't be frightened.. hayley is right, it's only a label, it only describes what you have been through, trauma.

You know TheXMrs, that is a lot of Trauma to go through, but not just for you, also for those whom went/are going through it themselves...

You have to see where you are, how you have grown, how confident in areas you are, your beliefs, your kindness...

Through all of this, you have gained strength and you will continue to do so...

I have faith in that, with you.

CW

[ThexMrs]

Thank you.

My brain never shuts off and I get so side-tracked within my own thoughts. There are days that I don't even remember the previous. Such is life.

[WildChild]

Depending on how it is defined half the country has PTSD! Reactions to events vary and all of us reach a breaking point at some time or the other. The question is can you function in society? Can you let go and move on? You are young and you've had to deal with a lot, how do you feel about it? Do you feel like move forward or do you get 'stuck'? So far as I know only a couple of doctors in the US actually have specialized in or are considered experts in PTSD. One is Dr Leo Galland, one of the pioneers in integrated medicine. you might do a search and see what you can learn?

[ThexMrs]

Yes, depending on how it is defined, you are correct.

Can I function in society? Umm... Yes and no. For the most part I would say yes but I don't like being in public unless it's bar where I can get drunk and forget everything. If it's a store, my hands sweat and my heart races. I hate it! I think that could be social anxiety perhaps. I'm not sure if that is my PTSD. I just feel like everyone is always staring at me. It's so uncomfortable.

Can I let go and move on? No... That's something that I haven't been able to do. I think that I just haven't dealt with it. I can't deal with it. I always stop myself from thinking about it or crying about it. I just... I can't do it. I've never been able to. Yes, I'm stuck.

Thank you... I will look into that Dr.