People here don´t know ptsd

[Upside Down Eagle]

I have sometimes read posts here when members are "recognized" on the street as sufferers of PTSD. Simply because of their alertness, the way they scan the environment, the way they carefully calculate their proximity to others, that kind of thing.

I think this is more common in the US, considering that military service in the US is far more important than it is here. People here don´t respect the forces (generally), they think anybody who wants to fight for their country must be bonkers (but that´s an entirely different discussion, let´s have that discussion some other time).

So here (Netherlands, specifically), people with PTSD are invisible and misunderstood. No one knows anything about it. They are still stuck at the "so you had a painful experience, get over it" mindset. And I find this very hard to deal with, because I´ve had PTSD for fourteen years and I am still seeing zero improvement.

When I have symptoms, I´d love for people to actually "get" it and think "oh, they have PTSD". Instead I usually get looks like I must be insane, and people who have known me my entire life don´t understand why I get panic and anger attacks. When I explain to them that I need to actively manage my symptoms, they don´t understand.

Not sure if I have point here, just needed to post about this, since I am feeling pretty invisible in my society. You are welcome to answer anything at all, I could use the support, from people who do understand.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

I'm feeling really sad and sorry for you, Rad. I know exactly what you mean. But even though ptsd is more recognized in North America, I think only another sufferer can understand what you're going through.

My own daughter, who has a degree in psychology, thinks I'm supposed to be getting over it. Everyone is confused by my inability to move on. Like it's that easy.

Thank the gods we have this this community and each other. We're the only ones who get it. :hug:

 

[Deleted member 37474]

I'm feeling really sad and sorry for you, Rad. I know exactly what you mean. But even though ptsd i...

My problem is that I feel like I need to just "snap out of it". Go back to the way I was before. It just doesn't seem to work. My T tells me it makes sense that I come to this site. Trying to find people that get it and understand. There aren't any support groups in my part of town.

I think that the USA doesn't really get it. It is a cool thing to add to tv shows and talk about in Hollywood. It is a thing tossed around by high school students... "I'm shook." "My ptsd just kicked in." It is not something people truly understand.

 

[Ronin]

East Europe don't get PTSD either. Or trauma, for that matter, it's an issue of not sucking it up enough, not being tough enough, not ___ (insert any amount of ableist assumptions), even outside the circles thriving on conceptions about strength & force which aren't cruel by default.

Elsewhere it's been a lot of 'You can't take a beating right' & Just Another Day, Another Atrocity. Shrug shrug, let's laugh at it it wasn't our corner today and move on. Or say something to 'So pooor' and move on. Nothing much to be empathic about, or lingering on, not publicly anyway.

I'm not sure it's as much a thing of getting it, as being more informed it's a thing, and that can be changed with education. Not necessarily sharing, just education. (Or maybe I just have high hopes in the darn thing, but always have, so shrug.)

 

[New]

Mal is right. The only people that truly understand are those with PTSD.

Family and friends have all asked how long it takes to recover. They all have good intentions but just don’t get it.

 

[NaeNae75]

I was diagnosed almost 20 years ago....there have been times when I've been "better" or functional...but it isn't the same as over it or healed. Some times I feel almost human....like I get it, but it doesn't last long, and other people aren't seeing me that way.

So no, you're not even close to alone...and yes, the only people that understand are the ones right here with you in the PTSD life. Oddly enough, my s/o has PTSD too....and there are times I don't even get him! It can be hard as hell. But here's a (hug) if you accept it, and my understanding is with you....as much as that helps or doesn't. (hopefully it does)

 

[Deleted member 487]

Funny thing is...only those that have it can recognize it in others. If you do not have it you cannot see it, because you have no idea what to look for.

 

[Ronin]

Hardly @cactus_jack, or the whole mental health profession could stop calling themselves one.

True statement as it may be about strangers and generic public, it doesn't work as a generalization.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

Even my mental health team, who are an exceptional group, don't really get it. They read the books and articles, they try very hard to understand, and then they're confused by my huge reactions to triggers.

People just don't get the body memory component unless they experience it.

 

[anthony]

Funny thing is...only those that have it can recognize it in others.

I will disagree. You can't spot PTSD. There are therapists that deal with PTSD day in, day out, and have a pretty good idea of who may have it upon first interview, otherwise, I don't believe having PTSD gives you any insight into actually knowing whether someone else has it or not. That is mind reading, a cognitive distortion in itself.

I think @Mal Content is closer to it, being people don't understand it. You need to have it to understand it... but that is different from identifying it.

If you met me, you wouldn't have a clue that I have PTSD just from meeting me.

 

[EveHarrington]

Hardly @cactus_jack, or the whole mental health profession could stop calling themselves...

Ehhhh......I've had many therapists and doctors who failed to see my ptsd. If you're not textbook, you're invisible.

 

[Chem Lady]

It is not well understood. I am very tired of the medical profession knowing so little about how PTSD affects my physical health. When I need to see specialists, they ask about other illnesses and I tell them I have PTSD and you can tell they don't know why I bothered to tell them about it because, surely PTSD has nothing to do with my heart, bone, healing time, ability to recover blood-iron levels, and on and on.
It is not well inderstood in other areas either. I'm working part time and getting part-time disability and now I have to explain my condition and how it affects my ability to do my job and what steps I'm taking to get better. I'm sure they all think that if I just do enough therapy I'll be healed suddenly.
It is so incredibly tiring to feel like I have to convince people that I'm sick. It is so incredibly tiring and stressful to know that the majority of doctors have no idea about how PTSD affects my health and that I have to try to come up with sneaky ways to get the help I need and not appear as though I'm stepping on their ego's toes.
Apparently we're getting better as a society regarding stuff like PTSD. It's pretty darn far from understanding though.