"There is No Cure."

[Chris-duck]

I know someone who had ptsd and (at least believes) that she has been declared cured. What I meant by my post is that ptsd is just a bunch of symptoms grouped together (much like certain physical conditions), it's too individual imo to say whether it's cured or in remission if those symptoms diminish to a level that's not problematic.

 

[Sweet_E]

@Sweet_E, I understand what you were saying. I think what you had to say was positive and hopeful. I may have long-standing trauma but I believe that I will be able to live above it all, at some point...at least this is my hope. If I had not thought this was possible, I would not have sought out help to learn how to counter the symptoms left by such events in my life. The mental health field, as with general medical, are fluid. They change and improve. Perhaps, today, it is believed there is no cure for PTSD symptoms but tomorrow, there may be. Your thoughts were positive and logical concerning your reactions to the statement that "there is no cure." It was not passive-aggressive from what I could see... but, what do I know? I tend to look for the positive, so maybe I am biased by my own idea that there is still hope in most matters. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt. And positivity and hope can be important parts of a person's own healing journey. Positive belief is scientifically proven to improve a person's prognosis or to even enhance the efficacy of medication.

I know someone who had ptsd and (at least believes) that she has been declared cured. What I meant by my post is that ptsd is just a bunch of symptoms grouped together (much like certain physical conditions), it's too individual imo to say whether it's cured or in remission if those symptoms diminish to a level that's not problematic.

Wow! I have not personally known someone who has been "cured." But I would love to hear about it. I also think people have different perspectives on what "cured" is as well. I agree with your point about mental illness diagnosis too. It's not a perfect science. Years ago homosexuality was in the DSM. I'm still grateful that we have the diagnostic tools though. Once I finally got the PTSD diagnosis, I was able to make better decisions about my treatment.

 

[Ronin]

Attitude toward treatment and life has though zero bearing on facts about disorders.

And I am not all that sure medical people would define positive belief as you seem to use it, rather as lifestyle modifications however possible AND adhering to the treatment plans, not a belief: a determination put in concrete action.

Stating something is incurable is a fact that in no way says you cannot do a thing about it, now.

 

[Abstract]

Hi @Chris-duck technically, clinically that is considered asymptomatic. As you alluded to. If someone went to be diagnosed at that point they would not be diagnosed as having PTSD. Maybe as an anxiety disorder or nothing at all. A cure is a different concept. Agree very much with remission presently in my own experience but am open to changes in the future. And that determination and belief are powerful in that they fuel motivation and openness to change. Getting to the point of being asymptomatic isn't that rare looking at the wide range of people who get PTSD as far as I understand. I understand your way of looking at this.

 

[Chris-duck]

I know clinically it'd be asymptomatic/in remission. But for the person experiencing it there's no real difference between that and cured other than the higher likelihood it might return. So I don't think the lack of cure is a reason to lose hope cos you could be in treatment for a bit, then be asymptomatic for years theoretically and that's gonna feel much the same as if you were cured for years.

I dunno. I don't feel like I'm explaining myself well. I'm not arguing with anyone. I'm kinda chilling in the middle seeing how it all applies. It's too subjective imo.

 

[Sweet_E]

Attitude toward treatment and life has though zero bearing on facts about disorders.

And I am not all that sure medical people would define positive belief as you seem to use it, rather as lifestyle modifications however possible AND adhering to the treatment plans, not a belief: a determination put in concrete action.

Stating something is incurable is a fact that in no way says you cannot do a thing about it, now.

They have done studies that prove a person's attitude impacts there treatment. They showed that if a person believed a medication would work, it was likely to be more effective. This is also why people in studies experience the placebo affect. There is also the "nocebo" effect, where people in the control group start getting the drug side-effects, even though they actually aren't taking the drug.

I know clinically it'd be asymptomatic/in remission. But for the person experiencing it there's no real difference between that and cured other than the higher likelihood it might return. So I don't think the lack of cure is a reason to lose hope cos you could be in treatment for a bit, then be asymptomatic for years theoretically and that's gonna feel much the same as if you were cured for years.

I dunno. I don't feel like I'm explaining myself well. I'm not arguing with anyone. I'm kinda chilling in the middle seeing how it all applies. It's too subjective imo.

All true.

 

[Abstract]

I get it. I am open to people labelling things in a way that is helpful to them. Within reason of course. Being asymptomatic or in remission after drowning in PTSD awfulness is a reason to feel cured and for some they may never have any issues after. And who knows what comes after.

 

[Sideways]

I don’t get the issue.

Medical terminology is meant to convey specific medical information.

PTSD is treatable. Not cureable. Most people with PTSD experience full remission of symptoms.

What’s the issue??

 

[Abstract]

I suspect its about how different people perceive motivation. Possibilities. And Medical truths.

 

[Sweet_E]

There no cure for diabetes, AIDS, cancer, or the common cold or flu, either. Do you get your nose out of joint when people say so, wear ribbons, raise money for research, walk-for-the-cure, too? Or is PTSD the only condition that’s not allowed to not have a cure, yet?

I think you missed the point of what I wrote, but no worries. :) To take AIDS for example, I would not go up to someone with HIV and tell them there is no cure for their condition. That's just rude. But I'm all for people working to raise money for research for it. If someone with AIDS believed that they could be healed, I would let them believe that. I believe there is at least one documented case of someone going from HIV positive to HIV negative.

And as others have pointed out, mental illness is not as clear cut as something that can be diagnosed with blood test. There have been instances where people have been diagnosed with bi-polar. Come to find out they have a thyroid disorder and once that is resolved the bipolar is gone. People are also misdiagnosed all of the time. And what a person believes about their prognosis does affect the outcome. My main point is that what we say regarding someone's possibility for healing is very powerful.

 

[Chris-duck]

I don’t get the issue.

Medical terminology is meant to convey specific medical information.

PTSD is treatable. Not cureable. Most people with PTSD experience full remission of symptoms.

What’s the issue??

That sometimes it doesn't matter if you're treated or cured. It's all the same as far as symptoms go. So even if it isn't yet curable it's not a reason to not hope to feel better.

 

[Sideways]

And what a person believes about their prognosis does affect the outcome.

Unfortunately though, you read a research article, which was intended to convey information about the condition PTSD. Which it did.

It wasn’t an article designed to make you feel good about having ptsd. It was designed to convey information.