Sufferer New here. Just checking things out after a lifetime of trauma.

[Weemie]

I see a lot of you have gone through worse than me. I feel like maybe mine isn't important enough to worry about.

Those people who went through worse? Are looking at those who went through worse than them, telling themselves to just get over it.

 

[Friday]

I do have a question though. I realize we've all gone through things that vary in severity. I see a lot of you have gone through worse than me. I feel like maybe mine isn't important enough to worry about. If that makes sense. Is that sometimes normal?

SUPER Normal. There’s even a symptom in this particular disorder that provokes it. Avoidance. Afterall? If it’s not that bad, not important enough to worry about, what “don’t” you have to do?

C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidence by one or both of the following:

1. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
2. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).

Vexing, isn’t it?!?

***

BOHICA, THERE’S MORE

***

With PTSD, it’s like one of those “You must be at least this tall to ride this ride” signs. Once the minimum threshold is reached? That’s it. PTSD has become possible.

Not guaranteed, just one of many possible outcomes.

Nor does the type, severity, complexity, or length of someone’s trauma history predict whether they’ll have mild/moderate/severe PTSD, mild/moderate/severe CPTSD; nor how functional they’ll be; nor, nor, nor, nor. The correlations we naturally want to attach, just by being human? Are simply non existent with this disorder. Someone can have an objectively ginormous/severe/complicated trauma history spanning decades with thousands of events, and have a very mild case of PTSD, that’s quickly resolved. Or? The opposite. Or? Land somewhere in the middle. Meanwhile someone with a one-off trauma, can be completely debilitated by severe PTSD, or the opposite, or land somewhere in the middle. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

PTSD also isn’t a pain scale. Many of the absolute worst/most painful things in life? Do not cause PTSD. They just don’t. For whatever reason, and no one knows why. That doesn’t mean those brutally painful things in life don’t cause other disorders, conditions, or problems. They often do. Same as the kinds of trauma that can cause PTSD can also cause other disorders, conditions, or problems. Put 10 people through the exact same trauma? End up with 10 different results. WHY some of the worst parts of life do not cause PTSD, & WHY people develop different disorders and conditions from the exact same trauma? Scientifically, we just don’t know… yet.

=

If the event(s) caused PTSD? Both the event(s), & disorder itself, are bad enough to be important.

If the event(s) cannot cause PTSD? They may well be worse, and even more important.

I know. I’m just a little bluebird of happiness. Vexing as hell, this disorder.

 

[LunaticOnTheFritz]

SUPER Normal. There’s even a symptom in this particular disorder that provokes it. Avoidance. Afterall? If it’s not that bad, not important enough to worry about, what “don’t” you have to do?



Vexing, isn’t it?!?

***

BOHICA, THERE’S MORE

***

With PTSD, it’s like one of those “You must be at least this tall to ride this ride” signs. Once the minimum threshold is reached? That’s it. PTSD has become possible.

Not guaranteed, just one of many possible outcomes.

Nor does the type, severity, complexity, or length of someone’s trauma history predict whether they’ll have mild/moderate/severe PTSD, mild/moderate/severe CPTSD; nor how functional they’ll be; nor, nor, nor, nor. The correlations we naturally want to attach, just by being human? Are simply non existent with this disorder. Someone can have an objectively ginormous/severe/complicated trauma history spanning decades with thousands of events, and have a very mild case of PTSD, that’s quickly resolved. Or? The opposite. Or? Land somewhere in the middle. Meanwhile someone with a one-off trauma, can be completely debilitated by severe PTSD, or the opposite, or land somewhere in the middle. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

PTSD also isn’t a pain scale. Many of the absolute worst/most painful things in life? Do not cause PTSD. They just don’t. For whatever reason, and no one knows why. That doesn’t mean those brutally painful things in life don’t cause other disorders, conditions, or problems. They often do. Same as the kinds of trauma that can cause PTSD can also cause other disorders, conditions, or problems. Put 10 people through the exact same trauma? End up with 10 different results. WHY some of the worst parts of life do not cause PTSD, & WHY people develop different disorders and conditions from the exact same trauma? Scientifically, we just don’t know… yet.

=

If the event(s) caused PTSD? Both the event(s), & disorder itself, are bad enough to be important.

If the event(s) cannot cause PTSD? They may well be worse, and even more important.

I know. I’m just a little bluebird of happiness. Vexing as hell, this disorder.

Back when I was a kid they didn't have a name for this crap. At least not to my knowledge. At least now I know what it is and can work on the healing. I doubt it will ever be 100% because of the damage done.

At least I have some answers as to why things were the way they were. I hate not knowing when something is gonna set me off and I get blind sided by something.

It feels good to be able to come here and talk and be able to relate to things I'm reading.

 

[LunaticOnTheFritz]

I just want to say I'm glad I found this place. I finally feel like I'm in a safe space.

 

[Friday]

I just want to say I'm glad I found this place. I finally feel like I'm in a safe space.

We’re still on the internet. Which, by definition, is not a safe space. Nor does this site try to be.

Peer to Peer can FEEL like that, certainly. But? Always remember, we ARE online.

 

[LunaticOnTheFritz]

We’re still on the internet. Which, by definition, is not a safe space. Nor does this site try to be.

Peer to Peer can FEEL like that, certainly. But? Always remember, we ARE online.

TY but I know that. I just meant I feel like I found someplace where I belong. If that makes sense. I've been online since the 90s when it all first hit so I'm familiar with internet safety stuff.