PTSD causes and factors?

[Roland]

So we know PTSD is caused by life threatening or physically unsafe situations like war, rape, torture, car accidents, etc... but we also know that two people can be in the same car accident and only one get PTSD. What causes some people to develop PTSD and others not? My husband said something interesting that it wasn't so much about having experienced these life threatening situations but about what it meant to your identity or about you in general. In war the things that haunts soldiers is the things they were made to do, in rape that they were helpless and anyone could overpower and enter their body, or car accidents that cars are unsafe and will kill you etc. What do you think? Why are some people "predisposed" to PTSD and others not?

 

[Lost in the Woods]

Many of us endured years of both physical and psychological abuse so it isn’t always a one and done type situation. For me it was from birth until I was almost 15 when my mother finally killed herself. I also witnessed a murder less than 100 feet away. I always thought I skated through until my 40s when things started changing. On the other hand my sister has done multiple serious suicide attempts since she was 15. She. May have had it worse since when I refused to live with my mother she started on my sister locking her in closets, etc. I think I had stronger survival instincts but it still caught up with me. I think your question is one of the big mysteries about this stuff.

 

[Roland]

Many of us endured years of both physical and psychological abuse so it isn’t always a one and done type situation. For me it was from birth until I was almost 15 when my mother finally killed herself. I also witnessed a murder less than 100 feet away. I always thought I skated through until my 40s when things started changing. On the other hand my sister has done multiple serious suicide attempts since she was 15. She. May have had it worse since when I refused to live with my mother she started on my sister locking her in closets, etc. I think I had stronger survival instincts but it still caught up with me. I think your question is one of the big mysteries about this stuff.

Completely agree. This stuff is wild. Does your sister have PTSD? You can get PTSD from one incident, "single incident PTSD" or whatever. Those of us that went through years of shit have complex PTSD but psychologists have yet to add that to the DSMV because it's known but not ya know, official. Also it catching up to you is real for sure... My mom after years of survival mode and touching everything out finally collapsed in depression and overall aftermath of trauma (no diagnosis but likely PTSD). I mean, it was about time. 20 years of marriage to a narcissist that verbally, psychologically, and sexually abused her, it takes a toll. But you can be traumatized without developing PTSD. So many complications with this stuff.

 

[Lost in the Woods]

We are a very sick species that is occasionally capable of extreme acts of beauty and kindness. How we survived as a species with all our defects is beyond me. I have never attempted suicide but I do have passive ideation. So I guess I was less impacted than my sister was.

 

[Freida]

I've been told that the difference between who gets ptsd and who doesn't isn't based in the trauma alone - it's what happens after the trauma. That's why two people who experience the same thing can have completely different outcomes. It's all about getting the support that you need to recover. I can't remember who said it but they said ptsd comes from facing your terror all on your own. Which makes a ton of sense when you think about it

 

[Roland]

We are a very sick species that is occasionally capable of extreme acts of beauty and kindness. How we survived as a species with all our defects is beyond me. I have never attempted suicide but I do have passive ideation. So I guess I was less impacted than my sister was.

Idk if it can be measured by suicide attempts really. It's complicated. Yeah I don't know either lol. I had a baby this year and I was dang they come out so helpless and mothers are so weak and sleep deprived with birth and breastfeeding. I guess there was a lot of "survival over the fittest" in previous times.

 

[Roland]

I've been told that the difference between who gets ptsd and who doesn't isn't based in the trauma alone - it's what happens after the trauma. That's why two people who experience the same thing can have completely different outcomes. It's all about getting the support that you need to recover. I can't remember who said it but they said ptsd comes from facing your terror all on your own. Which makes a ton of sense when you think about it

Wow... That's wild. What kind of support do people really need? It's hard for me to fathom since support is a concept I just don't get. Like my husband and family are there for me but I don't know how to let them help me? It's always been an internalized battle for me.

 

[Lost in the Woods]

Wow... That's wild. What kind of support do people really need? It's hard for me to fathom since support is a concept I just don't get. Like my husband and family are there for me but I don't know how to let them help me? It's always been an internalized battle for me.

I had zero support, nothing was ever talked about. I never really thought much about it, it was all so normalized and I was the problem.

 

[Roland]

I had zero support, nothing was ever talked about. I never really thought much about it, it was all so normalized and I was the problem.

Same

 

[Abstract]

Shall come back when brain works better, but I obsessed about this for a long time. I also used it to beat myself up. I obsessed about empathy resilience etc.

And it seems it might be complicated and involve different factors. Like everything related to human beings.

For example:
The amount and severity of the trauma. It seems that enough and very severe trauma will more likely overwhelm resources and resilience.

Like Frida said, a support structure. This one did my head in the most, frankly. I couldn't even tolerate therapy. In recent years I was forced to rely on others physically and mentally and lucky enough to have one person show up for me. It has broken down some of that extreme independence and made me see things differently. I never had a single person show an interest and most of it wss before social media and support sites etc. I didn't even speak to myself.

Apparently, factors like intelligence are something. Lovely.

Coping Skills and ability to identify emotional states and manage them healthily.

Lack of or presence of one safe caregiver.

Guilt shame powerlessness and lack of control. This is one you referenced and I can totally see that for myself. Also, when you have empathy or a moral compas of sorts then seeing others hurt is a big one. Not being able to help. Massive.

I know there is a debate about genetic factors and other stuff that they don't know. Yikes.

I used to obsess about wether a psychopath could get PTSD. It was a thing. I wondered if the lack of empathy or care or feelings about others would stop that happening. Never quite figured that one out.

I do wonder if my over empathising and my avoidant attachment stuff was a big factor for me.

I do know that now being able to speak like this here has made the biggest difference. This site all in all has. Otherwise the pressure cooker continues to build and when there is nowhere for things to go...

Hope not garbled. Brain.

 

[Jade-]

Apparently, factors like intelligence are something. Lovely.

Is that really a factor? Cause I don't really think or believe it is or should be.

I've always considered myself a fairly intelligent person and was always considered a pretty intelligent child(according to the schools). I can't imagine what difference it would make whether someone is intelligent, average or below average.

Can you explain more?

 

[Abstract]

Is that really a factor? Cause I don't really think or believe it is or should be.

I've always considered myself a fairly intelligent person and was always considered a pretty intelligent child(according to the schools). I can't imagine what difference it would make whether someone is intelligent, average or below average.

Can you explain more?

Hi! Not at all saying that is what I believe. Just listing it along with the other stuff I read when I was obsessing about this stuff. Nothing I read said it was THE factor. Just one potential risk factor. And then we get to how do we judge intelligence. IQ etc is massively fallible. And learning disabilities and neglect and cultural stuff can impact enormously. Frankly my family and other stuff messed with my ability to learn. I think I am less stupid than I seemed. Or certainly than I was treated.

I've almost never found a bunch of as intelligent and wise people as I have on this site.

The influence of a child's intellectual abilities on psychological trauma: The mediation role of resilience

Psychological trauma exists in children and has a real impact on their mental and physical health. There is mixed evidence that post-traumatic stress …

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