General Is There Such Thing As "mild" Ptsd?

[HollyB]

This might seem like a dumb question with an obvious answer, but...

Is there such thing as "mild PTSD"? I sometimes wonder if my sufferer's case is mild, or really not that severe, because what I personally observe doesn't seem to be much more than a sort of post-deployment adjustment problem combined with selfishness and anxiety. He was flagged for PTSD, and is open to seek treatment for it once he's settled back in to our home state (happening now) and can get in with the VA, but sometimes I just...question it. And then I wonder if my doubts/questioning are common/normal too.

Thoughts?

 

[Smushroom]

I know for me, i go through stages of how intense or how 'bad' my PTSD symptoms are. Sometimes I can just experience some anxiety or depression, and other times it is full blown, flashbacks/nightmares/hypervigilence, you name it, i've got it!

He may just be in one of these phases. But that's not to say what he is showing on the outside isn't a true reflection of what is going on inside. A lot of this stuff happens in my head, and I can appear completely normal, but I am being tortured on the inside.

Totally normal to ask these questions. It's hard to know and understand what is happening to someone if it hasn't happened/happening to you. But do as much research as you can, try and look for the warning signs that he may be sinking further down, and try to ensure he follows through with getting the helps he has been offered. Even if he thinks he is 'ok', better to get on top of it now, than wait until 10, 20 years down the track.

Best of luck :)

 

[amethist]

I get what your saying Holly.

There are days when I look at my husband and see him as the man I married. Days when anyone would say there was nothing wrong with him.

Then there are days when I can just see the pain on his face. These are the days that he struggles to even make himself a drink.

They become very good at hiding exactly how they are feeling, because they just want to be "Normal". They dont want to acknowledge the flashbacks and nightmares, so they put a mask on.

So dont doubt him, but praise him for managing it so well, even before he has been seen.

 

[Renee5624]

I worry about the mask. I worry that my husband is so determined to progress in his career, that he will suppress his struggle and it will make things worse. I don't dare express this verbally because i don't want to dismiss the progress that I have seen. How do you release the doubts and embrace the change, even if it's tiny? I've grown so cynical in the past several years...

 

[AS1975]

He was flagged for PTSD, and is open to seek treatment for it once he's settled back in to our home state (happening now) and can get in with the VA, but sometimes I just...question it. And then I wonder if my doubts/questioning are common/normal too.

There is intense pressure in several occupations, and in life in general, to appear 'normal'. With guys this is possibly even more intense, as we won't admit there is a problem until it is virtually debilitating and we have no choice (think the Monty Python black knight claiming it was only a flesh wound when his leg was off). As guys withdraw more and more into themselves and work to prevent it being obvious, that stopping outbursts, frustration and the nightmare that surrounds them becoming clear (like other people they've probably made fun of, young guys are bulletproof narcissistic little wonders after all), they actually become selfish, self-absorbed, moody and irritable, it isn't a conscious thing, their mind is so caught up trying to get a handle on this pain and there is so much introspection, that that is how it comes across.

It gets to the point where I was lucky to get an hours work done during the day, trying to hide the struggle while I worked, I'd be working as hard as was possible while all this crap was going on internally and I'd look up and "is that the time?", or I'd wake during the night and do some work to try and get to sleep, next thing the sun would be coming up and I'd been awake all night. We'll let things get to an absolutely frightful state before we'll admit we need help desperately (we will actually need help yesterday by that point normally). It's one of those male things, especially with 'tough' guys who are proud of their self-image and how they are viewed by their peers.

We thought that will never happen to us, we've seen people struggling, but thought they were just being sooks and should toughen up. When it does happen to us, not only does it knock us on our arse, none of our normal 'coping mechanisms' work - just moving on, toughening up, hardening up, putting it behind us, or hoping it will get better, work. Then their is the issue of what our peers, who've we've discussed it and joked about it with, will view us. Mix that in with a healthy dose of denial and male introversion and the probably doesn't go away, it magnifies.

 

[Abstract]

I can appear completely normal, but I am being tortured on the inside.

Apparently this is true for me (although there are obviously exceptions where I am a gibbering wreck). I actually can be having significant intrusive stuff happening and automatically go into this (look normal at a glimpse). I think it is a long practised instinct that happens when I feel in real urgent danger. It astounds me that I look OK when I know how I feel or what I have experienced.

 

[Abstract]

they just want to be "Normal". They dont want to acknowledge the flashbacks and nightmares, so they put a mask on.
.

Yes, because I am ashamed. And because it feels instinctively dangerous for others to know. For me anyway.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I don't think I'd fool myself into thinking that it's "mild" esp in light of the fact that doctors in the VA are pressured to NOT diagnose PTSD, instead opting for "adjustment disorder" or the like. Perhaps he's hiding things from you?

 

[Renee5624]

Is there a "moderate" diagnosis? I believe that's what my husband told me. It was in the very beginning of our relationship. I didn't know anything about it to question it.

 

[AS1975]

Not really, the symptoms have to be fairly well up the scale of severity in order for the diagnosis to be made at all. That means there has to be constant intrusive thoughts, nightmares and dreams on a very regular basis, and several other symptoms at least a couple of times a week. "Moderate" or "Mild" would be an awfully casual way of describing it. The adjective really doesn't moderate the noun properly, it's like suggesting "mild" or "moderate" pneumonia is something mild or moderate if you get my drift.

 

[Nicolette]

Is there such thing as "mild PTSD"?

Yes, its called high functioning in that the symptoms are not as severe or obvious. These sufferers can work, hold down a job, do most normal things to the outside world and do fall over but not to the point of isolation like many. They have more good days than bad but still suffer symptoms of the illness and fulfill the criteria for diagnosis.

 

[Sues]

I have my good days and bad days. Some days the symptoms are horrible and it's all I can do to function and appear half way normal. I can feel good for a while and then without warning, bam, I'm right back into it again.