Outrageous (stupid) Things You've Heard Regarding Ptsd

['91 Girl]

I have only been diagnosed for a few months...and haven't really told anyone. So I only have one. But I am betting some people on here have a hundred.

Upon telling someone close to me:
Me: Do you know what PTSD is?
Her: Yes, I know what it does to soldiers.
Me: ... (I really wanted to shoot back: And what do you think it did to me?!)

 

[LaurieJ]

Her: When are you just going to get over it?
Me: When was the last time you were in a building hit by a plane, on fire, collapsing around you as you ran for your life? (I'm a 2 WTC 9/11 survivor) Don't you think it would have life long effects on you?
Her: But you should be over it by now and not taking so much medication.
Me: When did you go to medical school and become a psychiatrist?
This was an actual conversation with a relative!

 

['91 Girl]

Oh my goodness L.J.! That's horrible!

 

[Abstract]

The closest I have managed to get to sharing with anyone in realtime is in a moment of weakness telling my sister I was seeing a trauma therapist about something that happened in my life and that I was not in such a good place. Said all matter of factly as she can't cope with others being distressed and gets angry.

Big mistake and I should have known better as her answer was to look very disapproving and say, "maybe you should stop going to therapy and stop reading up and just get on with it. To lighten up". It may be interesting to note that she is a registered psychologist. Just before that she had said she thinks she should go into counselling after all. I had asked her if she felt she could avoid wanting people to just be better and her response was indignant! I think thats part of what made me let my guard down. The rest of the conversation followed about 3 minutes later.

 

[Eric23]

I am in long term treatment for a serious non-PTSD medical condition. One of the meds I have been has left me chronically fatigued and exhausted when I make the slightest effort to do anything for two years. My doctor refused to believe it was the drug and claimed it was due to my PTSD or as he put it "psychological neurosis". I had to have my Psychiatrist call him to explain that PTSD is hyper-vigilance, not depression. I was taken off the drug and the fatigue and exhaustion stopped, my doctor denies he ever claimed it was due to my 'psychological neurosis.

 

[Pencil]

Abstract, I've been sitting here, really wanting to respond to your post as it exasperates me, but I'm speechless. HOw did you feel about your sister's response? How did you respond? It would have made me homicidal!

I recently tried to tell the person who is closest to being a friend I have at the moment, but I didn't get very far as she interrupted me with: 'Oh, yes, everybody has PTSD', and then changed the subject.

 

['91 Girl]

And how will she ever make a living telling her clients to stop therapy??

Hahahaha!

Oh, and my favourite, from my sister who is more responsible for my PTSD than my parents combined: 'You use PTSD as an excuse for your irritability'. That one bends my mind every time I think about it.

Really now? Certainly it can make us irritable, but did it occur to her that maybe SHE makes you irritable?

Abstract...I feel sorry for her patients.

Pencil...WHAT?!? Right...everyone has nightmares every night, jumps at the smallest sound, and gets intrusive thoughts and flashbacks of the worst time of their lives...yep. Everyone.

 

[Pencil]

Abstract...I feel sorry for her patients.

I agree. And how will she ever make a living telling her clients to stop therapy?? Fascinating!

Right...everyone h

Yep, everyone, and so we should all happily live with it and never mention it. What an effective put-down.

Oh, and my favourite, from my sister who is more responsible for my PTSD than my parents combined: 'You use PTSD as an excuse for your irritability'. That one bends my mind every time I think about it.

 

[Pencil]

How do I tell the stupid twit that PTSD MAKES one irritable? It's like saying someone is using a cough as an excuse for bronchitis?!? :confused: And I believe irritability is preferable to raging, lying, manipulating, shit-stirring etc - the things she does, all before breakfast. And, you're right, she annoys the hell out of me.

 

['91 Girl]

Hahaha. I don't know. It may not be possible, especially if she believes you use it as an excuse.

 

[Pencil]

she can't cope with others being distressed and gets angry

And she's a psychologist.

I've often thought that psychologists are lucky that patients can't form a union.

 

[Pencil]

psychological neurosis

That's an interesting one!