What To Never Say To A Ptsd Sufferer

[FightingLily]

I seem normal? Wow, I guess my cover is not yet blown.

:thumbs-up I think I will add that to my arsenal of comebacks and smart-ass retorts.

 

[2quilt]

I love smartass retorts. They fly right over the heads of some people who are not bright enough to have compassion for others.

 

[redtriskell]

My personal favorite is "Just let it go." As if I were holding onto it on purpose... because, really, I don't have anything better to do than try to keep the nightmares and black thoughts and images out of my mind. And how, EXACTLY, am I supposed to let go of something I never wanted? I'm not holding onto it- it's stuck to me. red

 

[jailed]

Law Dog
You hit the head of the nail. I was peace officer for 30 years, the last five of which were a living hell. It still amazes me that I did not do a last 10-7 in the car. Finally I just retired because I saw MYSELF as a wuss unable to take it, you kow all the names. But the suffering got worst. Finally got treatment. Is it better, some days yes some days no, it kinda runs a cycle. Bad days are a struggle just to stay alive, Good days are defined by, lol, my medications working. It was easier to deal with when I knew I would die by age 60 but my therapist says thats just a symptom, I don't know it seemed like a goal to me.

 

[goingonhope]

Well I may as well ask here. First, am I crazy or did the title of this thread change to its extreme opposite in the last 24 hrs?

Second, though I know that many things said to PTSD sufferers are simple, innocent statements not to be so extremely negatively perceived, absorbed, personalized and distorted. I also know that some times some people will comment something out of ignorance and thoughtlessness.

In fact, I've also been so fortunate as to be forced, in previous yrs., to be acquainted with some people that when they came to know of my traumas, hurts, weaknesses and distress, they deliberately antagonized me to varying degrees in their sick ideas of fun. Other times people have deliberately set-out to control or manipulate me with words because they knew just how to do so for their miserable personal gain.

Triggered, triggered and triggered .................... not thinking straight any longer, not thinking in the present, full of fear.

If this makes little to no sense at all regarding this topic, just delete the damn' thing. It wouldn't be my first post lost to this thread. I tried two other times, got interrupted, had to attend to business, and then upon returning to it, had lost it.

 

[empowered]

Your right goingonhope the title has changed! It started as what not to say...

 

[Deleted member 487]

The key factor I think all of you will agree with me on, is those without the problem of PTSD have all the answers. They are, somehow, one step below Jesus Himself and they have alllllll the answers. They just leave it up to us because we are somehow not AS deserving as they are. We must somehow earn their level of holiness. HOW we earn it, they won't say. Of course. WHAT the answers are, they only hint at.

We're not special enough.

At least that is the impression I have.

And for those that really do think that we not special/holy enough, they can shove it right up their <expletive>.

 

[becvan]

Interesting.. the title did change! I wonder why?

bec

 

[FightingLily]

Hope brought the title change to my attention in a PM. She also conveyed some concerns about the direction this thread has taken.

She is absolutely right, it did read "What to NEVER say to a PTSD Sufferer". My intentions were as stated at the bottom of the post: to get those things off people's chests, to educate, and to get a laugh or two if willing....

I don't know how to change the title, so I must assume the change was made by a moderator.

 

[Deleted member 487]

I want to apologize for what I said, I re-read it and found I left entire words out. I did not mean to mislead or insult others.

 

[linasmom]

Lily - I've changed the title to reflect the original version - not sure how it got changed!!

Best,
Rachel

 

[Cecilia]

I must admit, I have not posted on this thread because for me, I have to go to a negative mind set to think about what people say that make me angry. When people make flippant remarks I remember and try to avoid them or at least limit future conversations with them.

It might be more constructive to discuss how we handle negative remarks more than just making a list. It is good to get things off your chest, but when it exudes with negative energy, it only brings me down. JMO.