Justifying Long Term Therapy

[Behati]

I also find it especially helpful during stressful times as things seem to get a lot more daunting. I don't think people understand that when things flare up its X 100000 for some people with PTSD:/ I don't wish it on anyone but if they don't understand they shouldn't judge.

 

[Digz]

I don't think people understand that when things flare up its X 100000 for some people with PTSD

I totally agree. It took me quite a long time to actually understand why this was so. I kept thinking to myself, 'why can't I handle this? Why am I getting much more stressed than others?' Then a psychologist explained to me that there is a scale of anxiety, 1 being crazily relaxed and 5 being anxious to crisis point. Most people operate regularly at a 2 (alert, but not anxious) but many of us with PTSD operate at least at a level 3 (aware that you're anxious) as our 'normal' state. For me, I think my 'normal' is actually in the high 3s, borderline 4. So when we are met with outside stressors such as workplace stress, relationship stress or whatever it may be that occurs in everyone's life - we don't have as far to go before reaching extremely heightened anxiety or crisis point. In fact many of us only have one step or two to being out of control. People without PTSD however, go from a 2 to a 3 which is anxious, but the type of anxiety that can be fixed with a brisk walk and a few breathing exercises.
This was such an 'aha!' moment for me. I'd never really understood why everyday stress could make me extra worse. Then, if you imagine our normal functioning is at a 3 and then add some new flashbacks.... then the anxiety has just gone off the chart! Full blown fight or flight then.

 

[mtnbibliophile]

It's easy for others to tell you that your seeing a therapist is no business of anyone else's, but the fact remains that you did tell a friend and she's going to bug you about it. I'd reply that you have some serious issues that will take longer to resolve.

And when she then advocates CBT again, tell her you'd rather not put a bandaid on an infected wound and pretend it's not there, you'd rather work on healing the wound. That should shut her up on that topic.

I wanted to tell you that it seems completely reasonable to me that you'd share the information that you're seeing a therapist with a friend, especially one you had reason to believe would understand. Friends share information, and sometimes talking about your therapy with a friend who understands can help you move forward outside the therapist's office.

(Incidentally, I've been in therapy for over 20 years, adding it all up, though the first six shouldn't count since they didn't accomplish anything.)