Official Diagnosis Of Ptsd - Good Idea?

[RedRose]

Hullo everyone,

I originally posted on here quite a while ago now looking for advice on broaching the topic of C-PTSD with my therapist (who I've met with now for a couple years) and I finally brought it up the other week with her! She didn't know much about the C-PTSD, a little more about classic PTSD although it's not her area of specialty. Nevertheless, she did agree with me when I explained that this just felt like the best fit for me in terms of explaining my experience, and I think she's looking further into it before our next session. It was actually quite a big relief for me to have her agree on it, I guess it felt validating in a major way.

I just wondered whether people had any opinions on the benefits or otherwise of getting (C-)PTSD as an official diagnosis. Of course I'm aware that C-PTSD isn't an official diagnosis currently, so I'm referring to PTSD as a diagnosis..... my feeling that is that it would be tremendously validating for me to have this formally recognised..... but I wondered also if anyone had any experiences indicating that it's better not to have it formally recognised, if you've experienced discrimination or anything along those lines. Or more generally if you've found it limiting in anyway, or that it's limited treatment options for you, or if on the other hand it has opened them up to you. I know this question is a little rambly, but hopefully you'll understand what I'm getting at :)

RedRose

 

[Lucycat]

had any opinions on the benefits or otherwise of getting (C-)PTSD as an official diagnosis.

not in the UK no. It is only of benefit if you need it it for your insurance to pay for your therapy - which does not happen here. However I did use the diagnosis in my police witness statement ( having been advised by the psychiatrist that it could be challenged) and it was accepted. So, If you feel the diagnosis fits your problems, then why challenge it?

 

[RedRose]

Hullo, thanks for the reply :)

So, If you feel the diagnosis fits your problems, then why challenge it?

Well, I'm not really challenging it, it's more a question of whether I would ask for it to be formally recorded or whether I just keep it as a mental framework of understanding and for healing for myself, if that makes sense. My gut instinct I think is to request for it to be somehow formalised, in case there were confusion about it down the line....

 

[Crow]

I don't think cptsd is an official medical diagnosis. It's not in the dsmv and insurance companies don't have a diagnostic code for it. So ptsd will be the official diagnosis. Cptsd does have different treatment approaches and takes a lifetime of treatment usually. For me the label expanded treatment options not limit them. Medical doctors don't have a clue so i stick with ptsd outside of the psychiatric community. If cptsd resonates with you, claim the label.

 

[RedRose]

I don't think cptsd is an official medical diagnosis. It's not in the dsmv and insurance companies d...

Nope, it's not an official diagnosis. As I mentioned, PTSD would be diagnosable, even if I identify more strongly with CPTSD.

I was just wondering what peoples experiences were with having it as a 'label' for diagnosis was all really :)

I'm in the UK and there's potential for it being used at some point with medical insurance, although ideally I'd look for NHS treatments.

 

[Lucycat]

wondering what peoples experiences were with having it as a 'label' for diagnosis was

I don't go around telling people so very few know I have a mental health diagnosis. There can be no discrimination if they don't know. I don't have medical insurance and you do not need to declare it for travel insurance..

The few close friends and family who know don't treat me any differently. But I am the same before and after diagnosis, as I had this condition for decades before it was diagnosed.

I am treated by the NHS and my therapist is an expert in the treatment in CPTSD so I am very fortunate that he absolutely understands me and has a very flexible approach which works well for us.

 

[barefoot]

I'm not generally one to find labels helpful and usually kick against them. However, overall, I found the PTSD diagnosis did help me as suddenly it felt like lots of things (in terms of my behaviours/feelings/symptoms) fell into place and made more sense. I'd never even considered PTSD but then researching it and putting things into context - it just felt like things were starting to fit.

I haven't told many other people about it and haven't had to use it for anything formal in terms of insurance or whatever. But for my own wrapping my head around things and making sense of things, it's been a validating and reassuring thing for me.

 

[anonymous]

I am in the UK. I don't have an official diagnosis. I gave up on trying to get appropriate support through the NHS and see my T privately. For me, I don't believe an official diagnosis would be beneficial as it wouldn't change my current treatment plan with my T and I think the negative stress involved in the process of getting the diagnosis outweighs any positives I might get from it.

If I was still attempting to get help through the NHS, I might consider the diagnosis to be more important in respect of not getting fobbed off with inappropriate or inadequate support.

Identifying myself with PTSD criteria though, and being able to understand myself and my behaviours and reactions better through learning more about it, has been helpful to me. Personally, I don't need that to be 'official', although I know a lot of people on this site disagree.

 

[Forgetful]

I had suspected I had PTSD since 1992 when I spent 3 months in an Army psych ward in Germany. On Dec 31 I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, released from the hospital and escorted onto a plane headed back home where 2 days later I was honorable discharge.My symptoms didn't seem to fit that diagnosis (years later I read that military doctors at that time misdiagnosed PTSD as BPD to stop soldiers and from claiming service connected disability. I don't remember where I read that).

Anyway, that dx stuck with me through several more hospitalizations and years of therapy.After my last hospitalization (5 years ago) I was diagnosed with PTSD. With the correct diagnosis I was finally able to receive the correct therapy.

So in that sense the dx helped me. I have only told a very small group of family whom I consider supporters. I don't know if my daughter or my son in law told his mother but she told my daughter that I should not be left alone with my grandson. I'm being judged not by my behavior but from her piss poor lack of knowledge of the condition! I safely raised 2 beautiful girls with symptoms (prior to dx ) and I watch my granddaughter 5 days a week for 2 years now. Guess what - i never threw any of them out the window!
So in that sense my diagnosis has hurt me.

Sorry, this kind of turned into a rant.

 

[Gadgie]

I found the PTSD diagnosis did help me as suddenly it felt like lots of things (in terms of my behaviours/feelings/symptoms) fell into place and made more sense

I know exactly what that felt like, when I came home from my very first therapy session, I came in all excited and said to my wife..."Hey guess what, I'm not going mad after all, like I thought I was"........

To which my wife replied,...."of course your not mental, you mad bugger!"

Of course we both thought that was hilarious.

 

[KwanYingirl]

A label and a diagnosis are two different concepts. If you meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, then you have PTSD. That is a diagnosis not a label. You can't just magically pretend that you have it, so better to work on acceptance, self esteem and coping with stress. I am making an assumption here. It seems to me that you don't want to be judged by people who are ignorant or dismissive of the enormity of PTSD. That may be true, but you still have PTSD. As of yet, you have not been diagnosed with it, as that can only be done by a specialist. It's like putting the carriage before the horse. I don't know your story, but I don't advise that anyone diagnose themselves with PTSD-or any disorder. And wondering what to do vis a vie the C of CPTSD is like splittingre hairs. And if your therapist has to do homework to bone up on it, then she's not qualified to diagnose you. I think if you're worried about being labeled then I offer to you the possibility that you feel shame and you definitely have nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Anarchy]

Hi Red rose,
OK, first off, having an "official" diagnosis, doesn't make it any more or any less "so".

It is an opinion of someone for whom there is a one in two chance that they were in the bottom half of their class at medical school.

In terms of logic, it is the fallacy of " appeal to authority "

If you need it for personal validation, insurance or legal claim, fair enough.

In terms of prejudice. It depends upon what things you want to do. If you want a shotgun cert, having a diagnosis on your medical records will probably bugger your chances. If you already have a cert, it will likely earn you a visit from the armed response team.

Likewise if you want to work in a field where your medical records are vetted.

Bear in mind that once a diagnosis is in your records, it will stay there for your lifetime.

Also bear in mind that a bureautwat processing an enquiry, won't necessarily have any knowledge, and will apply "guidance" in a manner that protects their arse from future blame. Saying no is quicker easier and safer for them than taking half an hour to read Wikipedia, and get bollocked for not meeting performance targets for that morning.

Personally I'm allergic to lists and records. My ex thinks I'm paranoid...

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