Sufferer A Loved One Unexpectedly Died

[PTSD_GUY]

My cousin and best friend was killed in afganistan.

I was: depresed, I had insomnia, I see my dead cousin in my dreams, and I have traumatic thoughts and nightmares.
I went to a therapist who sent me to a doctor who diagnosed me as having PTSD.

Do the symptoms ever go away and how do you cope with this?

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

Hi ptsd_guy,

While I never had to deal with the death of a loved one this way, I recognize all the symptoms and I bet most of us here do. I am now ten years (wow...! time flies) removed from the trauma I went through. And I can tell you: yeah, they do go away. They fade gradually. Some times are more intense than others, but with the right kind of help these episodes will start being less intense and less frequent.

I think you cope mainly by communicating, like you are doing now :) By acknowledging that it happened to you and has this destructive effect on you, but also realizing that you are moving on and will be someplace better eventually. You cope by getting help, which you already did, and it's a great start. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Welcome. :)

 

[amethist]

Hi PTSD_GUY

I am wondering about the Dr who diagnosed you, as this seems more like extreme grief than PTSD. Seeing then in your dreams is all part of grieving, as is having thoughts about them.

Seeing them die, could give you PTSD, but hearing about it, but not seeing it wouldn't. Unless of course you have underlying trauma, then PTSD is possible.

I would check this out if I were you, as you really don't want a PTSD diagnosis.

 

[KP the nut]

Hi and welcome.

 

[Nicolette]

I would check this out if I were you, as you really don't want a PTSD diagnosis.

It could be just PTS too, Post Traumatic Stress... not the permanent disorder which is still preferable to PTSD.

 

[intothelight]

Welcome to the PTSD Forum! :)