- Admin
- #13
anthony
Founder
My two cents on many subjects, all inter-related.
I think Nicolette was agreeing with you Abbi... nothing more, then adding her own bits.
Text is extremely difficult to tackle, it has no emotion, it has no pitch, it comes with no facial expression... smilies don't suffice to portray on a forum like this that is mental health.
People often forget what the topic of this forum is... PTSD. That is a whole group of people who have extreme symptoms, anger, sleep problems, triggers, dissociate, black to white in flatout speed. It has always been this way, I don't see it changing due to the topics nature.
Bec has it right, in that it is often a topic that really needs to be raised nearly on a month by month basis, because so many new members join each month, who don't have the experience of the site, nor even the knowledge usually. Some will become problems, and either leave or be banned, many will go on happily just enjoying the community that is here for them. Most people are good people from my experience, regardless how screwed up we may be at any given time.
As for me personally, yes... I tend to have to be coated in teflon as the admin, because people just see it that way and some have authority figure issues, some just want to disagree for the sake of it, some have different beliefs... all is well and expected across all realms.
If anyone wants to challenge knowledge on PTSD, I always welcome it. Me... I could not tell you about a lot of things in life, or mental health even, I also have an opinion on subjects, but I have studied everything PTSD related for 6 years now, and I do have a substantial knowledge of PTSD and all facets directly surrounding PTSD. A psychologist or psychiatrist has a much better knowledge of psychology and psychiatry than I do, hands down... but those two areas are broad cross sections, not specialty to one subject. Neither of those have the time to read every subject matter on every diagnostic application around... impossible. People shouldn't blame them when they make mistakes, as you only need review the sheer mass of information on each subject to understand they could not know everything, unless they specialise in one area. It is very common now to begin finding psychologists and psychiatrist who specialise in specific areas, simply due to the massive learning required, then they must also earn a living, no doubt family commitments, etc.
You don't go to your GP about gynecology, because their knowledge will be limited. They may think their an expert, but their knowledge is limited. You get a referral to a gynecologist.
A tell-tail sign for any person in life on whether a physician is an "Eddy Expert" and are more dangerous than good for you, is if you have specialty problems requiring a specialist, and instead of referring you, which they should, they attempt to solve all your problems even though its outside their scope of knowledge and experience. In medicine and mental health, this is a tell-tail sign for danger! A psychiatrist should not be treating you for a physical injury, nor should a GP be treating you for psychiatry. Some argue that a psychiatrist is also an MD, which is correct, however; they no longer stay current with general medicine, instead their focus is psychiatry. So whilst your GP is staying current with general medicine, your psychiatrist trying to treat you for a general medical condition can make a massive stuff-up for you health-wise, all because you didn't see the right person for the right job.
This leads into.... do I know everything about PTSD? No... nor would I believe anyone could know everything, as knowledge also comes with some degree of opinion on which way you choose to go in some directions. I learn from the experts in trauma and traumatic science, break the complicated speak down, and regurgitate it here in laymen terms we can all understand easier. No magic voodoo or tricks, just that simple. Most of the complicated nonsense is irrelevant to the average person wanting to get better from PTSD. That is the aim, and more should focus on that than arguing IMHO.
Me... very used to being challenged, though I often wish people would actually bring their facts more often than just their opinion, or something their doctor told them, or therapist, or one study or news story they read online and are now suddenly Eddy the Expert on the subject. Many of those within the mental health field will read a study, then choose to run with that outcome or not. Some go looking for a broader cross section, knowing that one answer is not the truth. I fall into that category, and I tend to use an average cross section of information when providing such here, as that cross section provides both sides of the fence, not one or the other. Majority of the times anyway.
You must also understand complexities with medicine, ie. what is new now may be the future cure or treatment for PTSD, but it is new, which means there is no real evidence. Look at SGB... that may be the cure for PTSD, however; right now, it is relatively new, there are no long term side effects that can be ascertained, etc etc, so there is no requirement to change this forums scope to push members towards such a treatment. 5 or 10 years time when such information is available, will be a different story. That is the way medicine works. Safety is key, and this forum attempts to promote member safety as much as possible. What members do is up to them though uniquely.
Some of the recent bitchiness, my name for arguments, is in the complex PTSD area. That in itself says a whole lot, because anyone with complex PTSD is not always going to be the most stable, nor sound, in reading and processing information. I have worked with primarily complex sufferers since running this forum, being in private, and they are a full-time role to help, though the rewards are extremely good to see someone turn their lives around from that degree of severity. Complex sufferers and my bluntness... don't always go well together due to the often emotional distress involved with complex trauma, though I will say that experience has also dictated, it has helped a majority of complex cases vs. those who turn to arguing instead with little to no outcome.
There will always be those who can't be helped, this is fact. Accept it or reject it, choice is unique, but any counsellor will tell you, this is fact. Doctrine includes it as such... there is no such thing as even the right therapist for some people, because they are simply happy to be miserable. That is just the way it is for some, and until they really want to change, nothing will help them. We get those members here occasionally, I guarantee we have some here now... and they will either eventually leave in the same condition or they will argue that everyone else is wrong, likely mainly me, their therapist, doctors, etc... and that they are at no fault for the condition they remain within. You can't help denial, its just the way it is. That does not imply fault for being abused, it implies fault for wanting to remain the way you are. Most will change, the majority actually, but a minority won't, and that minority can cause havoc on a forum like this by being argumentative.
DID is a controversial topic, primarily because it is being abused within the USA right now, and the US mental health industry at a staggering 80% + have agreed of this abuse in the diagnosis. Me personally, I have reviewed the evidence, and I am with that 80%. With the members here, the odds should be around maybe, absolute top numbers, a total of 2 - 5 people with actual DID should have ever presented here, being a statistical correct number for multiple personality disorder. Instead, this forum has seen hundreds appear here with this diagnosis. Again, stick with the 80% of the mental health industry, its misdiagnosed, hence why even the APA themselves are making radical changes to dissociative disorders and PTSD as a result of abusive diagnosis for statue and financial gain.
Moods play a massive role. Put your hand up if you have mood swings! That would be everyone here. PTSD or not, mood swings is part of being human. A mood can change your complete dynamics online. Even the anonymity can change a persons mood, by suddenly being 10 foot tall and bullet proof through the privacy of their computer vs. face to face. Welcome to life...
Many don't understand what goes on behind the scenes, and nor should you really worry about such things, but be rest assured, that I, and every staff member of this forum, act on the best interest of the majority. We don't just ban people for stupid things, we give warnings, we discuss privately, we try to get difficult or distress persons to calm down, even if that means a temporary ban. Staff are not here to hinder, though unfortunately there are a minority that exist to cause issue, and they will be dealt with.
Dutch courage. As bec stated, Dutch courage is when someone makes an attacking remark, then suddenly those with a little courage jump on it, often without even reading what was said, or asking a question to clarify, they go from white to black, no questions asked.
Welcome to PTSD Forum and please remember, clarify when reading text, because your interpretation and feeling of what you read is not necessarily what is implied, from any member.
I think Nicolette was agreeing with you Abbi... nothing more, then adding her own bits.
Text is extremely difficult to tackle, it has no emotion, it has no pitch, it comes with no facial expression... smilies don't suffice to portray on a forum like this that is mental health.
People often forget what the topic of this forum is... PTSD. That is a whole group of people who have extreme symptoms, anger, sleep problems, triggers, dissociate, black to white in flatout speed. It has always been this way, I don't see it changing due to the topics nature.
Bec has it right, in that it is often a topic that really needs to be raised nearly on a month by month basis, because so many new members join each month, who don't have the experience of the site, nor even the knowledge usually. Some will become problems, and either leave or be banned, many will go on happily just enjoying the community that is here for them. Most people are good people from my experience, regardless how screwed up we may be at any given time.
As for me personally, yes... I tend to have to be coated in teflon as the admin, because people just see it that way and some have authority figure issues, some just want to disagree for the sake of it, some have different beliefs... all is well and expected across all realms.
If anyone wants to challenge knowledge on PTSD, I always welcome it. Me... I could not tell you about a lot of things in life, or mental health even, I also have an opinion on subjects, but I have studied everything PTSD related for 6 years now, and I do have a substantial knowledge of PTSD and all facets directly surrounding PTSD. A psychologist or psychiatrist has a much better knowledge of psychology and psychiatry than I do, hands down... but those two areas are broad cross sections, not specialty to one subject. Neither of those have the time to read every subject matter on every diagnostic application around... impossible. People shouldn't blame them when they make mistakes, as you only need review the sheer mass of information on each subject to understand they could not know everything, unless they specialise in one area. It is very common now to begin finding psychologists and psychiatrist who specialise in specific areas, simply due to the massive learning required, then they must also earn a living, no doubt family commitments, etc.
You don't go to your GP about gynecology, because their knowledge will be limited. They may think their an expert, but their knowledge is limited. You get a referral to a gynecologist.
A tell-tail sign for any person in life on whether a physician is an "Eddy Expert" and are more dangerous than good for you, is if you have specialty problems requiring a specialist, and instead of referring you, which they should, they attempt to solve all your problems even though its outside their scope of knowledge and experience. In medicine and mental health, this is a tell-tail sign for danger! A psychiatrist should not be treating you for a physical injury, nor should a GP be treating you for psychiatry. Some argue that a psychiatrist is also an MD, which is correct, however; they no longer stay current with general medicine, instead their focus is psychiatry. So whilst your GP is staying current with general medicine, your psychiatrist trying to treat you for a general medical condition can make a massive stuff-up for you health-wise, all because you didn't see the right person for the right job.
This leads into.... do I know everything about PTSD? No... nor would I believe anyone could know everything, as knowledge also comes with some degree of opinion on which way you choose to go in some directions. I learn from the experts in trauma and traumatic science, break the complicated speak down, and regurgitate it here in laymen terms we can all understand easier. No magic voodoo or tricks, just that simple. Most of the complicated nonsense is irrelevant to the average person wanting to get better from PTSD. That is the aim, and more should focus on that than arguing IMHO.
Me... very used to being challenged, though I often wish people would actually bring their facts more often than just their opinion, or something their doctor told them, or therapist, or one study or news story they read online and are now suddenly Eddy the Expert on the subject. Many of those within the mental health field will read a study, then choose to run with that outcome or not. Some go looking for a broader cross section, knowing that one answer is not the truth. I fall into that category, and I tend to use an average cross section of information when providing such here, as that cross section provides both sides of the fence, not one or the other. Majority of the times anyway.
You must also understand complexities with medicine, ie. what is new now may be the future cure or treatment for PTSD, but it is new, which means there is no real evidence. Look at SGB... that may be the cure for PTSD, however; right now, it is relatively new, there are no long term side effects that can be ascertained, etc etc, so there is no requirement to change this forums scope to push members towards such a treatment. 5 or 10 years time when such information is available, will be a different story. That is the way medicine works. Safety is key, and this forum attempts to promote member safety as much as possible. What members do is up to them though uniquely.
Some of the recent bitchiness, my name for arguments, is in the complex PTSD area. That in itself says a whole lot, because anyone with complex PTSD is not always going to be the most stable, nor sound, in reading and processing information. I have worked with primarily complex sufferers since running this forum, being in private, and they are a full-time role to help, though the rewards are extremely good to see someone turn their lives around from that degree of severity. Complex sufferers and my bluntness... don't always go well together due to the often emotional distress involved with complex trauma, though I will say that experience has also dictated, it has helped a majority of complex cases vs. those who turn to arguing instead with little to no outcome.
There will always be those who can't be helped, this is fact. Accept it or reject it, choice is unique, but any counsellor will tell you, this is fact. Doctrine includes it as such... there is no such thing as even the right therapist for some people, because they are simply happy to be miserable. That is just the way it is for some, and until they really want to change, nothing will help them. We get those members here occasionally, I guarantee we have some here now... and they will either eventually leave in the same condition or they will argue that everyone else is wrong, likely mainly me, their therapist, doctors, etc... and that they are at no fault for the condition they remain within. You can't help denial, its just the way it is. That does not imply fault for being abused, it implies fault for wanting to remain the way you are. Most will change, the majority actually, but a minority won't, and that minority can cause havoc on a forum like this by being argumentative.
DID is a controversial topic, primarily because it is being abused within the USA right now, and the US mental health industry at a staggering 80% + have agreed of this abuse in the diagnosis. Me personally, I have reviewed the evidence, and I am with that 80%. With the members here, the odds should be around maybe, absolute top numbers, a total of 2 - 5 people with actual DID should have ever presented here, being a statistical correct number for multiple personality disorder. Instead, this forum has seen hundreds appear here with this diagnosis. Again, stick with the 80% of the mental health industry, its misdiagnosed, hence why even the APA themselves are making radical changes to dissociative disorders and PTSD as a result of abusive diagnosis for statue and financial gain.
Moods play a massive role. Put your hand up if you have mood swings! That would be everyone here. PTSD or not, mood swings is part of being human. A mood can change your complete dynamics online. Even the anonymity can change a persons mood, by suddenly being 10 foot tall and bullet proof through the privacy of their computer vs. face to face. Welcome to life...
Many don't understand what goes on behind the scenes, and nor should you really worry about such things, but be rest assured, that I, and every staff member of this forum, act on the best interest of the majority. We don't just ban people for stupid things, we give warnings, we discuss privately, we try to get difficult or distress persons to calm down, even if that means a temporary ban. Staff are not here to hinder, though unfortunately there are a minority that exist to cause issue, and they will be dealt with.
Dutch courage. As bec stated, Dutch courage is when someone makes an attacking remark, then suddenly those with a little courage jump on it, often without even reading what was said, or asking a question to clarify, they go from white to black, no questions asked.
Welcome to PTSD Forum and please remember, clarify when reading text, because your interpretation and feeling of what you read is not necessarily what is implied, from any member.
