Can It Take 20 Years For PTSD To Come Out?

[froggy]

Hi I am new to the forum. I have been a police officer for 27 years and last year started suffering with and incident I dealt with 20 years ago. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, can it really take this long to come out and will it be harder for me to deal with. I have tried EMDR but it did not work for me.

 

[Shamstalat]

Yes it can, froggy. There have been cases of PTSD coming out as late as 50 years after trauma.

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences with EMDR. It didn't work for me either.

 

[Luthien]

Hi Froggy,

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to having you with us as a member.

In answer to your question, yes, PTSD can rear its ugly head many years after the trauma. I believe this is due to repression. At the time of the trauma, you mind will push the reaction and feelings aside because it isn't able to cope at the time.

Years later the memories, and feelings that were repressed come to the surface, and BLAM! you have PTSD.

I hope you find this forum to be helpful. It is a wonderful, supportive place to be, and the members "get it" on a level that you'll find unbelievable.

Take care.

 

[Mahtalat]

Yeah, yeah it definitely can take 20 years or longer, or even less, it really varies. It will pop up at any time.

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi froggy
Welcome to the forum. I think you're getting the answer here - Yes. My PTSD surfaced fully about 8 years after my trauma. Although, now I know more about PTSD, and looking back, I can see that during those 8 years I had certain symptoms, such as hypervigience and avoidance. I just didn't realise those symptoms as PTSD. But equally, I'm sure you can be symptom free for many years.

I'm sure you will find support here and realise that you are not alone in the way that you are feeling.

Regards, CB

 

[notjustfriends]

Hi,

I quite agree with CherryBlossom in that PTSD can rear its ugly head very long after a trauma has occurred. Especially that you are with the police I can not imagine what you may have gone through.

There are many supportive people here... I am new myself, but have felt very welcomed and I feel very comfortable here.

Just to let you know, my initial PTSD occurred 18 years after the event... thankfully for me it was mild but it was quite a shock... (then something else happened more recently that really triggered PTSD but that is not the point).

Welcome here, please feel free to chat/discuss whatever is on your mind,

With peace,

NJ

 

[Cindy]

Absolutely yes!

Froggy:

(love the name by the way) It was atleast 20 years that my repressed memories flooded out. Actually they started leaking and then the dam broke. But anyway, I think something in our present that is similar or causing the same feelings can trigger the onset. It doesn't stand out necessarily but usually if you look real hard you may find a parallel with now and then however small.

Cindy

PS. I'm too chicken for EMDR.

 

[patrick]

Hey Froggy,

39 years. That's how long is was from my main trauma until my diagnosis. I have been helped to see how the PTSD affected my life for all those years. Denial, numbing, etc. Too common, especially in us macho types. Haven't tried EMDR yet. Good to see you here, and I hope to hear more from you. Always good to have another man on this forum.

Pat

 

[Riggs413]

Welcome Froggy. As a fellow copper I can tell you, your situation is not unusual and you are not alone.

My PTSD stems from incidents that took place between 9 and 15 years ago. Was only diagnosed in late 2005. Looking back, I knew something was wrong, but didn't or couldn't acknowledge it and went down my merry distructive way in life.

As for harder for you to deal with, I don't believe that anyone can really answer that. We all deal with our symptoms differently and what works for some not for others. Same thing with meds. Some people with chronic or delayed onset PTSD have better success than people diagnosed shortly after an incident.

Having said that, there is a wealth of information here, best place I have found. Hope that you avail yourself of it.

When you get out of moderation you can PM me if you like.

 

[dust]

Froggy,

I experienced the full force of PTSD after 30 years! Mine was triggered by a series of events, some of which were similar to prior experiences and caused the same feeling to arise (like Cindy says.) I have done EMDR and found it very helpful (tough too.)


Welcome!

dust

 

[redtennys]

I have been seeing therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists for at least 30 years and have been diagnosed with bi-polar, fibromyealgia, borderline personality, depression and the list goes on until I met a therapist who took a good look at my life and symptoms and told me that I had triggers that took me back to my trauma where I was beat and abandoned. Now I am being treated with rapid eye movement, cognitive therapy and my therapist wants me to get some meds. I have had at least 10 different ones and they haven't been successful. Either I get very tired, or agitated, or incontinent or something happens.
Perhaps someone might tell me what does work.
Redtennys thanks in advance

 

[pandora]

I functioned well....had failed relationships but 20 years later I was full blown. It is hard because we question the old us and this new one that we have to learn to live with.