Poll Do Your Family and Friends Support You?

[TDurden1937]

Not really . . . maybe its because they are first generation Norwegans lol

Nope . . . my inlays are the types that can't understand anything they can't see or touch. My other side of the family are all dead except a couple who I don't think understand either despite them having there share of troubles.

It's taken me 5 years to get my wife to get even a glimmer of an idea how debilitating 100% PTST rating is, plus a GAF of between 42 - 45. That's almost to the point of institutionalization . . . scary. I am debilitated.

One comment by my wife was "It's hard to imagine because you look so normal." Well, ya. I have all my body parts but I can't sleep, I got to put a lock on my rages and anger so i don't put another hole in the wall, or tear another door off the hinges, or destroy another $2000 computer, or another piece of furniture. And gee, wish I had at least one friend in this world beside Christ . . . well, guess he is not of this world is he. I wish I could leave the house. Wish I could get rid of the drugs that keep my head together and be a "normal" Norman. Wish I hadn't got divorced five times. Wish my brain functioned well enough that I could go out and contribute in a cause to help someone. I can't even remember to keep my appointments with my Doctor and shrink.

Well, maybe I wrote a bit more than I had to. My apologies if I have.

Best regards to all of you, Doug

 

[cherryblossom]

No, not really

My family do not live near by and do not know that I have PTSD. (my choice).

The few friends that I do have, either do not know, or do not understand. I have lost quite a few friends through disclosing to them that I have PTSD. They seem to think that I am some sort of crazy lady (maybe I am), or that I should be 'over it' be now (maybe I should be?). It's pretty hard, being rejected because of something that happened.

I want to try to be honest about who I really am, but due to bad experiences in 'telling' I am more inclined to just put on my 'happy mask' and pretend that all is well.

My Doc signed me off work today for a futher 2 weeks, and suggested that I seek support from my friends and family - not really an option, when there is no-one who understands.

 

[Nicolette]

My family do not live near by and do not know that I have PTSD. (my choice).

My Doc signed me off work today for a futher 2 weeks, and suggested that I seek support from my friends and family - not really an option, when there is no-one who understands.

Oh, I don't know Cherryblossom, I think you ought to give your family a chance. The friends who do not understand you are not true friends as they don't accept you for who you are. I don't have PTSD and I have lost friends through life when I did things they did not understand. That is not my fault, nor it is a reflection of the type of person I am. Basically they just have different views/and or values. I accept PTSD in my life due to my love for Anthony. If I could take it away for him I would but would I leave him over it.... no way unless he was abusive....that is my choice and if I had a friend who had PTSD I would be the same if I cared enough about them.

 

[cherryblossom]

I think you ought to give your family a chance. The friends who do not understand you are not true friends as they don't accept you for who you are.

There are many reasons why I will not tell my family (too much to go into here, but it's not an option).

As for my friends not being true friends - I totally agree with you. However, sometimes a friend who doesn't understand (or doesn't really know you) is better than no friend at all, even if they hurt you in the long run. Because being alone and totally isolated is horrible. Anthony is a lucky guy to have you.

if I had a friend who had PTSD I would be the same if I cared enough about them

I guess that sums it up - knowing that no-one really cares - and it's a pretty lonely place to be.

 

[Nicolette]

I care...even though I am on the other side of the world... hence why I posted :)

 

[Nicolette]

if I had a friend who had PTSD I would be the same if I cared enough about them.

Correction on my behalf.... I do have friends with PTSD (from this forum) and I do care about them.

 

[cherryblossom]

Thanks Nicolette - I guess I realise that you (and maybe others here) care.

I should have said that "no-one in 'real-life' cares or understands me".

I totally appreciate all the support that I have had from this forum. But I also realise that all the help and support (and everything else) that I need/want, can not come from an internet forum.

I'm not knocking this place - it is great - a true life line, but I could really do with someone in real life who thinks I'm worth getting to know, instead of running in the other direction.

Does that make sense?

 

[Sapper]

I think it's really unfortunate that a lot of family aren't too supportive. Family have such an important role.. if they would only accept the responsibility, and assuming they aren't the ones who gave you PTSD in the first place! I know my sister wouldn't be nearly as far along in her recovery without the support of my parents and other extended family members. The Carers forum really shows how little support there is IMHO.. it's mostly made up of spouses and girlfriends/boyfriends. You rarely hear from parents, siblings or friends..

 

[Chissi]

No, my children are too busy. My sister is in denial about PTSD. I am partly to blame because I feel ashamed that yet, once again, I am trying to drag myself out of the mire of depression, anxiety and all of the rest. I am so disappointed that I have lost ground in my being able to handle this on my own. Why can't I just get on with life!

I don't want to go back for help. It costs big bucks for the therapy and the meds.

Chissi

 

[morgan]

My parents support me to a degree but often times I find that they just don't get it and I really don't think they want to. Just the other day my mom told me not to call it PTSD when they ask how I'm doing. Instead I should just say 'I'm not feeling well' or 'I'm depressed today!' Now I ask you why are those statements so much better than "I'm symptomatic today" or "It's my PTSD acting up?" It makes no sense to me really. In fact I'm probably gonna start a new thread on just that incident.

Take care all, Morgan

 

[Jen93]

Mine are so confusing. Mommy says I'm being dramatic one second after I have a flashback, then three minutes after, (after I've said "Go away, I hate you." in my... I dunno... "inner child voice"? I guess you could call it? I remain in that for like three days after my flashback.) she wanted to know what it was about, and then she couldn't understand why I got mad. She and my psychiatrist also tell me in a really weird borderline rude way, "You know that happened 5 years ago right?" If it weren't for my family, the entire trauma would never have happened; so I'm not sure if they're supportive or not: On one hand, they kind of want to be, on the other they're confused, hurt that they can't help, annoyed, and mad at me: they don't seem to understand that It's not my fault. And their mixed feelings just hurt me.

 

[Rose33]

I have never told my family about my trauma because I do not want to burden them. And my friends, well, when I used to have some, they were pretty supportive when I told them about my trauma. But I did the mistake to tell them my trauma didn't affect me at all (which was not and never will be true; but I wasn't aware of this at the time), so they never said anything about it again. I have recently lost all my friends due to my trauma's effects, so now I'm being supported only by my own self.