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Undiagnosed Eight Months Later And Still Struggling

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Hi everybody. I finally decided to post something after creating this account a couple of weeks ago.

My ordeal started in June 2013. A fence blew over on top of me and I was pinned underneath it during a thunderstorm while walking to class on a college campus. I was in a lot of pain and was bleeding due to a cut on my face. I was stuck there for several minutes. A man got out of his car and lifted the fence and pulled me out and practically carried me to his car. He took me to the ER and waited until I was called back. Long story short I was diagnosed with a concussion, had stitches, and was bruised from head to toe on my left side. Since I was taking classes I only took one day off and by August when they were over I only passed two of the four classes I was in.

Despite all this I went back to college in the fall thinking everything was going to be ok... how wrong I was. In addition to all the physical symptoms I was experiencing (neck, back, and knee pain, headaches, etc.), I was depressed and struggled to get up and go to class everyday. It was almost impossible for me to go out in the rain without freaking out. When it was raining it was like someone started playing a recording and I was trapped under the fence all over again. Even when it wasn't raining, I would constantly be looking around, never feeling safe. I was also having trouble sleeping. I would jerk myself awake in the middle of the night and sit straight up in my bed, not knowing where I was. Other nights I wouldn't sleep at all which severely affected my schoolwork. So in November, at the advice of my doctor I withdrew from the entire academic year.

I'm currently seeing a therapist and she says I am suffering from anxiety, depression, and PTSD-like symptoms. Sorry this is so long. I'm really overwhelmed with everything and I just feel like I should be over this by now. I'm hoping I can find some support/advice on this site.
 
Hi Booklover, glad you are here. Sounds awful what you went through! It very much sounds like you have single event PTSD. If there were previous traumatic events before this, then it might fit for complex PTSD. I'm not sure - your counselor is the best person to sort it out. I know that BOTH forms are hellish. There is first the battle to survive the trauma, and then the battle to heal from the PTSD. Please don't judge yourself harshly for still struggling. Healing takes as long as it takes. The great news is that there is so much hope for healing. Welcome to the forums!
 
Hi BookLover,

Welcome to the forum!

Try not to be hard on yourself about being "over it" as you are doing the right thing by seeing a therapist. Each person is an individual and responds to traumatic events differently. I hope that your therapist and tools such as this site are beneficial to you.

Take care.

Debbie
 
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