Explaining Ptsd To Others

[sweetcandy]

I have been in a few situations recently where I've had to explain what its like to live with PTSD and what its like to be triggered. How have you managed to explain these things to others who don't have PTSD? How do you help people understand?

 

[falling_wave]

I just say that new experiences connect with old memories and cause a reaction before I can logically connect the two so I can deal with it. Then I explain that this is something I am working on learning how to do.

 

[Glara]

My ex never explained it to me, he just told me he cycles in and out of depression and suffers from ptsd. He told me briefly how he got it, but that's it. I don't know if he just didn't know how to explain it. I wish he would have tried to tell me, and I wish it would have been before he was symptomatic. I would have continued with him, but I wouldn't have let myself get so attached.

 

[Friday]

I often use the stomach flu, or food poisoning. Especially to explain a lot of the 180degree things. Most people have had one or both, so there's a bit of a lightbulb moment on how the body can just take over, and all your attention is immediately diverted and very, very narrow. And then you're fine again.

All parallels break down eventually, and it doesn't work for all aspects of PTSD, but it's one I keep finding myself whipping out for some of the aspects that baffle people the most.

 

[sweetcandy]

FridayJones, I really like that. That's something everybody can relate to.

I read on another thread on here that another way to do this is say something like . ."It's like I have been playing cricket for the last 40 years and now, I have to give up cricket and learn to play soccer. The difference is that instead of having to completely retrain my wrists and arms such as in soccer, I have to retrain how my fight/flight response interacts with the rest of my brain."

I thought that was a good way to explain it. Almost everyone can relate.

 

[WildMermaid]

I usually just explain the symptoms that are relevant to the situation at hand and don't go into cause unless it is with someone close. I'm asked every week or so why I'm in the wheelchair (or on crutches) by strangers so the PTSD is something that only comes up on occasion.

 

[Joan]

It is tough...I did a collage to try to represent some of it ....can be seen at
https://survivorcreativity.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/life-with-ptsd/

 

[WildMermaid]

@Joan your collage of what it feels like is really quite true! Nice work.

 

[sweetcandy]

Joan, that's so true. Its really good.

 

[Nico]

My ex casually mentioned it when we first started dating, but told me it was under control. Well, so he *thought*. Major panic and triggers towards the end of last year. He completely vanished on me and never talked to me at all about it. If he just would have explained things, I would have understood. I was only trying to be a friend when the sh*t hit the fan, but I guess he didn't even want that. Oh, and the real kicker, I had to figure out on my own that he is now my ex. He never even broke up with me and that all went down in December. Haven't heard from him since. I'm not waiting around, but I think it's pretty crappy to just walk away from someone who loved you and tried to be there for you.

 

[Friday]

I'm asked every week or so why I'm in the wheelchair (or on crutches) by strangers so the PTSD is something that only comes up on occasion.

Lol... My son was rocking wheels for a little while (pulmonary stuff)... I used to tell people complaining about my parking in a marked spot -with tags! C'mon idiots, look at the tags! Yes I'm bounding out of the car like a Lemur on Crack, but disabled kids can't drive themselves!- (to come pick him up from somewhere) I needed the spot because was blind. ;) Roflmao... The looks people gave me as they tried to make that make sense "But wait... Weren't you just driiiiiiiiving..?.." // "It's faith driving. But if god doesn't like me that day, no worries, I drive by Braille." :rolleyes: Some people have no sense of humor.

@Glara & @Nico... While you'll find a whole lot of self-awareness here on this forum... Especially in early days? What is & isn't PTSD, what can be done, what is to be expected? Is often something most of us are clueless about. If we don't really understand it ourselves, communicating it to others? Practically impossible. First one has to understand a thing. Even then, it can be hard enough to break it down.

My "early days" lasted over 15 years. It's less about how long someone has been diagnosed... And a whole lot more about how much they know & understand PTSD & themselves.

 

[Nico]

Yup, @FridayJones . He told me he got diagnosed after his tour in Iraq about 8 years ago. He was taking all sorts of meds when we first started dating, but then I noticed as time went on, he was down to one. He told me I made him so relaxed and comfortable. Anyway, this last flare up he thought something else was going on based on the symptoms he was having. I know him way too well and knew it wasn't what he thought. I had to remember that he told me he had PTSD and that's when I found this website after doing tons of research and speaking to a few therapists. I'm assuming by now he knows it's not what he originally thought. I guess if you've been mentally healthy for so long, you're not expecting to be triggered so bad, so you do figure it's something else?