Sufferer Glad To Have Found Somewhere I Can Talk

[Daikichi]

I don't know where to start, but I am glad to have found somewhere I can talk about everything.

I was diagnosed with PTSD as a victim of crime in 2013 and am still sort of in denial, even though what I experience is quite real. I went to a therapist for a bit but she ended up telling me that she had patients who were worse off and would love to have my "problems". This, after she was the one to diagnose ptsd and depression. I felt even worse and stopped medication and therapy.

Honestly, that made me feel even more... Like I shouldn't have been affected the way I was? My husband doesn't see the big deal since I wasn't physically injured.

I still am having nightmares and I had one yesterday morning where I woke up crying (in my nightmare I had been crying and screaming). They are so awful that I am afraid to sleep some nights.

Adding to the feeling of insanity (maybe bad word choice), I feel like I am being ignored by the people who are supposed to be prosecuting the case. It's been nearly 2 years since it happened, and the trial just keeps getting pushed further and further into the future. Going to court scares me, and not going makes me angry.

 

[risingsun]

went to a therapist for a bit but she ended up telling me that she had patients who were worse off and would love to have my "problems".

I am sorry that your therapist negated you in this way. Comparing you to other patients and their problems is highly inappropriate on her behalf. Therapy is supposed to be nonjudgmental in the first place. I would not take this one "unprofessional" opinion to mean that what has happened to you is of no consequence and something that you should 'be over by now.'

Also, it is quite evident that it is still impacting you to a great extreme. Just because you were not physically injured does not mean you were not psychologically injured which seems to be the case. For an analogy, it is kind of like when people say to a mentally abused woman, "Well at least he did not hit you?" But, Psychological injury is real. I am sorry that you are experiencing nightmares due to this crime that has been committed against you.

Do not lose hope. There are therapists out there who can help you and who do not act as unprofessional as the one that negated you. Right now, do the best you can to find that support you deserve in order to heal.

Concern yourself with gaining a sense of stability and do not worry too much about the trial, although it is so unfortunate that it has not been prosecuted yet. I am sorry that you have to deal with that on top of the way that you have been feeling. But worrying about the trial seems to be adding to your anxiety. I would still be adament that this gets prosecuted but try to find a way to distance yourself. View it like you are fighting for someone else so that it does not impact you internally. And find the help you need to 'deal with today' so that you are standing on safe and solid ground when you have to go into that courtroom. I'm glad that you have found this site as well. There are very supportive people here.
Best of Luck to you, Rising Sun.

 

[Running to music]

I don't know where to start, but I am glad to have found somewhere I can talk about everything.

Welcome.

I am sorry to hear that your therapist made a comment like that. Totally inappropriate.

Keep up hope. There are therapists out there that are much more considerate.

Having PTSD-- no matter what caused the trauma is worthy of encouragement & compassion to the sufferer.

There are many of us that will come alongside you & listen to you.

Take care

 

[Deleted member 1860]

What the heck? What a horrible therapist! You deserve better than to be treated like that. Please reach out and find a new therapist. You deserve to heal.

 

[Springer80]

I think when you first go to therapy you are vulnerable and desperate and you turn up to see this person who is supposed to help and it's taken such energy to get there, you are liked a coiled spring, expecting relief. How this person treats you is very important to you and has a huge impact. The thing you have to remember is that unfortunately they are a bit like mechanics. So are highly trained some aren't. Some are specialists some aren't. Some still give a shit about their profession, some don't. Some are nice people, some aren't. Some subscribe to certain medical school's of thought that are counter productive to trauma therapy.

The horrible part of all this, is that wading through the minefield of potential treatment providers can often be pretty damaging.

You know you are effected by this beyond your intellectual control. It is a neuro-physiological condition. Do not allow the words of ill-qualified professionals to damage you. You are not mad.

 

[WillyKat]

Unfortunately, not all therapists are in the right profession. She should probably be in a line of work where she doesn't interact with people.

I've had bad experiences with therapists, including my very first visit where I stormed out. My recommendation is to go shopping. Make appointments with 3 or 4, or see if you can just talk on the phone. Treat it as sort of an interview. Tell them you're shopping and if they react weird about it, reject them. You may be able to tell just from speaking with them if the chemistry feels right. If it does, start working with them. But then if it isn't right, you may want to move on. Remember, they're working for you, maybe in combination with working for the public good. So you're in charge and you don't have to take any crap from them.

There's a saying about PTSD, usually in connection with veterans: "not all wounds are visible." You may want to tell your husband that if there are soldiers that can get PTSD w/o ever being wounded, then *anyone* can, which is in fact the case. The toughest, meanest, bravest special ops guys get this too.

Oh, and welcome to the forum! You can talk to us all you want. Vent. Spill. Dump!

 

[ghotiff]

Welcome to the forum :)

I'm sorry you were treated like that. I had to "reject" 2 therapists before I found the right one for me. It was worth the search though, my current T is great.

 

[intothelight]

Welcome to the forum! I hope you find the support and information here beneficial to your healing.