Have you come out on your PTSD?

[Recovery4Me]

I went to therapy yesterday and started treatment again. I became weary of being ashamed of my PTSD and with the Service Dog it became silly to me to feel lesser than when we often balance more. So on my Facebook which has some of my neighbors on it, family and friends... I posted about how my dog is assisting with my depression, signals and my PTSD.

I rarely talked about my personal challenge as if I was ashamed : to be frank I think I carried a little baggage concerning my mental trauma and how I might be perceived. And yet, it is part of who I am and to be ashamed for having suffered catastrophic events, torture, kidnapping/ hostage, rape, incest (ect) is lack of respect & compassion for myself.

So I thought I ask, as many of us here have ongoing therapy, experiences from living as well as growth-

*have you become comfortable in being transparent with our mental illness and how did acceptance change your life ?
Thanks for any thoughts you have time to share.

 

[piratelady]

I am still too ashamed to say anything. Well, I’m not ashamed of having PTSD, I’m ashamed of the events the caused it. I assume if I tell someone of my diagnosis, they will ask what caused it. That’s just not a question I think I would be able to answer at this time.

I have managed to tell both of my doctors, that’s a start I guess. Friends and family... I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to

 

[somerandomguy]

My friends and family know, and they know how I received it. My supervisor at work also knows that I have PTSD because I occasionally ask for accommodations, but she doesn't know the reason I have it - same with a few other people at work.

Telling friends and family that I have PTSD was pretty easy. Telling them how I got PTSD was not. But it all went very well and I got zero pushback. But I worked on myself a lot before I disclosed. If I still blamed myself for what happened, I wouldn't have been able to do it.

 

[MrMoonlight]

My family knows on both sides but I haven't shared anything on facebook. I know there are people who would be supportive and I'm not embarrassed but I worry that anything I say there can't be taken back. Not that I have anything to lose, most of my 'friends' on facebook are from high school and currently, I don't speak with any of them.

 

[Mee]

Yes.

I have also found it useful to explain to others. Twice now in non essential situations when I feared I was going to struggle I have taken a deep breath, smiled and said ‘i’m Sorry, I have PTSD and it can seem like I am socially anxious, sometimes i just need a moment to take stock!’ The responses both times ( with much younger women) has been great. Not curious, pushy or nervous. Maybe I had guaged they felt safe to say it too?

My breakdown prior to diagnosis felt pretty big. I think it was fair to explain to others what was going on in my situation.

 

[LuckiLee]

My guy is very open about it. His trauma is from combat and he's very proud of his service. The people who matter to us know about his struggles and ask the both of us questions. They don't treat him any different than anyone else in our circle. ?

His family is a different story. They know but they have no idea how hard it can be for J. They have no idea because they don't care to learn. (They're all self absorbed)

People are curious and we have no problem giving accurate information about the disorder.

 

[Friday]

Nope.

There’s zero upside, and it would disqualify me from about 90% of the kinds of jobs I find interesting / useful.

 

[grit]

When I was told by the doc I have PTSD, I was not surprised a bit and got down to business like so what do I do now? So I never truly identified with it. I use the term I have childhood trauma...it is more concrete and meaningful for me. I do not have a single reason I should disclose that at my work but I do at school since I wan to become a therapist.
I do share with my husband and that is it. Ooh yeah I do share it with my therapist. I have body pain more than cognitive distortions.

 

[Gs172003]

Only a few people in my life know. I have a hard enough saying I have it much less telling everybody. The only people that know are the people it effects the most and some of them I wish I never told.

 

[Mee]

Nope.

There’s zero upside, and it would disqualify me from about 90% of the kinds of jobs I find interesting / useful.

That’s a really interesting point I didn’t quite see OP asking, but yeah. Where I live PTSD is one of the things that if you have not reported and had approval for after diagnosis; you cannot drive a car legally.

My dr cleared me but I took the decision to stop driving after I clipped a wing mirror. I was lucky. It brought home to me how unsafe I was being. For perspective; I have an advanced driving licence and other specialist driving courses. I have been a very confident, capable driver. Clipping a wing mirror was a massive wake up call.

I love my car, it’s a safe space, a place of independence and vehicles have probably saved me by getting me outta there when I was a young adult far too often. My disassociation is comparatively mild; I have no diagnosis for any other disassociative disorder; and I wasn’t ‘flashbacking’ I was just .... not in the moment enough.

I honestly think that this is something considered by those who issue licenses. I recognise how much harder this makes life ( I left my property once this week, for therapy, I live in the sticks and outsourcing transport is not easy . but I won’t cause preventable injury to others. I am grateful for that clipped wing mirror and desperately ashamed I needed it.

 

[Gs172003]

That’s a really interesting point I didn’t quite see OP asking, but yeah. Where I live PTSD is one of the things that if you have not reported and had approval for after diagnosis; you cannot drive a car legally.

My dr cleared me but I took the decision to stop driving after I clipped a wing mirror. I was lucky. It brought home to me how unsafe I was being. For perspective; I have an advanced driving licence and other specialist driving courses. I have been a very confident, capable driver. Clipping a wing mirror was a massive wake up call.

I love my car, it’s a safe space, a place of independence and vehicles have probably saved me by getting me outta there when I was a young adult far too often. My disassociation is comparatively mild; I have no diagnosis for any other disassociative disorder; and I wasn’t ‘flashbacking’ I was just .... not in the moment enough.

I honestly think that this is something considered by those who issue licenses. I recognise how much harder this makes life ( I left my property once this week, for therapy, I live in the sticks and outsourcing transport is not easy . but I won’t cause preventable injury to others. I am grateful for that clipped wing mirror and desperately ashamed I needed it.

Dang I'm glad that's not an issue here. I'm sorry.

 

[Deanna]

I've told a few friends. It's really no big deal.. Because everyone knew me before PTSD.. Wasn't diagnosed until my 50's. My brother is PTSD as well.. But he takes nothing for it ( I don't believe he does) it doesn't effect my work. PTSD doesn't effect my driving.

Most of my immediate family is dead. Died young.