Poll Have You Ever Suffered Bias Due To Your PTSD Condition?

[Ursa]

I have a recent diagnostic and this really would help me to decide who should know about it.

Thanks.

 

[jeapea]

Hi Ursa! Welcome to the forum. Read as much as you can as often as you can. Anthony has done a fantasitc job with providing the best source of information I've ever found on the subject. Everyone here has been a wonderful support to me and to each other.

 

[fin]

I don't think you can just tick one box, I am sorry I can't just tick one box on this. It varied all over the place. And I don't think there are enough catagories either. Sorry I know this doesn't help but...

 

[Ursa]

I put it with option for multiple answer. Do you have a suggestion about how to improve it? I am kind of new on this situation and I don't know how the answers would be more appropriate.

 

[anthony]

I have changed this poll to reflect a simply yes or no answer as there are simply far too many possibilities to cover all.

 

[upstream]

One of my favorite quotes:
"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." ~Bill Clinton

A few hours ago I was with a new group of friends, and was asked how I knew a statistic about domestic violence. I didn't tell them how I knew, because they sounded awfully ignorant during the prior conversation and I didn't want to live with the stigma of it.

There was a time when I told my friends, but they always looked at me differently afterwards. I want people to see me, not the stigma. In today's society I don't think it's something you can escape unless you stay quiet.

 

[Nicolette]

Two things come to mind after reading Upstream's post:

1. What people don't know doesn't hurt them
2. People can only make a decision based on the information they have

Given that, not telling someone about a mental condition prevents them from perhaps making a decision based on bias or stigma rather than the "person who presents to them". Fair viewpoint Upstream.

 

[fin]

Many thanks Anthony, I can now make the choice YES.

 

[nic]

I checked "no." I can't remember any specific instance of bias. All the people whom I've told have all been really good about it; nobody has treated me any differently (other than to be more supportive) from when they didn't know to when they did. While my boss doesn't know I have PTSD, he does know I have anxiety and panic attacks. I've been teaching there for six years now, and so far I haven't felt any bias. Being part of a union may help, though. I have plenty of sick time, etc.

 

[cragger65]

I put Yes, in particular from my family who still insist "There's nothing wrong with you" as if they are privvy to all the "real answers" and I am just being silly. I think it's best to tell only carefully selected people, though I have admitted PTSD to people that I shouldn't have, being too open and careless.

 

[vietnam2nd]

because of my ptsd and being in the hospital because of it. my neighbor's think i am nuts and they are scared of me. i scream for help and pass out do to low blood sugar was out for three hours i could have died. my neibors call the va said that nut had a flash back to vietnam and we are afraid of him so we didn't help. the va doctor chew them out he is diebectic and had a low blood sugar if it happens again call 911. they now have me on life alert since i can not depend on my neibors.

 

[cragger65]

That's downright shitty of your neighbours, people can really be louses sometimes. I'm glad you've got someone watching out for you now.

Dave