Sufferer Hi All

[braggle]

Hi all,

I've been looking around the posts here for a while now and find them all massivly helpful in not feeling so alone. I've finally today worked up the courage to register and introduce myself.

A little history about me... I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a family member and emotional abuse and neglect by my parents. I was also raped and sexually assaulted as a teenager.

I was diagnosed ( I'm not convinced accurately) as bipolar 2 over a decade ago and the mental health team I see had me dosed up heavily on antipsychotics for most of that time ignoring the PTSD diagnosis. Well I have finally come off the meds and apart from one small blip have realised I didn't need to be on them especially for so long. The downside now that I'm not a walking zombie is that my PTSD has come back with a vengance. So at the moment I'm just trying to get through each day the best I can and pick my battles with how far I push myself into situations I know are going to trigger me without completely avoiding the outside world. Although if I'm honest there is a lot more avoidance than anything else.

Anyway sorry for the essay, and I look forward to getting to know you all.
Braggle

 

[Sammyiam]

Hi Braggle,

Love your user name, welcome to the forum.

Sammy

 

[Nighthawk]

Welcome :)

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

You are not alone in your (possibly) incorrect bipolar diagnosis. There are quite a few of us who had that diagnosis for years before receiving a correct PTSD diagnosis. I was labeled as bipolar II for the mere fact that I didn't respond to antidepressants (and supposedly that's a sign of being bipolar? In what universe, I have no clue...) Well, nevermind the fact that I have never had a manic or hypomanic episode outside of the influence of drugs/medication (which fortunately rules out a bipolar diagnosis as no more drugs, no more hypomania)

 

[braggle]

Thanks Sammy and Nighthawk.

Solara, you have to laugh at the reasoning behind diagnosis, the best I had over the years was being told to go away and Google borderline personality disorder by a NHS psychiatrist because like you I wasn't responding to antidepressants and I was self harming and obviously with my history that's a clear indication of bpd.

I do get over excited quite often but its not cyclic and its not like my mood takes on a life of its own, more in a ADHD way which the doctors have refused to entertain. I do wish I could afford to go private but unfortunately for the foreseeable future that's not going to happen.

I occasionally have episodes of psychosis but from my own research I understand that a lot of people with PTSD suffer from this.

 

[Hope4Now]

Welcome, @braggle!

 

[braggle]

Hi Hope4Now

 

[Sandstone]

Welcome. You'll find good support here

 

[braggle]

Hi stenni thanks, just looking through the advice given in other posts has been invaluble so far.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Yes, others have experienced psychosis as a part of PTSD. I think you may find posts here on the forum about it if you do a search? I remember one person saying he's experienced it, but don't want to put him on the spot.

 

[braggle]

Thanks Solara.
I will have a search to try and find some posts.

 

[SabrinaB]

Welcome to the forum! Still newish member myself and it has been more helpful than I anticipated, even after lurking for about a year before I joined.