Sufferer High School Gave Me Ptsd.

[Tei-Saji]

I was in special education. Even the teachers scolded me for things I didn't do. Sometimes they made it look like I was doing naughty things, and scolded me for them. Whenever I went to the mall, and tried to make friends, they too would yell at me for scaring people. They followed me everywhere, including to my house. One teacher told me he had a special assignment, which was to fill out a work application form, which would give them my address. I stupidly put my real address on it; they would not allow otherwise. And from then on, the teachers would follow me everywhere I went; mainly when I went shopping with my mom. They frequently ambushed me, too, trying to yell at me and call me names. The teachers would also work with my guidance counselor in order to make it look like I'm skipping class. The counselor would keep writing notes to bring me into his office, but he would never come out until the end of the school day, at which point, he always tried to coerce me into giving him the note. If that failed, he would have a teacher assistant trick me into throwing away the note. So with no note, and an absence, it would appear to people that I've been skipping class. And they always made sure I never went to the principal. During IEP meetings (meetings where my parents and my teachers discuss my curriculum), they would always have teacher assistants stationed at the paths leading to the conference building to keep me out, so I don't tattle on them, so they say. And when walking up to class, down a hallway which also leads to the administrative office, the teachers would always make sure to have someone, usually a group of students or a teacher, stationed there. Many of the teachers who participated in bullying me still work there.

Anyway, the present: I've just become an avid reader (I just finished reading book four of Harry Potter), and I'm itching to become a novelist one day. I attend community college, and I'm going to summer school, for the lack of better things to do. In fall, I will take a Creative Writing class, which I hope will further my abilities as a writer. I also play video games (mostly Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts); I'm an avid fan of movies, especially the Back to the Future series.

 

[Philippa]

Have you had a diagnosis of PTSD formally, or are you self-diagnosing here?

What you have described here does not sound like it would cause PTSD. Perhaps you may want to do some research on PTSD and discover the kinds of serious traumas that can lead a person to having PTSD...like childhood sexual abuse, car accidents, rape, war and physical abuse.

Whilst bullying is not fun, and can cause suffering, I don't know that what you have shared here would be enough to claim PTSD.

 

[Promicarus]

@Philippa

I disagree entirely, and with good reason, as research in P.T.S.D. has progressed significantly beyond the now extremely dated idea that the diagnosis pertains exclusively to the phenomena cited in your post as sole qualifying criteria.

In fact, it's been quite some time since the diagnosis began being determined entirely on the basis of sympotomology of the sufferer, instead, rather than the nature of the experience(s) of origin.

In fact, now that study has become focused much moreso upon neurophysiology, awareness of P.T.S.D. has begun to be understood as resulting from any individual's sense of his/her inadequacy in the face.of a hostile world, at least potentially. After all, each brain is unique, and responds and reacts differently to perceived threat. I'd refer you to works such as "Traumatic Dissociation: Neurobiology and Treatment", for example, in relation to the coiling of tge epigenome in response to perceived inadequacy as responsible for suppression of methyl groups on the DNA strand, which is in turn responsible for a dirth of expression of gluccorticoid receptors, particularly within the hippocampus.

While I agree that diagnosis is important to proper treatment, I'm frankly ashamed of posts such as your own, in this Instance, not only of the plainly defacto lack knowledge you've displayed to a newcomer as a "V.I.P. Member", a label presumably representing a favored contributer to the site--but as well the dejure "spirit" of the above post, in using such misinformation in a seemingly callous disregard for the impact it might have on a sufferer in need, in denying the experience of one potentially new to the prospect of reaching out for comfort and resonance in what is presumably Intended as a place safe from the insenitivity and rejection so many suffer at the hands of an outside world-which so often does exactly what your post seems to have participated in-and quite casually, at that.

@Tei-Saji

I, for one, would like to welcome you, extend you wholehearted support in your pain, and best wishes that you find the support and comfort you deserve. And reassure you that bullying--without the instance of physical brutality--is now fully recognized as a common cause of P.T.S.D. by any trauma-specialist who's glanced at current, related literature within approximately the last 10 years...or more.

...and as well, to encourage you to read whatever posts you find here keeping well in mind that regardless of their label, no member of whom I am aware is an authoritative source regarding treatment and/or diagnosis...much less your own personal experience...

Be well, and welcome.

 

[intothelight]

@Tei-Saji Welcome to the forum!

As you can see from the interaction so far, PTSD is not a simple diagnosis, and no one here is qualified to make that determination. Regardless of your diagnostic status, personally I would encourage anyone to seek therapy as that is one of the most effective means to form a plan to deal with the issues and symptoms.

The forum is a great place for information and support and I hope you find it helpful.

Debbie

 

[Philippa]

I asked simply because there was no mention of the OP having had an actual diagnosis. I wouldn't presume that bullying would not traumatise a person...it does, of course. Is that enough to have PTSD? I don't know. I have seen many people question newcomers in the intro area in the past as to whether they have been formally diagnosed. Why is it I am being jumped on for doing the same?

I realise I am not in a position to diagnose or decide what constitutes PTSD or what can cause it, and maybe I am ignorant of new information. It was certainly not intended to come across as callous, or any of the other things I was accused of, though reading it again now I can see how it would have come across that way and if you are ashamed of my post then that's fine. I've had a day of it it seems. I do not know everything and am ignorant of many things. That's not a crime I don't think.

Also, I did not ask for the VIP status, it was given to me by admin.

 

[nursenurse]

Philippa, Promicarus has been banned. I couldn't get beyond a sentence or two of his insults towards you and other members. I agree with you about the need for an actual diagnosis from a professional. Many claim to have it when in fact the diagnosis may be something else, or no diagnosis at all. Please don't think I am trying to discredit the OP, I think it is a valid question in a forum that has its share of non PTSD people posing as such.

 

[Tei-Saji]

For those of you wondering if I have PTSD, my answer is yes: I am self-diagnosed. I've told my therapist and psychiatrist about my condition, and they seem to agree. However, if not PTSD, I do have a lot of bad memories...

 

[Philippa]

@nursenurse...yes, that is what I was meaning as well. I'm aware that promicarus was banned, I just thought for anyone else who might agree with him, I would clarify.

@Tei-Saji...If you have "told" your therapist that you have PTSD and self-diagnosed then you haven't really been diagnosed officially, and you aren't a professional psychiatrist, so you really can't know for sure.

This is the issue I was raising. Too many people go online and look at sites showing symptoms and relate to certain disorders and then decide that is what they have. It's not really the best or most accurate way to go about things.

You just stated that "if not PTSD then I do have a lot of bad memories" which kinda suggests that you aren't 100% certain that you do have this. See what I mean?

The point of having a psychiatrist is for them to tell YOU what is wrong with you, not the other way around. Unless they have formally diagnosed you as having PTSD, which it doesn't sound like they have, other than "Seeming to agree with you". (whatever that means?)...then you don't actually have it...formally, you have just decided you do.

As intothelight pointed out, no one here is qualified to determine if you have PTSD...including YOU. That's up to your psychiatrist to diagnose you...not just "seem to agree with you". If your psychiatrist did agree with you, you would have said that they diagnosed you, not that you diagnosed yourself and told them what you have.

Please don't think I am trying to minimize what you have been through, but at the same time there is an issue here, and that is far too many people are self-diagnosing and then claiming to have something they may not really have.