I Just Don't Understand So Many People Thinking They Have Ptsd.

[Ugoh]

all heck breaks loose when they start Googling symptoms.

Yep, it's the internet. Way too easy to try and self-diagnose, and for folks with anxiety, it's so simple to slip into the belief one has more or more serious disorders than one actually does.

 

[Afim]

I think a major player in this problem is the general lack of education regarding the differences between PTSD, ASD (Acute Stress Disorder) and normal human reactions to unfortunate events.

Grieving is a natural human process resulting from a profound loss (not just deaths), and the effects of grief can be felt for a year or more. This is not PTSD. Along the same lines, survivor's guilt is also not PTSD.

ASD is a normal reaction of high stress symptoms following an abnormal, stressful event ("trauma") that starts immediately after the event has occurred lasts no more than 30 days. This is not PTSD.

Being wary of a specific piece of rode after a bad car accident, temporarily preferring to stick to the side lines rather than being in the middle of the game after being hit in the head with a ball or puck, worrying about the fidelity of a new partner after being cheated on by a previous partner, etc. are all normal human reactions to unfortunate events.

All of these are understandable. All of them feel bad. All of them deserve sympathy. But again, these are not PTSD. Unfortunately, far too many people in positions of trust and high regard do not understand the difference.

 

[Gebag]

There are some stories I hear and I think how is that PTSD, but I also don't think I know everything, nor am I a professional. I'm learning and I can read the DSM, but I do not believe I am qualified to decide whether or not someone's event qualifies. I do think some words are thrown around rather casually in regards to symptoms, or misused at times. Then, again, who am I to judge another person's reaction to things.

 

[Ezor]

It's not about judging the reaction per se. It's specifically about criterion A in the DSM. This part is unwavering. Someone could have all the other symptoms of PTSD from a breakup, but without criterion A it isn't PTSD and will never be PTSD (in the absence of another qualifying trauma).

 

[Ekogan]

I'm learning and I can read the DSM, but I do not believe I am qualified to decide whether or not someone's event qualifies.

I think the event they talk about either qualifies or it doesn't. I think "Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence" is clear enough. A regular breakup isn't going to fit this. Particular circumstances might, but only if they involved exposure to actual or threatened death etc etc.

It might be unclear whether there's some other suppressed trauma that's linking into things, and that trauma WOULD fit the criteria. But what people say will either fit the criteria or not. Being very, very upset is not life threatening in itself. I'm getting SO frustrated with this. Someone smashing your dreams, belittling you, costing you a fortune in legal fees... yes, it's awful but unless there are PTSD criteria it's not PTSD.

Did I mention I'm getting frustrated with this? I feel invalidated by someone who went through a breakup thinking it's the same thing as what I went through.

 

[Kakosog]

A violent breakup would fit criterion A, however; you don't then have PTSD from a relationship breakup, you have PTSD because of the violence inflicted upon you which you thought you were going to die as a result, within what was a relationship breakup.

There is a vast difference between the two. One is a relationship breakup (yelling, ranting, raving, calling each other names, throwing things, smashing something, et cetera)... one is you got the crap beaten out of you to the brink of life itself.

 

[Sowole]

Yes, BUT it's not the breakup that causes PTSD, it's the abuse!

 

[Ruwaj]

So talk about the abuse and not the breakup. And if you don't, don't snipe about it.

 

[Jogoc]

I agree with Ruwaj.

 

[Midec]

Don't get angry because people here don't know what you haven't told them.

 

[Musago]

Mine is (originally) from a pretty bad marriage. The therapist said my marriage was like a war zone. I know it's not the SAME. But the life or death and unknown from minute to minute. Then feeling like I was better. Then being drugged. What a mess that was. I thought I was better again until a friend molested me. Then I get black outs. And I made the mistake of just trying to pretend it didn't happen. *wham* I wanted to pretend it didn't happen because I don't want a life of trauma. But then be repeatedly asked if you have dated or have had sex with the person that molested you. Is not cool.

 

[Aseg]

I just read in a forum post (elsewhere) 'my mother didn't kiss me goodnight as a child" then they *tried* to explain better/clarify/prove themselves by saying their mother missed a lot of relationship building opportunities' and that's what caused my complex-PTSD. Ridiculous!!! I hate that. I got some flak for saying so, though, haha, people are so wishy washy about these things. We have language for a reason.... using the right words matters.