I'm Scared- Recently Diagnosed And Feel Low

[indiangirl]

Hi all. I know this sounds pathetic but I am just feeling overwhelmed. Went to my GP on friday, he said I have PTSD and referred me for counselling with the Community psych nurse.

In a weird way I just didn't think anything of it. I thought ok, counselling problem fixed. I only thought PTSD was for people in the army as you hardly hear it in the media!

Now I'm researching and a friend said how its mental health. I feel like my world's come crashing down. My abusers have won because now look at me. Feels my whole life has been wasted and O feel so low!!!!

I don't know how to act or manage. Friday I told my manager who was nice saying she has to tell HR but I can get time for counselling. I thought I would get fixed but now there isn't a fix is there?

My family don't want me to go at all. They are worried i will loose my job and no will marry me.

I'm scared of the same thing now to :( I'm 23 , single and it feels I will never get married or have that life i have worked so hard for. Can't stop crying.

 

[franciemarnie]

Hi indiangirl!

You feel overwhelmed understandably. Cry and get it out. Tears are one way the body gets rid of stress hormones.

I know you feel your abusers won, but IMO they did not.

PTSD is a normal response to an abnormal situation. Your body-mind is responding the way a human being responds to the trauma situation you were in.

Research how PTSD develops, what happens in the brain and body, healing solutions, etc. You will feel less powerless.

So glad you are here. You are not alone in how you feel. It will get better.

 

[seedling]

i know this sounds pathetic

No, this sounds completely normal for someone just diagnosed with PTSD. All of your feelings and reactions are understandable.

It's great that you have support at work and a referral to counseling. You will be able to start counseling and begin your journey to learning how to take care of yourself and make the most of your life.

Go to the appointment, don't let your fears or yours family's fears stop you from getting the help you deserve. Understanding your illness and learning to cope/live with it can help you to have meaningful relationships in the future free from further abuse and trauma. There is hope even if it's hard to see right now.

Let the tears flow and pass, they will end in time.

 

[Echo]

Hi @indiangirl - it is a massive shock to get the diagnosis, but I also found it a bit of a relief to finally know what was happening with me.

I know there are various views on this, but I'm in the UK (like you?) and my excellent, well-qualified and very experienced trauma therapist does not consider PTSD to be a mental health issue, even if the NHS tries to deal with it in that way. She believes, along with others at the cutting edge of research, that it is a brain injury that happens at the time of trauma, but one that can be healed. So don't despair.

Have a look at Peter Levine's book, 'Waking the Tiger' and you will see how he explains how natural it is as a reaction to the awful things that traumatise us, and how we can get better.

 

[indiangirl]

Hi all @seedling @franciemarnie thank you for your response xx I want to ask.. after your gp diagnosed you did he/she ask to see you a week after as a "duty" mine has and i see no point as i have booked the session with the cpn. and i feel i am wasting his time. Is this normal? He was a really nice listener but also i felt like i could see his sadness to. That made me feel guilty.

@Echo i will try the book. Yup from Uk. Echo i have so many stupid questions. I'm seeing the psych nurse 4th April so a month or so yet.

will i get over it or is it something that remain forever. The incidents started 10 years ago and stopped few years back. The nurse is for 10 counselling sessions. So after that am i on my own? i feel so panicky as in the GP diagnosed me said its PTSD and its just a world of what ifs!

I'm just scared. And i feel like im weird and the odd one out. grrrr !!

 

[Deleted member 20280]

@indiangirl MASSIVE :hug:

Firstly welcome to this forum and secondly we are all only too aware how this 'mental injury' can effect and hurt us. We each support our fellow members in times of crisis and laugh together in times of triumph. You could not have come to a safer place than this site.

We are a community of sufferers and supporters looking for advise and just a virtual :hug: every now and then.

So from me don't be scared, you will find hugs and lots of great advise and many a shoulder to cry on, or just vent your anguish.

Laurie

 

[indiangirl]

@laurie71 massive hug back and thank you

 

[Deleted member 20280]

You are very welcome, yeah us UK'ers !! Lol

x :hug:

 

[indiangirl]

@laurie71 personal question but how many and who have you told that you've got PTSD. I've told my best friend who like me really thought counselling would fix it, same as my manager who doesn't know about it either and i don;'t really want to tell her much about it. Told my parents- dad laughed at me and my mum thinks it means I will loose my job and any potential marriage (indian part). And my older sister who just was like wow thats serious lol.

 

[atthree]

"....but I also found it a bit of a relief to finally know what was happening with me." I was also. I wasn't as forgiving (myself) and it was hurtful when it became a misunderstanding of some sort.

I do avoid the revengeful sort of people in my life. Because of it I have the best marriage (26 years), so don't worry about the that

 

[indiangirl]

@atthree thankyou for replying. Did you tell your husbhand before you got married or did you get diagnosed later on . Sorry personal q u dont need to answer

 

[Deleted member 20280]

I personally make no secret of my 'condition'. There is way too little knowledge out there about PTSD and to be fair the 'ignorant many' need educating that mental injury is as damaging as cancer. Both can be life threatening conditions.

I don't wear a label around my neck or have 'I got PTSD' tattoo'd on me forehead but if people ask why I act weird some times I come straight out. When I was sectioned last year the 'in-patients' called me the 'Resident Nutter' That made me chuckle because I always considered myself sane.

:)