Is PTSD a Label?

[spiritofnow]

?

I don't have a "before" PTSD. bec

But you can have an after PTSD in my opinion.

I have also lived with the symptroms of PTSD longer than I have wihtout!

Spirit x

 

[spiritofnow]

Good insight Grama-Herc! I guess I believe that thoughts can be altered over physical conditions. PTSD = badly broken legs (for me) that is not terminal!

Spirit x

 

[linasmom]

So do you feel it's a label? If it is a label to you why? If not, why? Is it detrimental to you or otherwise?

I do not see my diagnosis of PTSD as a "label". The term "label" has a very negative connotation to it. I was given a diagnosis. I'm not sure what "it" is referring to here. The label?

Well, if someone uses my diagnosis of PTSD as a means to label me, then yes, it can be detrimental if said person has some sort of control over me or someone who I look up to and respect their opinion all of a sudden offers up opinions all willy-nilly. A lot of PTSDers are sensitive and the last thing we need are people whose opinions mean a lot to us to slap the label on and refer to us as a herd.

We are still individuals. Just because we have PTSD doesn't mean we lose our individualism. Labels strip people of that, and that is detrimental, hurtful, and most of all ignorant.

Best,
Rachel

 

[becvan]

But you can have an after PTSD in my opinion.

I have also lived with the symptroms of PTSD longer than I have wihtout!

Spirit x

I'm not sure you understand my meaning of having no before. Let me clarify: I have no memory (of any substance) before I developed PTSD. I came into existence with PTSD. As far as can be figured, I had PTSD at the very latest at age 12. My existence starts hazily at age 14 and develops more strongly after age 16. Gotta love amnesia. So for me it's not a matter of how long I have had it, it's the fact that I didn't exist before I had it! I hope that makes some sense.

This brings into question what is after PTSD. For me, that means management. It means living with new, healthy learned behaviors while minimizing what sets off my stress responses. Certain situations, people and areas will always set those responses off. I've learned to understand and accept this. As I learn more, I will learn what I can and can not change. The stress response is why I do not believe in a cure for me. My brain is hard-wired to respond that way under certain conditions. Being incurable does not mean negative for me. I will and do have a full and beautiful life.I simply have a disorder that needs to be managed. Not the end of the world.

I also agree with Herc. Walking up to someone and introducing yourself as 'Hi, I'm Bec. I have PTSD.' is completely ridiculous. The world is not an AA meeting. However, friends and family do need to know. They need to know because they are all affected by it and they help me as I heal.

 

[Cindy]

I think having PTSD attached to my name in medical records is appropriate. It is a frame of reference to determine my reactions to medical procedures or shared information to me in consultation. I do not bring it up unless I feel it may be pertinent to any part of my medical or mental care.

I only look at it as a frame of reference for myself and my professional care givers!

Anyone of us with this diagnosis display it in a multitude of ways and none of us are the same in presentation of symptoms. We each respond uniquely to any given circumstance. But the list of associated concerns such as anxiety, depression, fear, etc can all affect the outcome of any treatment.

 

[lrs]

When I was first diagnosed with PTSD, I think I felt a bit of relief. I did not know much about it, but things started to make sense.

 

[spiritofnow]

I also agree with Herc. Walking up to someone and introducing yourself as 'Hi, I'm Bec. I have PTSD.' is completely ridiculous.

I don't think 'ridiculous' is a fair word! It is yours, but I do not feel it is fair! I used that as a demonstration of how a label is used in a dysfunctional manner. I read threads on here again and again about how the person with PTSD or the carer of someone with PTSD should accept that is incurable, that is paramount to being a label, clumping all PTSD'ers together. For some it may be for others it may not! I also read how those with PTSD should be upfront and straight about it with those they are intimate with-Iwas being facetious with my comment to make a very valid point!

If you have two broken legs and you are afraid to put too much pressure on them while you are rebuilding your strength because you fear them hurting or not supporting your weight. Then yes PTSD may still be a concern for you as you will not heal those legs back to an optimum level. And you may still experience the effects of those broken legs.

However, if you brace yourself and apply pressure and stand for as long as you can until you have learned to completely walk then you will have healed your broken legs.

That is my pont! I believe it can be done, perhaps not for everyone, but that is certainly the attitude I am taking.

I am signing off from this now as I don't want or need to assert my feelings on this any longer. I appreciate the feelings of those who do not see this as I do.

It was good to joust! :smile:

Spirit x

 

[becvan]

Hehe, I guess that is a fine example of taking something a bit too literally!:rolleyes: Thanks for explaining that.

I think you are missing why carer's are told that they need to accept that their loved one has PTSD. You weren't on the forum when that discussion took place. Many, many carers were coming here saying things like "he/she just needs to change back to how they were before the accident/trauma/deployment" or that "if they don't go back to the way they were, I'm leaving them!" We both know that is impossible. The PTSD and the event that caused it needs to be accepted because how can you move forward if you deny what you need to move forward from?

I do not know if someday there will be a cure for PTSD or not. I know that one does not exist now. I sure hope they find a cure! Wouldn't that be grand? I base my beliefs on the here and now, not what ifs. This forums information and hence advice is based on the here and now. Right now, no cure exists. In order for this forum to function it has to be based on reality not hopeful what ifs in the future. I hope this helps you see the bigger picture and gain some understanding on why we all approach the subject in this manner.

I have sure enjoyed this Spirit. I have learned a lot about myself from this thread and have seen it through your eyes. It was truly a pleasure.

bec

 

[spiritofnow]

Well, maybe I will just be the proof of overcoming PTSD symptoms in the here and now sometime in the future? Watch this space............

It was all my pleasure!

Spirit x

 

[Jim]

Well. Short answer. I believe PTSD is the medical term used to describe the illness you all suffer. And as such it is appropriate. Has to have some name or else there will be confusion. The illness itself is not a label though in my humble opinion. To suggest so is to suggest it is not a serious life long condition, which I believe it to be. I believe its incurable at this time. You will never be who you were before it either, in my humble opinion. There is a difference between unmanaged and managed PTSD. However. That is not the same as a cure. I don't believe there will be a so-called "after PTSD" until we see a cure.

Jim.

 

[kers]

Bec, I have the same feeling as you, the diagnosis of PTSD was a relief to me, after being labelled "crazy," "overreacting," and "hypersensitive" for many years. It is very useful to me as a diagnosis and I do use it to label not myself but my reactions to thing, in a positive sense. So for example, today I had a stress reaction to something that intimidated me, and I went to tears over it afterwards. I began to criticize myself, and then stopped and told myself, "This is PTSD. I felt threatened and pushed into a corner, and I froze. It makes sense that I'm upset."

Labeling my behaviors as reflective of PTSD has done much to calm my fears of being abnormal or irrational. I do share the idea that it is a lifelong illness, but as Jim said, I think it's a matter of management. I hope to reach a point where I live with minimal symptoms and little reactivity.

 

[Grama-Herc]

We as people suffer from what is called a "chronic condition". As such, the condition will not go away, but with medication and therapy we learn how to live a managable life.

One of the happiest days of my life was the day I was given a name to the insanity my life had become. I did not make the condition any better but it certainly enabled me to make sense of things

Just had to put my 2 cents in!

Just my 2 cents worth