My Ptsd Is Backwords From Other Folks On This System, Do I Belong?

[Dorod]

Hello everyone,

I have been seriously wondering if myptsd is the right place for me? I went through a home invasion 15 years ago but I shot and killed the burglar. (no legal problems) I have suffered horribly from ptsd since the invasion. In the last couple of years I have finally found someone that is really helping, still have lots of phobias to deal with but the depression is gone. Everyone that has been through a home invasion on this sight seems to have been horribly terrorized? How does one compare traumas from opposite directions?

A little confused being here?

CVD

 

[Ajer]

Feel really sorry that you went through this. I think what you put into it is what you get out of it. This is a great place to stay emotionally responsible and post what feelings you are experiencing in the live chat area 24/7. I have cried when l have helped other people with remarks because it has helped me understand my emotional mosh pit of feelings that must be reconciled. Good luck to you and may you move on in your healing process.

 

[Wulik]

You don't compare. People have PTSD for a multitude of reasons. There is no point in compare.

On the other hand many of the symptoms tend to be similar and that is where we often find common ground.

Support is a good thing and you will find that here. Hang out for a while before you make your final choice (and even then it's not really final. We will still be here if you need us)

 

[Apu]

You belong here. You went through a home invasion where you could've gotten hurt or killed. You are welcome here and I hope that you will find solace here in the company of all of us.
I just praise God you are safe.

Heather

 

[Tuvor]

You never know what you might have to add our group. Even more, there is no way of knowing how we might be of help to you. Stay, read, watch, and just get a feel.

Some of us have PTSD all over the spectrum. Some function daily in lives that may look 'normal'; while other are more strongly affected.

I've personally found help from members all over that spectrum And you may too.

Hopefully there have been times where I've been able to be helpful too. Some items validation and knowing the others are like is us helpful enough.

Needles to say. Stick around a bit longer.

 

[Iro]

As the others have said so well, everyone has different levels of how ptsd effects them. Some people function extremely well , have successful careers etc and unless they wear a badge saying ive got ptsd , you wouldnt know. This doesnt mean they dont deserve or need support any more or less than less functional people.
You went through an event that sounds horrendous and extremely frightening , just because you defended yourself doesnt make it any less traumatic or you any less deserving of the support and/ or friendship available from the forum.
I hope you stick around, you may be able to help others too.

 

[Sinaf]

I'm glad you are safe and didn't suffer legal consequences, either, @Dorod. I would imagine that having to kill or be killed is highly traumatic, as @Apu said. I also agree with @Wulik, you just don't compare. Some people you will have more in common with than others, but comparing or ranking trauma or pain is simply not productive. Also, as @Tuvor said, you have something to contribute, and something to receive, from this community. You belong here!

 

[Lufa]

You weren't 'horribly terrorized'? But you went through a home invasion and got PTSD. How would you define 'horribly terrorized'? (That's a serious question.) I think you belong here if you want to be here. I think, like others have said, there are a lot of different experiences of all this and it's useful to get different perspectives.

As far as that goes, to me, it seems like nearly everyone on this site has a big problem with dissociation. But I don't. I've wondered sometimes if I 'belong here'. (But then I ALWAYS wonder that. LOL) I've decided I can stay because there's plenty to learn from other experiences and, once in awhile, someone can learn from mine.

(BTW, has anyone suggested that you might have a tendency to minimize things?)

 

[Mujago]

You weren't 'horribly terrorized'? But you went through a home invasion and got PTSD. How would you define 'horribly terr...

You belong here. The only criterion of PTSD that MUST exist is criterion A. The rest are pick/choose out of a group. I don't dissociate much at all, once in a blue moon. I finally realized that I only have had 3 dissociative episodes in my life, the rest are due to unstable blood sugar which makes me spacey.

 

[Wisaf]

You definitely belong here. I can't imagine how awful it must have been for you. And I've been through at least 10 traumatic experiences in my life. But I've never had to do what you had to do. I think that takes enormous courage and will also probably take enormous healing effort to get beyond that. You are in my prayers. I can't imagine anything worse than having to kill someone to defend yourself. But you are okay. Lots of us will pray for you so you can forgive yourself. And to get beyond the fears. :hug:s if that's okay.

 

[Asome]

Like the others have said, there are all sorts of ptsd sufferers on here. As long as you feel like this place helps you then it's a good place to be. Also, maybe some time in the future someone who has been through something similar will find this site and be glad that you are here to talk to.

 

[Ijud]

Feeling like you don't belong is actually pretty normal for people with PTSD. Like Lufa pointed out, it sounds like what you went through was terrorizing. A lot of us struggle with not feeling that our own personal feelings or traumas are not as important as others. That is a distortion. I remember years ago when my stalker tried to break into my apartment. That's not how I got PTSD. I already had PTSD. You can tell from what happened next. I got my pepper spray and phone and hid in the bath tub. I kept wanting to call the police as I heard them trying to break down the door but I never did. When my therapist asked why, I said I knew it was irrational but I felt like I didn't want to be a bother. She said that's a pretty common reaction for people with certain types of PTSD. My point is that sometimes this illness can make us take everyone else's problems more seriously than our own. I think that is part of what you're going through.