On "deserving" Ptsd Diagnosis

[BloomInWinter]

I've seen this sentiment expressed many times now, and I share it during my challenging moments.

"Do I Deserve to be diagnosed with PTSD?"

Ultimately, a diagnosis is just writing on a piece of paper...or an entry in a database file.

It is a formal documentation of a waypoint that chooses a recovery path for us. Hopefully, made by a competent therapist who has enough evidence that s/he believes leading us to walk that path will lead us to recovery.

It feels like a commentary on the nature, 'quality', amount of our trauma, but it is not.

People are not 'more deserving' or 'less deserving' of a diagnosis of diabetes, or cancer, or a heart attack. A diagnosis is made based upon best evidence present and levied to set one on a path to better tomorrows.

But after all that, when even that doesn't comfort me, I go back to what one of my 12 Step Sponsors says about our shared journey.

​

"It doesn't matter what vehicle we drove to get here, we're all in the ditch, now."​

Let's work together to pull each other out.

 

[Reclusive]

This is a good reminder, thank you so much. And I like the ditch analogy - that's a good one! I know I do that whole deserving thing all the time, especially when I'm feeling low.

 

[becvan]

I think many of us confuse deserve with meeting the criteria. Honestly I don't want to deserve it. I think my abusers deserve PTSD. However I do meet the diagnostic criteria for it.. darn...

Just another way to look at it...

bec

 

[track108]

Totally agree with you here bec

 

[amethist]

I have to disagree with the DESERVING this diagnosis statement. No one deserves to suffer like this.

My husband was involved in a road traffic accident, which was not his fault. he now suffers with PTSD, but in no way does he deserve to have this.

And from a comment made by an ignorant close family member saying, " It serves him right and he DESERVES all he gets, he brought it all on himself ". This again, adds to my own dislike of this term.

 

[KP the nut]

I have to disagree with the DESERVING this diagnosis statement. No one deserves to suffer like this.
My husband was involved in a road traffic accident, which was not his fault. he now suffers with PTSD, but in no way does he deserve to have this.
.

No-one deserves PTSD. Like your husband I was pushed into it by a truck driver not paying attention to the road, I could have done nothing to prevent what happened.

Lives are changed in a heartbeat, not just for those diagnosed but for their friends and families as well

 

[BloomInWinter]

Sorry for my lack of clarity, Amethist. I was speaking from a sufferer's perspective of 'I'm not worthy of the compassion people give this diagnosis' and not the judgment of another's 'You deserved that...'

Sorry for the narrow focus. I hadn't considered it from an outside angle or pointing fingers angle.

 

[amethist]

No problem Bloom, I did not take it personally. We can all throw our thoughts, feeling and opinions in.

You as well as all sufferers do DESERVE compassion and understanding though, you are as worthy as everyone else for this.

 

[Nicolette]

I see PTSD as something which happens to people from trauma..... definitely not something deserved. If anything, you with think the trauma alone was more than enough to put onto someone let alone make it that bad that it changes their life forever (and not for the better - initially anyway :rolleyes:).

After thought.......nor do the loved ones of the person with PTSD deserve what they have to endure to......but it does happen and they do have to deal with it just like the Sufferer.

Isn't there a saying "Life happens.... living is what we get out of it"? What a way to live but I guess better off than the alternative.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Have always had this feeling of 'my stuff wasn't bad enough to cause this...' and when I read others' stories, it still feels that way.

 

[Reclusive]

I feel the same way, Bloom. Like I haven't suffered enough for a diagnosis like PTSD, my stuff is small fries and there are so many other people who have things way worse off and it makes way more sense for them to have it and I'm just a wuss. At least, I think that's the feeling you're getting at. I should have something like 'generalized anxiety disorder nos' or something instead - but PTSD?

 

[Teddy]

I spend some time in a comtemplative mode of how could something like my 'accident' cause so much grief.
How come I can end up like this and yet some one else could have the same accident and not suffer at all.
I believe it is the loading up of so much stuff that in the end you just seem to bust.
Some one on here the other day told me 'not to compare myself with others' as it just makes me feel worthless and I have to agree.
No matter what happens to us in our lives, I think the trauma is enough to have to suffer through. Unfortunately some times it is just too much and our bodies and minds simply can't cope and here we end up. No ones fault, no one to blame, just here we are.
Then of course it is up to us where we go from there.
A friend told me today that 'Life' is all about how you handle Plan B'
No one deserves to suffer PTSD like no one deserves to suffer cancer. It just is and we need to look forward and try to deal it 'one day at a time'.
I hope you are all having a good one today.....