Outrageous (stupid) Things You've Heard Regarding Ptsd

[anni]

I've been on this forum for aWHILE, and still have a tough time 'liking' posts which make me cringe, despite knowing it's also a form of support. Some of these were just awful, I'm so sorry!

I tend to have gotten the whole 'fake' thing. I say 'have gotten' because I don't tell anyone about this stuff any more. It's just not worth the 'Oh for God's sake' on my head, and that stupid feeling where you feel you have to pull out your laminated PTSD membership card to PROVE something. It's not like any of us walk around advertising this stuff. I'm guessing all these conversations would have been the result of a situation where it's been a neccesity, or someone asked or we were 'ratted out'. They stare at you then, so there's a ton of babbling involved, which I resent the cr*p out of as I hear myself doing it. Do not ask or mention it then turn me into the Richard into the room.

If I sound uncharacteristically negative on the subject, it's because I'd have to say possibly 1 in 10 people respond respond well, if I've told 10 in 20 years.

 

['91 Girl]

Some of these just make me shake my head...that thing women get? That one had to be a guy...

 

[Pencil]

It's not like any of us walk around advertising this stuff. I'm guessing all these conversations would have been the result of a situation where it's been a neccesity, or someone asked or we were 'ratted out'.

Anni, I'm glad you brought this up. I have noticed that people respond with resentment, as if you're claiming some special privilege that they think you don't have the right to, or that they have a right to.

 

['91 Girl]

Man, I would gladly hand over my PTSD if they really want it that badly! They can take it!

 

[BloomInWinter]

This gem, from a former ER doc who is now a VA doc reviewing requests for treatment.

"You know, I've always believed that PTSD is Bulls7!T but I had a tiny panic attack once in a theatre and my wife told me to calm down and it went away. So, maybe there might be something to it after all."

I feel sorry for any vets whose paperwork crosses his desk!

 

[Abstract]

So, maybe there might be something to it after all."

:eek::confused::wideeyed:

There really isn't anything to say to that. It is so illogical and frightening that there are no words. Honestly I sometimes wonder who has the mental health problem.

 

[lightfoot]

your right mine was a necessity, even in the local hospital because my husband told them when I was seriously ill a few years ago now its in my notes its like some sort of sentence, like they expect me to be bonkers, then if I dont respond as they think I should they shout or are really arrogant then that sets me off, I want to hide, makes them worse and result they're convinced Im bonkers.

But yes mine only came out as a necessity, its a good point and its probably true for many of us. Also because I had to go to court for resisitng arrest while having a siezure, it was in all the papers as I am quite well known so I now have no choice, the people who know me and my family know the effects but dont think Im nuts, anyone else, tough Im past caring what they think, I have to admit it now anyway, when they meet me they find out differently.

Still gets to me though that people who dont know me but have heard of me take it for granted I must be nuts.

 

[StarChild]

Well, here's another one...

A few weeks ago, I met a psychologist who declares himself a trauma therapist. After he asked me, what was the reason for my meeting him, I told him that I'm traumatized due to lots of years of child maltreatment from my mother. That I was re-traumatized by an incident that happens 8 years ago. And that after that incident I was diagnosed with PTSD by 2 psychiatrists, one of them was a specialized trauma-therapist.

And this was his answer: "Oh my god! Traumatized, traumatized, everyone says or believes he/she is traumatized! Really, I can't stand this crap anymore! It has become fashionable to *declare* you're traumatized, or one has PTSD! ...So I'm asking you again, what's really the matter that makes you think you need a therapy?"

 

['91 Girl]

*Speechless*

Anything that might have come out of my mouth if I had been in that therapy room would have been bad. He must have been tired of his work and tired of his patients. How sad.

 

[StarChild]

*Speechless*

Yes...That's how I felt... And so did my best friend who accompanied me to that therapist...

 

[Pencil]

I can't stand this crap anymore!

YOH! That's bad!

 

[shadowchaser]

Some people just don't want to understand or look into it further in order to try to understand. The idea that something could be going on in someone's head that they can't see is so alien that it scares them. Even on online games. There was someone on dcuo who was having an attack over voice. I understood what was going on and told people to leave him be for a min. Oh as always the ones who have never been threw it knew more then me... After an hour he calmed and realized he had his head set on. Some of the comments people made to him were just ignorant and horrible. Eventually I got him into a private chat and asked if he was seeing anyone to help out with it. His answer was this

"My family told me I just need to get over it. Shrinks just take your money and tell you what you want to hear. My dad knows he saw one for years and it never did him any good. Besides I just have flash backs from time to time. I was never in any war so it couldn't be ptsd."

I don't feel right telling everything that he told me. Our pasts may be different but our present and what we are each going threw day to day is nothing short of a mirror image. I feel so sorry for him.