Panic Attack In Psych Class

[sydney550]

Hey - I've been on this forum for a long time but have never posted. It's been a really nice place to come though when I just need to feel support.

I'm in school for psychology and today in my Abnormal Psych class we had a whole section on PTSD. It was explained so clinically and it just upset me so much and set off a complete panic attack. I was diagnosed three years ago after an abusive relationship and having someone read the words in textbook tells nothing of what you go through. My teacher commented on how PTSD usually occurs after a single event - not long term. I was so angry (since mine was over a period of time) that I went up after class, explained how a lot of cases occur after long-term exposure, and basically blurted out I was diagnosed (he was the only one in the room). I haven't had a panic attack like that in so long. I was shaking and my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. He apologized for simplifying it so much for the class - I know he meant no harm. Now I just feel kind of stupid I admitted all of that to my professor.

I guess there's not really a question involved. Just nice knowing I can talk about it somewhere with people who better understand.

 

[Shellbell]

I think you did really well going and speaking to him afterwards. And yes he is wrong, a single event can cause it, but long term exposure to abuse can also be a cause it.

I'm sorry that you were upset and had a panic attack about it, but I am glad you explained how he is wrong and that hopefully he will have more understanding from now on, and not be stating incorrect facts to students. PTSD is far too complex to ever try to simplify.

I think you were really brave in such an anxious state to go and correct him. Good on ya.

Hugs if you accept them (((hug))).

 

[sydney550]

Thank you - I really appreciate that. I feared looking unstable or something I guess.

I will definitely accept the hug tonight also.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I think you were brave to go up and correct him! Good for you! Shame on him for teaching wrong information. You should be proud of yourself!

 

[maddog]

When I reflect on my own psych studies (which were before the PTSD took hold, thankfully), it disturbs me to realise how little information was ever provided and discussed regarding trauma and its treatment at all, and how simplistic and downright incorrect much of that small amount of information was. I actually looked up a few old textbooks, including the abnormal psych ones, not long ago and was horrified at what was written. No wonder the mental health profession is in such disarray...

I'm really sorry it upset you so much, this is completely understandable and as others have said, it took a lot of courage for you to go and speak to the professor after class. As hard as it is, I think that's what's ultimately required, for people who know the reality to begin to speak out about it in as many forums (professional and in the general community) as possible. Only in this way will some of the stigma and misinformation ever start to turn around, and it needs to change, because trauma is too prevalent and too damaging for society to not begin to take some greater responsibility for understanding it.

Maddog

 

[sydney550]

Thank you for all the support. When I got home from class I wrote him an email basically apologizing for blurting out my diagnosis. I think I was so upset and confused I didn't know what else to do. He wrote back essentially saying no judgement and not to worry. Is it weird that once he wrote me I wanted to retract the email I had initially sent? I didn't want to appear weird in front of my profession, who deals out grades, but I'm not sorry for pointing out that he was completely wrong. It still makes me angry that someone with their PhD doesn't know this. I even talked to my therapist about it and he was appalled that my professor didn't talk about abuse over a period of time causing PTSD.

 

[Orglethorp]

Hi Sydney. Don't feel ashamed of what you did! Psychology classes at the 1st & 2nd year level tend to provide over-simplified information like that, and it definitely can be triggering/infuriating to hear your own diagnosis glossed over in that way.

I minored in psych while studying history for the past few years (I've now started a new bachelor degree, yay for 4.5 more years :P) and I also inadvertently revealed my own diagnosis to my abnormal psych professor when discussing a topic with him after class time. My professor was also a practising clinical psychologist at the time, working in equal parts with traumatized police officers and evaluating/rehabbing offenders, so he had a very unique and well-informed view on the topic. It was definitely really hard to talk with him at first, and I definitely fell apart when I got home after talking with him, but I'm glad I did it. I talked with him more about it, shared my story, and actually ended up gaining some new perspectives on a few things.

 

[sydney550]

Hi - just wanted to update for those that might be interested. My professor came to me (about another thing that took place in class which he thought was very honest of me to do) and offered me a TA and Research Assistant position. I thought that was pretty awesome. Somedays I definitely feel like an outsider with my symptoms and whatnot and it was really a boost of confidence that even thought he was full aware of my diagnosis he could look past that at my abilities and bring me on to a project like that.

He also made a point during our class last week to say that what he says about these disorders are what's "typical", not the only symptoms and reasons why they occur.

It's nice to see some people can be accepting and caring after making a bit of a blunder.

 

[matthios]

Maybe it'd help dial back the anger (and thus the subsequent panic) if you can look for the differences between "wrong" information and "incomplete" information. I think most of the literature talking about occurrence of PTSD says exactly what your professor said: that *most* ptsd results from a single traumatic event. Looking closely at your wording, it may be a grammatical processing issue. "most occurs from a singular event and singular means not-habitual/chronic" rather than "ptsd forms from a single event and PTSD does NOT form from a habitual behavior".

The one thing I've come to realize is that there's a very good reason why undergraduate coursework in any field RARELY allows anyone to become "an expert" on any topic. The field of medicine is particularly guilty in this instance, because our understanding is so piss poor. Even in med school, students are taught of diseases as little more than stereotypes of that disease. Drug treatment/interaction is BARELY understood, most of it revolves around "step one: throw broccoli at the problem. if that does not work, proceed to step two. step two: throw tacos at the problem." And so on and so forth until eventually, broccoli and tacos are replaced not only with kale and onions, but penicillin (mold byproduct) or some newer, swankier artificial compound. It's trial and error in the most upsetting of ways.

That your class spent three days talking about PTSD is three days more of discussing PTSD than most people will ever have. Even if it isn't complete

 

[sydney550]

I appreciate the response, and not to get into an argument, but he did provide inaccurate information when he presented on it and he only spent about 20 minutes on the topic. Not three days.

 

[matthios]

I have noooo idea where I got the three days- my bad! (I was reading multiple threads at the same time, maybe just maybe there was some bleed-through?)

Out of curiosity, what did your prof say that was inaccurate?

My teacher commented on how PTSD usually occurs after a single event - not long term.

So unless I'm reading that incorrectly, that isn't inaccurate information. It doesn't state or imply that PTSD does not occur from long term trauma, only that it is more common from a singular traumatic event. This seems to jibe with everything I've read on the topic addressing statistics of incidence. Looking at the incidence rate for what happened in Thailand alone (post-phuket tsunami) gives a quick indicator of the trend.

It is, however, incomplete information. *shrug*

 

[sydney550]

Haha, no it's fine (re: the three days). I probably am in all likelihood taking what he said a little too defensively. It's just when a student asked about more long term trauma leading to PTSD he kind of minimized and disregarded the comment which was frustrating. Again, it is just a college level class so it's not going to be complete.