People Faking Ptsd

[Navew]

I just have to add, who in God's name would fake PTSD. I can see faking depression or anxiety, but PTSD? That would have to include such an elaborate set of lies and stories. Too much work for most, I would think and hope.

 

[Zesuni]

There are a ton of people that self doagnose, which is different then faking. They honestly think they have it. They a...

How do you know they're wrong?

 

[Duvap]

I have to admit it drives me crazy every time somebody comes on here to ask for help and it's met with "do you have PTSD"?
I know that's what the forum is about but it makes it feel cliquish

 

[Emeh]

I'm not posting this to hurt any feelers but does anybody else get the feeling that people lie or think they have ptsd whe...

For me ulo, I have yet to meet and hopefully communicate with ANYONE that would literally falsify that they too suffer from prolonged complex p.t.s.d. And I hope strongly that no one is a member of this wonderful Myptsd Forum and pretending to have such a horrific and debilitating illness/injury, don't like that it's call post traumatic stress "disorder" because it is an injury longstanding for most. If I suspect that someone is just wanting to chat it up and does not have a legitimate p.t.s.d. diagnosis, well, I feel sad for the person(s) who feel that they must pretend to be part of this forum of p.t.s.d. diagnosed sweet and kind people ulo. Sad to have to wear false mask, and lie to self, and to others who are here to help one another cope with a devastating p.t.s.d. injury/illness. Hope you are having a peaceful morning, ulo. Peggyjade

 

[Udi]

Maybe it throws us off balance because nobody cared or listened or believed our trauma at the time, and we get invalidated even when we actually have a diagnosis.

I have unfortunately met someone who lied about this. She was certainly troubled, but she did not have PTSD for the reasons she told me, if she had it at all. She volunteered out in South Africa for 10 weeks and then when she got home she told me, of all people (to be fair I have only told 2 people in my life I have CPTSD and she was not one of them), that she had PTSD because coming back to the UK was so upsetting. I didn't know what to say. As per usual I dissociate when I'm stressed or upset and I just was so fuzzy headed I couldn't respond properly. Just autopilot. She lied about all sorts of things and didn't seem to care if it was obviously untrue or not. Like I say, she was troubled for sure. But unfortunately was so toxic to be around I had to cut her out of my life.

 

[Ulodo]

I totally agree with the last post. Who are we to judge who has PTSD or not. The most important thing is to know that if the really are making it up. They are SICK and pity them.

 

[Edasi]

I don't know.
Maybe I'm an idiot?
Maybe I'm making a mountain of a molehill?
Maybe I'm a lier?
Maybe I'm weak?
Maybe I'm a monster?
Maybe I'm a coward?
Maybe I'm a murderer?
Maybe I'm lucky?
Maybe I'm unlucky?
Maybe I'm too compassionate?
Maybe I'm selfish?
Maybe I'm evil?
Maybe this is how it ends?
Maybe this is only the beginning?
Maybe I don't want to wake up anymore?
I don't know.

I know I'm afraid.
I know it hurts.
I know it never really gets better. Tolerable maybe, but not better.

Long, long time ago. I was symptomatic, newly diagnosed. Took to the internet looking for answers. Like many have here.

My first stop wasn't here however, It was a Facebook group. Seemed like nice people. I'm sure most of them were.
The person who welcomed me on the other hand.

First question asked was if I had done EMDR. To which my answer was yes. (As I had)
How many sessions? 5 or 6 I answered.
Here's where it went downhill.
5 or 6? He asked.
Yes.
"Can't be" he said. "Why not?" I asked.
"Because EMDR only takes a couple of sessions to cure you." Was his answer.

I was confused, needless to say.

I then explained what the psychiatrist I was diagnosed by had told me, as well as the trauma therapist I was seeing for the EMDR treatment had told me about PTSD.

This guy went on to say how he had been traumatized by (whatever it was I honestly don't recall. Though it was a criterion A trauma)
I'm going to bolden some key things.

That immediately after his trauma, he was diagnosed with ptsd.
Given EMDR treatment for his anxiety symptoms.
After about 2-3 weeks from the date of his trauma his symptoms went away.

I again said. "It was explained to me that PTSD is a lifelong condition, one which I will have to fight and work on forever. That is no cure, and it certainly takes longer than a fortnight."

I was told to f*ck off. That I must a troll, or some lazy piece of shit looking for a payday, or free pity. Then promptly banned.

I wish he was right.

This was more than 10 years ago. I still suffer this, f*cking disorder.
Fortunately I didn't take him too seriously. Or I could have been easily swayed into thinking I was failure. But I had learnt enough about this disorder, to know this guy was full of shit.

This was the welcoming guy. Didn't know what he was on about. Spouting dangerous nonsense with no one correcting him. Because his "PTSD" was cured by 2 sessions of EMDR.

I don't really care if someone comes here for any reason.
If they are going to be positive helpful people. Great. Welcome.

If they are coming here looking to spout bullshit, and argue with everyone that simply wants to give or receive factual information. Then I don't think it's a good thing at all.

I wonder how many people, walked away from that guy's "warm welcome" feeling like a horrible piece of failed shit. Because they didn't get better in two weeks. From the instant magic success of EMDR "the two session guaranteed cure"?

 

[Mogu]

My son was killed overseas. He was a special ops and was in the thick of it. It was 3 months since He left for 2nd deployment. A car rolls into our drive and 4 soldiers get out and walk over to me to identify who I was and give me the news. I had a breakdown that my wife said I cried for 4 hours. Then I was like a zombie drinking booze taking pills and crying myself to sleep .....if I didn't drink more and take more pills I couldn't sleep. A year went by like that. When I came out the other side I was changed different. Had no ambition for anything, lost my wife to no interest no intimacy and bursts of anger. I startle easily and am paranoid and worry about everything. I am at a convention as I write this, but just feel like laying in bed all day. My hotel is right on beach in FL and I haven't been in the sand yet. Recently lost my job because manager states I seemed to be confused. I've not described everything but have put off getting help for almost 8 years. I was always on guard about fake PTSD mainly because I wasn't sure what it was. Thought people were trying to get sometime free from the Govt by claiming 1 more disability. If you think you have PTSD for whatever reason seek help immediately. This disorder comes in many forms caused my many reasons. It can ruin your life and the lives of others. It can only get worse left untreated. Do yourself and your family a big favor, don't listen to the nay sayers, it's your life get help and do it now!

 

[Rovaz]

This sounds like a pissing match.

 

[Ehe]

Meant with deep kindness.

And yet? That, right there, is grief. The kind of grief that can drive men mad. Unending, unendurable pain, and loss, and despair.

If it were "just" PTSD? What you would be treating was what you were there for. When it wasn't finding out that your son was dead that gutted you. It was losing your son.

Prolonged Grief & Complicated Grief related to Bereavement, found under Adjustment Disorders (and are proposed for further study as their own unique disorder in further editions) that do exactly as you describe. They're very similar to PTSD in many ways. And very different.

You may also have PTSD from other events in your life. And grief is a helluva stressor that can kick over Pandora's box, and keep you from grieving your son at all, because your past has knocked into you like a freight train. Or may also have MDD in addition to. If so, that means treating both. Or all 3. Or whatever combo it is that creates the unique key to fit the lock between your heart and mind, and returns you to yourself.

"Just" treating PTSD? Wouldn't even begin to touch on the loss of your son, nor what that means to you, nor how soul shredding & life destroying such a loss can be. Regardless if he was 5,000 miles away. And if in PTSD it's "just" a stressor, while in Grief & Bereavement his loss is CritA, the central component, and the single most important piece.

If you have PTSD, you might not be able to focus on your son, or grieve him, until you sort your past. If so? I am so sorry. So very sorry. He shouldn't have to wait, nor should you. My hope is that if you have both PTSD and prolonged/complicated grief, that the PTSD can STFU and wait until your been able to grieve him. That's not always the case.

Very strongly agreed, get help & do it now.


COMPLICATED GRIEF AND RELATED BEREAVEMENT ISSUES FOR DSM-5
How the DSM-5 Got Grief, Bereavement Right | World of Psychology

 

[Hetuvu]

Sure. Could be a bit of a pissing match.

Everyone here is entitled to their opinion. I have mine.
Hopefully some people on the other side of the discussion from me. Will read what has been said, think on it and find something that is useful or interesting to them. Something they perhaps would not otherwise have seen from only their perspective.

I know I have read some things that have stood out for me.
I certainly have not done a full 180. But I believe there are things I can improve upon.

 

[Awa]

people lie or think they have PTSD when they don't. I just hear stories of these people getting ptsd from seeing their dog die or getting spankins as a kid, and ect. I get really fustetated

You don't know why they have - or believe they have - PTSD. It could very well be the person has PTSD from an incident he is ashamed to admit to, and so provided you with what some might think a lame excuse. For instance, in our society is is shameful for a man to admit to being raped; it could be a man therefore provides a mild excuse for his PTSD rather than admit the truth.

Regarding your concern that these people were not properly diagnosed, well, you don't know that, either. There are many who will not admit to seeing a psychiatrist - I sure don't. There are many professions, for instance, where many will see a therapist or psychiatrist under an assumed name in order to keep from being blackballed or worse in their professions.

My point: You don't know another person's past reality. It's not up to you or anyone else to judge another person.

I find this ridiculous. I just wanted to say that a simple life stressor can sometimes trigger a response from a not-remembered childhood trauma.

I agree 100%.