People Faking Ptsd

[Ulesa]

Why on earth would anyone fake something as horrid as PTSD. PTSD is a whole body tragedy, an integral human event of enormous proportions with massive repercussions. So if they want to own it then they should live it, it's amazing how much destruction on person can cause. I say have them live in my head but for one day, then we will see. Me I have fought this monster in my head since 1970, lost two marriages, many friends, many jobs always let go, could not hold a job no longer than a few years between the panic of impending attack and constant scanning for danger the trembling and deep sweating never stopped, many nightmares and flash backs have made my life a living nightmare. I don't know if I will make it, but I will always do my best to calm myself, to identify my reaction triggers and fight or flight responses, I am very tired. This PTSD has brought on more illness in my life due to it's ability to suck all life from it's host, and leaves nothing but devastation.
I wish I were a diamond- A Diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure...

 

[Kanig]

Why on earth would anyone fake something as horrid as PTSD.

Benefits, if they are successful anyway. It's not the only reason but that's one reason.

Many aren't faking but rather self diagnose or led in that direction by a loose lipped counselor/therapist/Dr/etc.

What other people do is what other people do and I have no control over what other people do. But I do have control over my feelings and behavior. They fake PTSD, that's on them. It negitively effects ot impacts me, that's on me.

 

[Vezo]

My eldest son is a major alcoholic, and he walked out into the woods to freeze to death..... when he woke up the next morning... he figured out that he was destined to live.

That was quite a while back and he has children of his own.

Was he faking his pain???

When I told the Mrs to hide the guns... was I faking.. well kinda.... later I told her that if I was in that frame of mind.... I would have found a way...

So....... who are we to judge who is legit or not.

I guess it depends on when you push the send button...

 

[Dogac]

My eldest son is a major alcoholic, and he walked out into the woods to freeze to death..... when he woke up the next morning... he figured out that he was destined to live.

That was quite a while back and he has children of his own.

Was he faking his pain?

So....... who are we to judge who is legit or not.
.

I agree wholeheartedly!
Asking questions around people's diagnosis or whether or not they self diagnosed will not solve this perceived problem.
Those who may be inclined to hype their illness up will come full of information about symptoms, drugs, criteria a trauma. They will have all the right answers!!
Genuine sufferers who have perhaps only begun to understand what might be going on for them will be frightened off, back to thd bottle and the isolation.
It's not a good question to ask, especially when someone first arrived - snd especially when there is a special label of "undiagnosed" you can attach to your intro.
There's still more than enough trauma in this world to create new sufferers of PTSD every day. We don't need a war to do that

 

[Ezu]

Why on earth would anyone fake something as horrid as PTSD.

Because some people are f*cked up way beyond PTSD. :)

 

[Dukot]

Why is it rude to ask a person who comes to a forum for a specific mental illness, whether or not they have been diagnosed with said disorder?
If this was a general forum, I could understand. Of if an introductory post was required to access the site, but it's not.

Those who may be inclined to hype their illness up will come full of information about symptoms, drugs, criteria a trauma. They will have all the right answers!!

At least they'll have the right answers. I don't know why anyone would do this either, but this is far less disruptive than:
"So last week I locked my keys in my car. I tried to call roadside assistance, but to my horror I discovered my phone battery was flat. I had to walk two whole blocks to the nearest payphone, it was raining and I ruined my favourite pair of shoes.
I now have anxiety when it rains. I went to webmd took an in depth 4 question survey. It said I have PTSD and ovarian cancer, that struck me as a bit strange being male, but Google is never wrong.".... :banghead:

Genuine sufferers who have perhaps only begun to understand what might be going on for them will be frightened off, back to thd bottle and the isolation.

This is always a possibility. Though it's also fair to say that if being asked if they have seen a doctor, is enough to send someone running, they probably weren't ready to face this yet anyway. Though this is strictly my opinion.

It's not a good question to ask, especially when someone first arrived - snd especially when there is a special label of "undiagnosed" you can attach to your intro.

So, what do you suggest be said?
Should we ignore them?
Should we shovel some pity on them and hope they figure out where and how to start helping themselves?
(Serious questions. Probably reads a bit snarky, but I really do want to read what others think.)

There's nothing inherently wrong with the "I'm sorry this happened posts". It's nice to know someone cares, but if that all they get. Well, that's not really going to be very helpful in the long run.

While it's old hat to many of us, some people actually have no idea where to start. In some western countries you cannot just look up psychiatrist in the phone book, make an appointment and go. You may need a referral from a GP. It may not make sense to someone, to go to a physician to treat their psychological issues. I have no doubt there are other reasons as well.

This question is not just just to weed out fakes, it's where you likely need to start.

I would rather be asked an impertinent question from someone who has enough respect for my humanity, to try to help me get my thinking in the right direction. Rather than be ignored out of fear of hurting my feelings.

If these ptsd malingering types are actually making it so asking basic common sense questions that are meant to help people, are now looked at as a form of paranoid harassment.
That's pretty bad. That would mean they are doing serious damage then wouldn't it?

 

[Idepe]

^ Edasi again. Forgot to mention.

 

[Ewi]

Why is it rude to ask a person who comes to a forum for a specific mental illness, whether or not they have been diagnosed with said disorder?

Ah sorry, I messed up the quoting thing!
Just wanted to respond to a few things there - about the person being not ready to face it. I see a person coming on this forum as a person getting ready to face it, asking questions, maybe even telling their story. What most people with genuine PTSD cannot face is invalidation. Usually people live with PTSD undiagnosed for quite a while, and during that time most of us experience the horror and disconnection of invalidation by others who don't understand what's going on. They don't need another dose as soon as they land here.
What should be said?? Hello? Nice to meet you? A lot of people will not tell their story right away. I never told my whole story here. I never told the worst thing. I assume I'm not alone!

Who are these "PTSD malingering types"???
For me, reading your post above, it's you that I doubt!!
If you truly do have PTSD you know what real suffering is, you know how isolating and deathly it gets, you know how invalidation can feel like a knife in your heart. And you know too about not being able to talk about the worst thing
You don't seem to know these things!

I don't get it

It doesn't hurt anyone that people come on here wondering that they have PTSD. It's an information site as well as a forum.

Really? What is the problem here?
Something weird that I don't understand, and one of the reasons I do not feel comfortable here any more

 

[Abe]

If you truly do have PTSD you know what real suffering is

One can know what real true suffering is without having PTSD. PTSD doesn't have a monopoly on suffering.

It doesn't hurt anyone that people come on here wondering that they have PTSD. It's an information site as well as a forum.

It also doesn't hurt those people to be told that they don't seem to fit the Criteria but they need to see a therapist/doctor as we cannot dignose over the internet.

Many people take PTSD and try to mold it around what they are experiencing instead of learning what they are experience really is.

There is a manual called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by The American Psychiatic Association that gets revised after 6 to 16 years but over the years it is revised more often due to new studies, new research, new information.

You cannot mold it to fit you. People do not like to hear that they don't fit the Criteria.

Either way, it does not effect me. It used to but doesn't anymore.

 

[Ubulu]

No, I agree PTSD is no monopoly on suffering. That's not what I was trying to say.
Anyway, it does upset me, and maybe that's because I lived for many years not knowing what was wrong with me, and often felt invalidated - even by my own self!
So I'm allergic to it. Even seeing animals treated that way makes me feel crazy.
it does upset me seeing that go on here. That's all I can say....

 

[Sajose]

You must be at least this tall to ride this ride.

Beyond that, I DGAF what brought people here. I care what they're d...

Love 'you must be this height to ride the ride' my interpretation - aside from adults who are not above 'the height' rule. ..children should not be used to fulfill another's needs. ..I sometimes feel as if it was my birthright to bring pleasure to others while never being taught self care. It has a profound affect when you grow up believing your feelings are 'silly' or 'my memory is incorrect' or 'if you cared, you would. ...' I agree - mind your own business! I find there is a huge lack of understanding about this 'phenomenon' (called different things through out history - such as 'deserter'...
I am still trying to figure out what it is about my behaviour which has earned my alienation from all the people I have known through out my life.
I gather some of it is self imposed but it feels as though people are afraid what I am going through is catchy. ..I am starting to realize most of those people, aside from my kids, ever knew me. These days, I don't even have to be physically present because people would rather come to their own conclusion via gossip. I was spiraling down and my parents helped by saying I was not trying hard enough and insist I behave a certain way and a brother in law telling me I have been a victim for too long and it's time to get over it, a friend (male) who thinks it's perfectly okay to take his anger out on me. ..just me, no one else. All were/are people I love. Funny thing is, I don't feel like a victim. I am very self sufficient. I have made no demands on anyone. ..my anxiety was do high in their presence, I would start to babble and couldn't seem to stop. ..clearly, I was struggling. These are the same people who had no problems sharing all their sad stories with me. ..I listened and supported too many times to count. I am not an angry person but get overwhelmed. I am an optimist and have a list of gratitudes to last me a life time. There is no sound reason for me to live every day as if I was still oppressed or traumatized. I do not complain usually but I am done with people who judge 'me'. It has been 3 very long months since I no longer serve a purpose in these people's lives. It has been scary but I am strong inside and my cognitive function is just fine. I have come to the conclusion, I would rather talk to a stranger rather than anyone from my past. At least with a stranger, if you fu, chances are you will never see them again. I am learning to enjoy being disconnected and realize I can get a handle on my anxiety by concentrating on what I need. Self care is a very new concept for me but I think I like it :) Judging others or correcting others is harsh and implies one is better than another...I am sure judgment was role modeled for many growing up in dysfunctional families, however, the key is, it's a learned behaviour which means it can be unlearned. You have control (not always) to control your reaction, you have no control nor does one have the right to 'judge' or make up a story about another and not only believe it to be true but spreads the story to all who will listen. ..seriously. ..instead of deep hurt, I am becoming amused at the different stories that involve me yet I have not been in contact with the exception of seeing a mutual friend on very rare occasions. Judgements are painful and hurt but it is possible to get past. ..and in the end, hopefully you become a better person for it. ..stay tuned :) Getting good quality sleep is imperative! It was the reason for my spiral down. ..years of shift work :( probably way more than anyone wanted to read but then again, it's entirely your choice :)

 

[Sebi]

I have known a couple of amazing human beings who suffered horribly in this life. They never got diagnosed, they never used anything as an excuse, they tried as hard as they could to have a good-enough life.
I can see they both most probably had PTSD. All the symptoms were there.
They are both my high water mark, and neither would have ever either leant on a mental health diagnosis nor doubted anothers feelings.
Maybe I'm just the wrong generation to be here, but I cannot stomach some of the attitudes here.
I learned a lot here and can see I'm not alone in many things, and that's a good thing.
I'll take that and run with it.
I think the way this is going you're going to get a whole lot more trolls than genuine sufferers, but so be it.