Possible To Be In Denial About Ptsd?

[Kacaz]

@Itif Reality: That they have PTSD according to multiple healthcare professionals.

Or perhaps instead of me looking at when I'm dating someone with PTSD, and seeing far too many possibilities to guess where you're coming from; maybe explaining my own reality might help?

I knew I had PTSD for over 15 years. No denial whatsoever. Yep. I have PTSD. Did that in ANY way affect my life? Nope. Did I research it, seek help with it, attribute any aspect of my life to it, seek treatment, change behaviors, anything? No. Really. Knowing I have brown hair had more meaning to me, because that affected what hair dye I might use. Simply being aware that I had PTSD? Didn't affect any kind of action or change.

 

[Eti]

OP can you please give us detailed background info? It's almost impossible to reply to such a broad question with so little detail about the situation. I'm not trying to be rude, but with PTSD there can be so many different things going on, so knowing more is best before giving advice/feedback.

 

[Aco]

It's possible to be in denial about anything.

Denial is a way people cope with overwhelming pain.

Rip away his denial and he will likely be overwhelmed with pain beyond his current coping skills and if he is not ready to get treatment for it, he is not ready. Can't push him into it.

If someone was talking and pressuring me into couples therapy again and again, all week long... that would seem like to me someone in denial themselves about something. Unable to handle their own pain and fear, they are trying to manage and control me.

 

[Cuhapi]

"PTSD is a mental illness and as such there are some who will deny having it because they don't want to appear weak to others."

I do not wish to appear picky or cause offence in any way but very early on I referred to PTSD a mental illness and I still bear the scars from the resulting injuries.
I was corrected and told that PTSD was a psychological injury.
I wonder who is right.

 

[Wize]

Rip away his denial and he will likely be overwhelmed with pain beyond his current coping skills and if he is not ready to get treatment for it, he is not ready. Can't push him into it.

Absolutely. People who don't suffer from PTSD don't understand the Pandora's Box that it undoubtedly will open. Functionality (like any) may well go completely south. It isn't just a 'oops, I should get therapy' deal. Once therapy starts and touches on the trauma, most of our entire selves need to be dismantled. Cracking a smile seems and many times is impossible.

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Dihiho]

I wonder who is right.

Currently, PTSD is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental disorders (DSM). As such, it is technically a mental illness.

There are a number of movements interested in reclassifying it as a mental injury. So far, that has not happened.

 

[Goman]

Thank you for the clarification, most of the time I am a stickler for accuracy but on this occasion I might just let it pass.