Ptsd For Dummies!!!

[Jimmy1]

Sorry for the heading, but it is what it is.

I have been a member of this forum for just over 18 months now. I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. The only similarity I have with the people on this site is the fact that I have PTSD.

Now what is PTSD, and why is this forum called Combat PTSD?

Well, PTSD is PTSD regardless. Yes there are different types of PTSD, but I would not have a clue personally what they are. I have also made another post in the ‘Combat’ section, which is an extract out of the DSM IV, which is basically a bible over here and a lot of other countries for diagnosis of psychological behaviour.

In a nutshell, you can be diagnosed with PTSD no matter whether you are in the emergency services, the life guard, you were involved in a severe vehicle accident where there is death, or your life is threatened, you could be involved in a natural disaster with the same outcomes.
As long as you meet the criteria and fit between the time frames and are diagnosed by a practicing psychiatrist.

I constantly see posts with people’s diagnosis on them. They say they have PTSD and depression. When in fact, PTSD is an umbrella term for a shit load of symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress are just the tip of the iceberg. The problem is that PTSD is not a widely known disorder and is only just now coming into the forefront of the world because of the duration of the war on terror.

Now to the difference, it has been mentioned on this forum numerous times, but the major difference between someone with PTSD from a natural disaster, a vehicle accident, or even an emergency service incident, is the duration the person is being exposed.

Yes, a natural disaster could leave someone in a life threatening position and exposed to death for weeks. Being in the emergency services exposes personnel to death and destruction multiple times, but it’s not a constant.

A veteran is generally in a war zone and under constant threat for periods of six months and more. They are sometimes exposed to death and destruction of friends on a daily basis. Veterans have also undergone a transformation or conditioning. They are taught to suck up their emotion. They are taught not to mourn for their comrades until they are allowed to.

That is why we are different.

Yesterday, I was enjoying myself watching my boy play football. All of a sudden, I had intrusive thoughts and images of carnage I had witnessed five years ago. I got goose bumps and started to feel sick and cold.

The positive thing is that I did not just go emotionally numb. I told Margaret that I was not well in the head. That is the hardest problem for us. Usually men are the providers. They are the hard arses that deal with the major issues in the family environment. They are the rock of the relationship.

So, for a man to give in and tell his wife that he does not know how to deal with the torment in his head, is a big thing.

That is why we don’t say things. That is why a lot of your partners won’t say things. That is why they just clam up and hide. That is why they run. They don’t want to appear week in your eyes.

Jimmy

 

[MurphyJB]

I get what you're saying regarding long-term exposure, but I don't agree that it'ss a big difference. Children that grow up in abusive homes are often exposed to violence for years and years.

 

[Jimmy1]

MurphyJB, you are correct. People who are held as sex slaves and kids that have grown up with years and years of violence are the closest top veterans. The only difference is the military conditioning on top.

There is a big difference being a sufferer though. Yes we have the same symptoms, exactly the same.
Our traumas a not worse than someone being abused, and our symptoms are not worse than someone being abused, but we are trained to hide our emotions. We are trained to commit some of the violence and death.
So, not only are we suffering exactly the same symptoms as everyone else with PTSD, we hold the guilt and regret of committing some of these acts. Only because we were trained and given orders.
Can you see why we are difference now.????

Most PTSD sufferers after a while can talk about their traumas. You can tell when one joins this site. The talk for hours on their traumas. But how many veterans do you get that can openly say that they shot someone that was no more than a child because they had a weapon pointed at them. How many veterans do you get that can openly say they blew up a house full of people because they were ordered to, and it contained women and children.
How many veterans do you see openly state they ran over someone and could hear and feel the bones crunch.

There is a major difference. We are not only victims . We are the f*cking guilty ones too.

Get it now.

Its a sore point and a major point I have to deal with every god damn day.

 

[Fargo1]

Amen brother.

 

[Ruth]

There is a big difference being a sufferer though. Yes we have the same symptoms, exactly the same.
Our traumas a not worse than someone being abused, and our symptoms are not worse than someone being abused, but we are trained to hide our emotions. We are trained to commit some of the violence and death.
So, not only are we suffering exactly the same symptoms as everyone else with PTSD, we hold the guilt and regret of committing some of these acts. Only because we were trained and given orders.

Dear Jimmy, Thank you for your post. I have similar thoughts but I would have not had the grace to post it so eloquently.

 

[MurphyJB]

I never said I didn't get it.
The only thing I said was that I disagreed that long-term exposure was a major difference.

 

[Jimmy1]

Well, it is. Its one of the major contributing factors, and so is military service.

 

[MurphyJB]

Alright.

 

[nomedic1]

Thanks Jimmy you have a way of putting into words what so many of us feel, I think that is the hardest part for people to understand

 

[princessx]

This concept of appearing weak in women's eyes absolutely boggles my mind. I understand where it comes from but it definitely takes an even stronger person to admit their problems. Running will only make things worse.

Ugh. Clearly, I'm very frustrated BUT good post!

 

[Jimmy1]

princessx, it takes a while. I can now tell Margaret that I am not having a good day 'In the head', I usually do this by telling her the cows have gone wild and broken down the fences.

I actually still feel weak in doing so, but she is not clairvoyant.

Sometimes I wish I could take Margaret for a walk around inside my head, and show her how I feel every day.
I wake up next to the woman I love, yet sometimes I just don't want to be here.

 

[princessx]

It's good to see that you two have a way of communicating, that's definitely the most important part of the relationship. You should never feel weak but instead empowered that you know what's going on with you and you've accepted it. I'm sure Margaret would love to be inside your head sometimes, as much as she fears it. We try to understand but we'll never truly know what it's like, the most we can give is our love.

I'm really glad in a way that you made that last statement. I'm currently going through a breakup with the man I believe to be "the one" and he's struggling with loving me but not wanting to be around me. I was starting to feel very alone til I found this forum.