Ptsd From Being In A Police Station

[Friday]

What I am getting at, is lets forget the diagnosis. She has been diagnosed by a doctor, can we not let that rest and offer practical support. As has already been stated it could be that this experience has triggered a reaction to a previous DSM 5 Criterion A anyway

So why don't I just nip on down to the infidelity forums where everyone and their dog has been diagnosed by their GP as having PTSD and tell them to come on down? Diagnosis no longer matters! :confused:

Except it really does. Really, really does. Treatment modalities & best practice widely differs between disorders and conditions. So much so that the best treatments for one, are often the worst idea on the planet for others... But less severely, it wastes years of a person's life to be treating the wrong disorder, even if they aren't damaged -often permanently- by the wrong modality and meds. How many people here in this forum have wasted years struggling in misdiagnosis? (A lot, there are polls). Worse, how many people have been mis-medicated, retraumatized, and have completely cocked up their lives (lost marriages, children, friends, jobs, homes) while laboring under misdiagnosis and wrong treatment?

Making sure that a new person has the bare bones and verifiable facts so they aren't suffering those same consequences and can make informed decisions about their lives is, at the baseline, the most sincere help I can offer. So many people are clueless as to either PTSD or psych in general, they don't even know to go look up the DSMV, much less what to expect (or why it's important) to rule out all those differentials in a tediously long, and usually frustrating diagnostic process.

There has been absolutely no judgement in my prior 2.5 posts, ((although I will freely judge her doctor to be an egotistical buffoon if he/she based their PTSD diagnosis with no CritA Stressor or differential. Ego for not sending her to a specialist who would know the first line item requirement & buffoon for not bothering to look up the requirements themselves if they weren't going to send them on. )) For all I know she killed her rapist after she was sodomized with a broom handle in the basement of a burning school during a hurricane in a war zone after being kidnapped from parents who were murdered in front of her! Oy vey. That's why I asked.

And still haven't been answered.

Its also why I didn't answer the questions that try to compare things like being tortured, raped, violently assaulted, picking up body parts, being sold to pedophiles, or any other CritA capital T Trauma ...with an uneventful few hours sleeping off a drunk in a holding cell. Because they're not comparable. This isn't some special club where all one has to do is be miserable, and there there sweetie. Lots of things make people miserable. Lots of things are worse than PTSD. It's not a pissing contest. This is a disorder. At least the last time I checked. And treating the wrong disorder serves no one well.

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ETA / cross-posting

In my past I have been raped by my own dad, which I reported last year, and raped in October 2012. these things have never bothered me before and I was fine until I went to the police station, now that just wont get off my head

Ah. Voila. CritA Stressor in past? // Yep. // That makes sense, then.

 

[Queen Boudica]

@daisychain23 It does look like this Police incident has bough on flashbacks to your rape by your father. And I think maybe you are dealing with the Police incident rather than the rapes by your father. Personally if your GP knew about your childhood rape I don't see why he wouldn't be suspecting you have PTSD or complex trauma, but you do need to see a proper mental health professional. And since you have reported it I guess he would know. Why you have not been referred for psychological help before this, seems very wrong as they should have found help for you as soon as you reported it and if the Police knew about this then how they treated you that night is even more terrible. If you feel you need hospitalisation and the self-harm is getting out of control and it sounds like you are saying that from your last post then go to the hospital emergency. Self-harm is not the answer but I can see you have had virtually no help in this and your GP should have got you help as soon as the childhood rape was reported. It is better to ask for help than to be forced, is what I am trying to get across. So seek hospital help if you need it. Sound like you have been left pretty much on your own trying to deal with this.

 

[Lucycat]

Except it really does. Really, really does.

In the US!!!

Here it matters far less. We focus more on 'symptom' management aka alleviation of distress.

http://dxsummit.org/archives/1208
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These are just a few examples.

Please note this refers only to psychiatry and psychology. I am not suggesting that it has anything to do with physical illness that is subject to laboratory evidence rather that the subjective nature, self reports and bias of mental illness.

 

[daisychain23]

thanks for all of your opinions. however as I have said, there seem to be many different disorders with the same symptom's and many different ways of trying to manage them, hoping and praying that they work...... I think I ll just stick to my self harming. it works for me, as someone stated... everyone had a way of coping and that's mine. I do not have a drink problem and when people simply decide that I do just because I got drunk 1 night , well I really cant be bothered speaking to judgemental people who when they do speak actually have nothing useful to say. I came here for help on how to manage my p.t.s.d that I apparently haven't got. and instead I get labelled an alcoholic.

@Lucycat Thank you for your advice and information it has been very useful to me.

 

[ihateusernames]

and they removed my clothing for self harm, but they are not supposed to just leave you naked for any reason at all

Who knows, maybe this will make you feel a little better: it actually is common practice to remove an inmates clothing for self harm. If you had been in the US and were threatening suicide verbally or through actions they put you in a relatively bare room with no clothing until you're deemed to be no longer a risk. Of course that should absolutely not involve inappropriate touching. That is not reasonable or acceptable. But if the touching occurred only while you were unconscious it's hard to say why it happened or even whether you were experiencing flashbacks in the cell and now recall what was actually an earlier incident happening at that time.

The body memories and flashbacks you describe are likely a muddled combination of the rapes and the police station.

^This is what I'm getting at.

I understand that you are on a waiting list for therapy, but have you also investigated therapy from Charities that support victims of rape?

^And this is what you should probably do. We're all over the planet so we don't know what resources are available in your area. Hopefully there are some.

 

[Chava]

I came here for help on how to manage my p.t.s.d that I apparently haven't got. and instead I get labelled an alcoholic

How many people have tried to offer ideas for managing your PTSD? How many people told you that you were an alcoholic? See how our thoughts work? You also decided within a couple posts that you will stick with self harm. Doubtful you tried anything else within that time. It's hard to know what to offer. I certainly understand feeling powerless and self-protective. But the you seem to be making generalizations and quick judgments that allow you to stay exactly where you are.

 

[Queen Boudica]

Problem is this girl has been raped by her father and now re-abused by the Police, so she has been hugely retriggered and is going into flashbacks is what I hear her describing. She has no help and she is stuck in the self-harm cycle. She needs the psychological help, but does not seem it is coming soon enough. She has been attacked by her father, attacked by the Police, her thinking is going to be like this. The sooner she gets psychological help the better. All we can do is offer the advice. If she can't hear, she can't hear. How many of us haven't been there? Self-harm is the only thing she has that is keeping her going, it is going to be very hard to listen to anything else, because that is her only thing she has. She is terrified, all the other things are terrifying because it means letting go of the self-harm. We all know that. But my worry is how bad the self-harm is? And only you know that, but if it is life-threatening then go to the hospital.

Personally now she has described the rape, I can well imagine she may have PTSD. So you could or could not have PTSD, it is sounding more likely, but no-one can answer that on here for sure. I think there have been allusions to the drinking on posts here and really if she is feeling on the defensive and in that mode that is what she is going to hear a collective voice condemning her.

I really think she sounds like she needs immediate help and the charity idea is a good one. Are there any charities to support you, you are a victim of abuse from your father, is it that bad in the UK now that there is no immediate counselling available, for victims of childhood abuse? Can anyone in the UK point her to something in her area? Surely the GP should be able to point her to some local services??? Is the GP aware of the self-harm because then maybe he would be able to get access to services quicker?

So if there is any way to get help sooner you need to pursue it. The self-harm is not the answer as you know and everyone has tried to suggest alternatives, but you are not ready to hear. Whether you have PTSD or not at the moment is inconsequential, what is important is getting the help.

 

[SeaQuel]

@daisychain23 has clearly been given the appropriate diagnosis (PTSD) by an appropriate professional. She chose not to include her full background in her initial post, and I am certain she is in very good company with that.

Given the information provided in the initial post, I think everyone provided what they saw as helpful advice. That necessarily included making sure that she was pursuing the right kind of treatment for the right diagnosis (again, based on the limited information provided in the initial post).

But I think her original question was derailed. She never asked us for input on her diagnosis. She asked what she could do in the interim while waiting for therapy.

And I'm sorry @daisychain23 I don't think I have anything super profound to offer beyond what has already been stated. Sometimes just focusing on the moment, minute, hour to get to the next is all that you can do. Try to find things that you can take comfort in - a scent you like, a fabric you like - and you focus on that. When your mind starts to wander see if you can identify something in your current surrounding to bring you back. This can be something as simple as a picture frame on the wall, a plant, etc. These are just simple mindfulness techniques.

I agree it's worthwhile asking your GP about local resources. And you can always post here - I know this experience may not have been what you were looking for, but please know that everyone was well intentioned, it's just a complicated situation in which we find ourselves.

 

[The Albatross]

For the record, I didn't call you an alcoholic. I did though share with you that underneath my own consequences from booze and the experience of others... there was a reason for the maladaptive coping. In your case that could be the rape and would explain the subsequent difficulty and your experiences when you were arrested. I'm not saying that law enforcement did not do anything wrong... I'm saying if you weren't drunk you wouldn't have been there though.

 

[daisychain23]

so basically its my fault that I was drunk and treated like this by police.. and its my fault that I now suffer from what ever diagnosis you wanna call it.. .. ive had enough.. ive asked for here as I am so desperate I look on the web. and do not know where to find help. and all ive received is unhelpful judgemental responses from people and getting nowhere. what a stupid, pathetic jugemental site.. all you care about is .. well you had a drink..it was your own fault.. tough luck you were abused by the very people that were meant to keep you safe and protect you from harm.. you know what.. f*ck the lot of you stupid pathetic twats.. id rather die that live with the stupid useless opinions of you lot..

I did nothing wrong on that night. all I did was shout.. and for that I get raped by police and you all seem to think its normal and so what.. don't drink.

 

[Chava]

I'm saying if you weren't drunk you wouldn't have been there though.

That bit is irrelevant. It's like saying if I hadn't been at a party I wouldn't have been assaulted. Or if I hadn't gone to get another beer out of someone's car I wouldn't have been assaulted. So....it's my fault? I've already been through all of this in my head. It's an unhelpful perspective and irrelevant to the trauma and current symptoms.

Anyway, @daisychain23 , it sounds a bit like you're in a sort of emergency mode or survival mode, where it's really hard to try new things or take in new info or perspective or challenge yourself. I do relate to this. If it's even helpful to the smallest degree, keep posting or reading ideas others have shared around your concerns (maybe try focusing on anything that helps and not the posts that make you feel further threatened or defensive, though I know this is a common response under stress...I do it myself quite easily).

I also forgot to mention that destroying something is helpful sometimes when I have self harm urges (like boxes, pillows, books whatever...with my hands or a knife). But I get the feeling you want more direct help...like others have said you'd have to look in your direct area. I know where I am (nowhere near you) we have resource centers for women who have been raped or assaulted...where you would have some services faster. Research online for services in your area...travel a little if you need to (I travel for therapy and it's worth it to me). Also, call your doctor.

 

[daisychain23]

IVE CALLED MY DOCTOR.. THEY DO f*ck ALL. AND IM PREPARED TO TRAVEL FOR THERAPY.. HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST THAT I DONT OR WOULDNT. ... GUESSING AGAIN DUE TO LACK OF INFO.. SO BECAUSE I DIDNT ACTUALLY STATE THAT I AM PREPARED TO TRAVEL.. YOU ASSUMED THAT I WOULDNT.. SORT YOUR HEAD OUT MATE.. DID YOU VIEW THE YOU TUBE VIDEO OF STEFFI GETTING RAPED.. .. NO I DIDNT THINK SO.. SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I MEAN OR WENT THROUGH.. YOU AINT EVEN MAN ENOUGH TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

I HAVE LOOKED FOR PLACES IN MY LOCAL AREA AND FURTHER. THAT MIGHT HELP ME AND THERE ARE NONE.. HENCE THE WEB HELP. I WAS SKEPTICAL BUT TRIED ALL THE SAME AND FOR WHAT.. ABUSE..
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IF ITS IRRELEVANT WHY ARE PEOPLE ON HERE MAKING IT RELEVANT.. MAYBE BECAUSE IN AMERICA.. THE POLICE f*ck YOU OVER ALL THE TIME AND YOU THINK ITS AS NORMAL AS DRINKING WATER.. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF POSTING HERE ANY MORE AS IT IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME SPACE AND ENERGY.. I THINK I LL STICK TO THE SELF HARM.. AND HOPEFULLY I GET ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL WHERE I RECEIVE TREATMENT AND IF NOT.. HOPEFULLY I DIE. END OF. NO FLASHBACKS, NON PANIC ATTACKS, NO BODY MEMORIES, NO ANXIETY, NO FEAR OF MEN, NO JUMPING AT SUDDEN SOUNDS, NO SLEEPING LIKE IM ON WATCH ALL THE TIME. NO NOTHING CUZ ILL BE DEAD AND DEAD PEOPLE SEE AND HEAR NOTHING.

TAKING A WALK . HITTING SOMETHING.. NOTHING WORKS. DISTRACTION ONLY WORKS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BY A PSYCH TEAM .. THEN WHAT DO YOU DO...... NOTHING... YOU JUST MANAGE. ALL BY YOURSELF. WHICH CLEARLY WORKS WONDERS..

. IT STILL COMES BACK DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY DAY.. 24 HOURS A DAY.. I SEE NOW THAT NOTHING CAN HELP.. THATS WHY DEATH IS THE ONLY ANSWER IN THE END..