Sufferer Ptsd From Psychiatric Care

[cedum]

Hi!

This is my first post here, and I'm a bit nervous. I don't live in an english speaking country, and english isn't my first language, so please forgive me if I misspell something. I've been looking for a PTSD-forum for quite a long time, but there is none in my language. Now I found my way here, and I'm really thankful.

I suffer from PTSD caused by involuntary psychiatric treatment I got ten years ago, when I suffered from self-harm and eating disorders. But it really started when I was a kid and was sexually abused by an older friend. I had almost healed from those experiences, when I was admitted into the psychiatric hospital. Several times I was put in restraints or was held for hours by the staff. Their hands on my body totally freaked me out, and triggered my old experiences. The treatment has just made my self-harm worse, and I ended up almost killing myself.

Now ten years has passed since I left the psychiatry, but I still have nightmares several times every week. I panic when I'm in a crowd, a small room or just feeling cornered. The sound of emergency vehicles, the sight of police officers or just the sound of keys: there are so many things that make my system vigilant and totally tensed. I realise that I need help, but my big problem is: how? I can't turn to the psychiatry to ask for help with PTSD caused by the psychiatry. It would just kill me.

So, that's short about me and where I stand. I hope this forum can be som kind of lifeline until I decide what to.

Pax!

 

[hodge]

Welcome, Cedum. This is a tough one. What about a private therapist who is not associated with a psychiatric hospital? There were a few around here and I'm in the middle nowhere, Midwest US. I mostly recently was in therapy with a therapist in a non-profit clinic. I'd really rather see a therapist for therapy rather than a psychiatrist. Their specialty is meds, whereas therapists focus on non-medicinal treatments that can really help.

Oh, and no worries! Your English is very good!

 

[Ed Norton]

I understand, a lot of abuse and downright assaults, threats happens even in the US at the hands of staff and patients. I almost had a heart attack and was given drugs that I'm very allergic to. I was also 'threatened' by an abusive staff but quite frankly, I was gonna kill him if it escalated. And one assault, which was thankfully minor at another place. I'm sorry that you suffered at a place that is supposedly there to help you.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Lucycat]

Hi and Welcome to the forum.
I hope you find the information on here helpful and the people supportive - I know I have!
Regards, Lucy x

 

[Poofycat]

Welcome! I'm so, so sorry that happened to you. I can understand how your circumstances making getting professional help difficult. Hopefully this forum will provide information on other types of care that might be available to you.

 

[HoosierGal]

I have never been hospitalized due to PTSD but have come very close - its only thanks to capable and caring family members that I was able to avoid it. I'm not against hospitalization wjen necessary but I think for many people it can truly be traumatizing or re-traumatizing. I'm so very sorry this happened to you.

I too was afraid to reach out for help after my near-hospitalization. I was afraid that telling a therapist or psychiatrist how bad I was feeling would prompt them to ship me off to a hospital. So far that hasn't happened. Please don't give up on getting help. Could you try explaining to a therapist that hospitalization traumatized you and that you want very much to avoid that?

This is a good place to get support and advice. Welcome!

 

[Anarchy]

Welcome to the forum Cedum!

Off the top of my head, I can think of three American therapists who were hospitalised as teenagers and for at least two of them, hospital made their problems far worse;
Anita Sawyer
Marsha Linehan
and Sebern Fisher.

I don't know if you can pay yourself, or whether you'd have to muck about with the state system for a Therapist.

incidentally, drugs might numb you when you take them, but they don't teach any coping skills.

there's no doubt that a good therapist can get you improving fast and effectively

there's also a lot you can do for yourself (I got this from Psychiatrists) you need someone of reasonable intelligence (doesn't have to be brilliant) who you trust and who has a good grasp of reality. their job is to spot any distorted ideas before they get out of hand. there are people on the forum who are good at that if you don't have anyone who can do it face to face.

another psychiatrist reckons (and I don't fully agree) that if the client and T really get on well, then it doesn't matter what technique is used - it will work.

welcome to the forum again

have a look around, there are lots of resources, and good threads, and we do have some scandinavian members too!

@

 

[intothelight]

Welcome and the members here have given some great advice. I hope you can find some things here that will help you in your recovery.

 

[Saria]

This is my first post here, and I'm a bit nervous. I don't live in an english speaking country, and english isn't my first language, so please forgive me if I misspell something. I've been looking for a PTSD-forum for quite a long time, but there is none in my language. Now I found my way here, and I'm really thankful

Me too! My english isn't the best either, but don't worry about it. People here are very nice and understaning :) (and besides, your english looks perfect to me).

Sorry to hear what you've been through. I'm not sure whether or not the system in Sweden is the same as in Norway, but going to a private psychologist feels very different from treatment at a psychiatric hospital, and is as easily accessible. If you're not yet ready to contact a private psychologist, but happen to live close to Stockholm, I actually know a great therapist there (not psychologist) who just has this warm and loving prescence and is very easy to talk to, who has helped me a lot. You're welcome to send me a pm if you want to know her name etc. Anyway, welcome to the forum! @cedum

 

[cedum]

It feels almost unreal to log in here and find all your comments. From the bottom of my heart: thank you! I get all emotional by your warmth and concideration.

I've been thinking about trying to contact a private psychologist. Unfortunately, it could get really expensive. The Swedish health care system is very beneficial as long as you visit the public institutions (which mostly are very good), and therefor few people have health care insurance, which makes private care really expensive. I'm also afraid that just the situation: being a paitient - will get triggering. But I think you're right, that's my best options.
Thanks again, you all made my day!

 

[Saria]

Have you checked out whether or not it's possible to get a private psychologist with "healthcare agreement" (vårdavtal) with the "county council" (landstinget) @cedum? Many private psychologist here have that agreement and can offer subsidized psychotherapy, although often with longer waiting times. Then you only pay a maximum amount of about $250 a year.

I understand that being a patient again can be triggering after what you experienced! I hope you find someone that are able to give you a new experience of that therapy can be very helpful and beneficial