Ptsd: It's Not A Competition

[digger]

In other words, I'm not going to stay away from this place because I don't have the diagnosis

I would hope no-one's suggesting you should. The description of who this forum is for doesn't say you have to have a diagnosis to be here...
"My PTSD is a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) community catering all sufferers of PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), those who meet criterion A and believe they have PTSD, and those who care and support (spouses, family, friends) for those suffering PTSD."

I don't currently have a diagnosis, and have no plans at present to put myself through the stress of getting one. I understand people's reasons for being so pro-diagnosis, but for me personally any benefits of getting one at the moment are far outweighed by the stress and distress it would cause me. I don't have a need for one legally in terms of insurance or work etc and having one wouldn't change my current treatment plan with my therapist.

Do I still benefit from this site? Absolutely. Can I contribute anything to this site? I hope so and hope I have done.

My reasons for not getting a diagnosis are personal to my own situation, not to diminish anyone else's diagnosis.

 

[Lucycat]

I was more concerned with your statement that CPTSD is guided by therapists, as I received my diagnosis from the Chief of Psychiatry at UofT, who I would consider a legitimate source of experience in mental health

My diagnosis of CPTSD is from a UK psychiatrist with a special interest in Trauma.
I am wondering what the future holds.
I am aware that ICD and DSM are different - already one has dropped Asperger's as a diagnosis. I think it has gone from the DSM. However there will be many people who already carry that 'label' - I don't suppose their life experience has changed for it no longer being a legal diagnosis within their country.

My point is that diagnoses come and go. They are not fixed, they are created by groups of experts expressing opinion on evidence. Even PTSD as a diagnosis did not exist a few years ago. But we know it did exist in real life long before then. I have had many a discussion on here about the validity of CPTSD as a diagnosis. In the end I have given up arguing. It is enough for me to know I have it, and I still believe that eventually it will be recognised as a legal diagnosis. Why? Simply because the description of CPTSD as described by Judith Herman better describes my life experience and makes it easier for me to discuss my difficulties.

The 'is it a competition?' argument is a false one. Is my headache worse than yours? Our experiences are all different - not better or worse - just different. What can be better measured is the level of dysfunction. Can you do all the things that you want to do or do the symptoms ( not the diagnosis) prevent you from leading the life you would otherwise choose?

Today PTSD was on the front page of our national newspaper - related to Childbirth. This is not something I have experienced - but I fail to see how the pain and lack of support whilst giving birth can result in PTSD in 6% of Scottish deliveries as claimed. I am sure in many countries of the world there is no pain relief or support but I doubt they get diagnoses - or suffer symptoms of - PTSD. Don't get me wrong, I am sure in a tiny minority of cases women have near death experiences and very traumatic deliveries. For them I can see the relevance but not in 6% . The headline is 'Why giving birth is like being in a war zone'. Sensational, journalistic crap. How insulting for people actually in a war zone.