Undiagnosed Ptsd Or No = One Thing After The Other

[muddhoss]

So lately my fiance keeps telling me that she thinks I have PTSD. No, I didn't go to war. Yes I did spend over 8 years in the military. I am kinda numb to most feelings. I have pretty much given up on seeing my kids, as when I do, things just go horribly wrong. I just wanted to see if anyone has heard of someone getting PTSD from stuff happening one right after another and there is nothing you can do about it.

It started with me and my ex splitting up. Then her moving my kids out of my house while I was training for 3 weeks. First time not having kids in my house. Then being evicted from my house because I can't pay for it. Getting laid off from my job the same week as losing the house. Then shredding my ligaments in my shoulder, causing me to miss another deployment. Finding out I have to pay $1000 a month in child support. Fighting with my ex trying to get a divorce. Having two shoulder surgeries within three weeks of each other. I was just one thing after another.

I don't think I ever had time to adjust to what was going on. It wasn't until all the dust had settled that I realized I didn't treat my kids very good. I know I used to, but every time they came over, I was just ready for them to go. Now, I feel horrible that I don't see them, but when I think about it, I just know I would be ready for to leave.

 

[mrsk26]

Hi I'm a ptsd sufferer and even if you look up the symptoms of ptsd it's sounds like you have depression rather than ptsd. I myself have went from one bad problem to Another and suffered from depression. Maybe a visit to your doctor and some counselling about your feelings between you and your children would help

 

[Leah123]

Hello. I am sorry to hear about the difficulties: feeling out of control and having so many problems one after the other is very difficult. I hope you do not have PTSD though. You haven't listed anything that meets Criterion A I don't think, but you can review it all below.It can be confusing to try and self-diagnose, because there are a lot of other conditions that have some common symptoms though, so it really requires a professional tohelp evaluate if your symptoms fit the criteria you and give you a correct diagnosis to help you get the right treatment:

Criterion A: stressor

The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, as follows: (1 required)

Direct exposure.
Witnessing, in person.
Indirectly, by learning that a close relative or close friend was exposed to trauma. If the event involved actual or threatened death, it must have been violent or accidental.
Repeated or extreme indirect exposure to aversive details of the event(s), usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, collecting body parts; professionals repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse). This does not include indirect non-professional exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures.

Criterion B: intrusion symptoms

The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the following way(s): (1 required)

Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive memories. Note: Children older than 6 may express this symptom in repetitive play.
Traumatic nightmares. Note: Children may have frightening dreams without content related to the trauma(s).
Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) which may occur on a continuum from brief episodes to complete loss of consciousness. Note: Children may reenact the event in play.
Intense or prolonged distress after exposure to traumatic reminders.
Marked physiologic reactivity after exposure to trauma-related stimuli.

Criterion C: avoidance

Persistent effortful avoidance of distressing trauma-related stimuli after the event: (1 required)

Trauma-related thoughts or feelings.
Trauma-related external reminders (e.g., people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations).

Criterion D: negative alterations in cognitions and mood

Negative alterations in cognitions and mood that began or worsened after the traumatic event: (2 required)

Inability to recall key features of the traumatic event (usually dissociative amnesia; not due to head injury, alcohol or drugs).
Persistent (and often distorted) negative beliefs and expectations about oneself or the world (e.g., "I am bad," "The world is completely dangerous.").
Persistent distorted blame of self or others for causing the traumatic event or for resulting consequences.
Persistent negative trauma-related emotions (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame).
Markedly diminished interest in (pre-traumatic) significant activities.
Feeling alienated from others (e.g., detachment or estrangement).
Constricted affect: persistent inability to experience positive emotions.

Criterion E: alterations in arousal and reactivity

Trauma-related alterations in arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the traumatic event: (2 required)

Irritable or aggressive behavior.
Self-destructive or reckless behavior.
Hypervigilance.
Exaggerated startle response.
Problems in concentration.
Sleep disturbance.

Criterion F: duration

Persistence of symptoms (in Criteria B, C, D and E) for more than one month.
Criterion G: functional significance

Significant symptom-related distress or functional impairment (e.g., social, occupational).
Criterion H: attribution

Disturbance is not due to medication, substance use, or other illness.


I hope things improve for you soon and you find lots of support and help!

 

[intothelight]

Hi Muddhoss,

Welcome to MyPTSD forum!

Whether or not you have PTSD can only be determined by a mental health professional and it is best that you get a definitive diagnosis. Knowing exactly what is wrong is the first step in determining the course of treatment that would be of the greatest benefit.

There is a lot of information here to help you address the symptoms you are experiencing regardless of the underlying cause. I hope that you find it helpful.

Take care.

Debbie