Poll Ptsd- Still Widely Misunderstood By People

[Britt.f7]

@Abstract You know, I'm really not sure. I started with a different T and ended up with her and I can't remember which one I mentioned it to. She knows that I belong to this forum, though not the exact name of it. Just that it is a PTSD forum. I went through intense PTSD/sexual abuse in patient therapy for a month back in my twenties.

 

[Tinyflame]

I heard a woman explain that 'people don't understand, they see a room, I see 6 exits and count 16 people between me and them". That resonated with me, the difference in processing details and information (and it's seeming-relevancy). And similarly the associated emotions, and other realities- physical ones. It's very draining, at best, unless one can be at peace and 'forget about it' , perhaps relax, at some level for an amount of time. I think this is partly where the misunderstanding comes from, that it's not a willful act of concentration or attitude, if that makes sense.

 

[Changing4Best]

Unless someone is familiar with a PTSD person, or has studied it themselves, I think there is widespread confusion on the subject by those not familiar with it. This has been my experience anyway, as I feel I am a very misunderstood person.

 

[Lina007]

This is exactly why I stay home and don't leave.

 

[Luminous Lotus]

Thankfully I seem to attract supporters more than skeptics, but when I mention that I have PTSD the first thing that comes out of people's mouths is always "Did you serve?" The same group of people I'm referring to take my problems and relate them to their everyday issues, and act like they're the same. It's rather irritating.

My parents are the only people I've run into that actually have the nerve to tell me that I need to get over my problems or ask me why I'm letting it get to me so much. And this is in spite of the fact that they themselves still have issues from seeing me go through the surgery that gave me PTSD. Worse yet, they won't even let themselves look at their problems, and they're trying to tell me how it's done.

 

[VT86]

I'm so tired of my coworkers (the few that know that I have PTSD) who complain to me about the fact that they haven't had any sleep in the last day or so, and that they can't function on so little sleep. They know that I have had sleep problems for the last two years. Then when I say something about being exhausted all I hear is "Shouldn't you be used to that by now?" Really? No. A person really doesn't get used to near constant sleep deprivation.:mad:

 

[Ed Norton]

To me the results of this poll are shocking. My family with the exception of my grandma just think that I am "crazy"; this is after many years of high functioning. I have a great feeling of shame and embarassment when I go to family meetings and such because I feel stigmatized.

I was recently in the hospital for suicidal ideation but all my family knows is that I was in the hospital again, cuz I done went nuts :-(

 

[Viosinger]

I recently admitted to 2 friends (separately) that I have PTSD. One has been fantastic, and mostly just wants to know I'm okay. He can generally adjust interactions on days when my symptoms are flaring up worse.

The other friend took the approach of telling me to FEEL BETTER! Be Happy! Tell your parents how you feel!!! (Because none of those things EVER occurred to me before).

 

[ResaLock]

YES, YES and....YES!!!

I heard a couple on that list as well.

How about these:

( These are the things/LIES people have said to me. I doubt I can list them all.)

1) Your are only hurting because you haven't forgiven them.
2) You allow yourself to be hurt.
3) You have or got PTSD, because only negative people get PTSD
4) People with PTSD are dangerous, they can kill people.
5) PTSD is a demonic possession.
6) PTSD is the worse mental illness you can have.
7) If you believed in God He can heal you. (Yes I am a God believer)
8) You're ill because you don't have faith or believe in God.(" ")
9) You have PTSD because you lost your faith and God is frustrated from you.
10) You have PTSD because your a sinner.
11) People with PTSD are crazy.
12) PTSD is all in your head.
13) People with PTSD are just drama queens.
14) PTSD is only caused from fighting in a war(e.g. military.)
15) I can get PTSD from you if you talk about it.

 

[ResaLock]

This is exactly why I stay home and don't leave.

Yea I would say that to. I have isolated myself because of that. After hearing hundreds of these insults for being in pain and having PTSD it does that. People could say you do not have to tell people and keep it to yourself. Which is another insult. I mean. I don't go out and throw it in peoples faces. I just try to live a normal life. ..but it isn't. For me I could cry in the middle of anything. Even if I try to have fun. It comes unexpectedly. Even if I try to hide it and just smile. My over whelming emotions will take over and my facial expressions that I try to control looses grip and my face will change regardless. Like the way the mouth moves when your about to cry and trying to hold it in, or your eyes water and they ask you what is wrong. Luckily I have allergies and say, " I have allergies" so I do not lie. I do not like lying to people, it may be a little deception. ...but I try to be as honest as I can to people. I try not to push my pain on others who do not understand or could bare it. So I make sure its a random specific response. I am not saying its because of my allergies, or my allergies are acting up.. I just randomly say, "I have allergies." So its not a lie. Yes I work very hard on my words to not lie to people and have a response not to burden them.

 

[RockChick]

It's upsetting when you want to avoid a situation and people assume you hate everything and anything involved in it FOREVER!

Eg: Me: "I don't want to be alone with some strange man I don't know."
Friend: "Yeah I know you hate all men."

 

[InvisibleSun]

Yup..as a child with PTSD..the doctors labeled me as "difficult." When my symptoms reemerged following a rape, the nurse actually told me, "Oh sweetheart, you can't have PTSD, you've never been to war." I believed her..until I was eventually diagnosed with PTSD, by a doctor, who just so happened to be a war vet. Talk about irony..

I don't talk about my PTSD..my boyfriend is the only one who knows but, even then, I try not to talk to him about it. I wish he didn't have to know and I could just keep it all to myself. I feel too guilty and ashamed to open up about it. Makes me nervous and uncomfortable.