K
Kahlira
Hello, my name is Kahlira (obviously not my real name but for the purposes of this, it is).
I went though a traumatic experience a couple of years ago, it involved being sexually abused by a boyfriend when I was young (13). Since then I have had flashbacks, anxiety/panic attacks, I have been dissociating and I have regular nightmares. On top of that I am also extremely jumpy, always on edge and everything frightens me.
I fit the symptoms of PTSD, I have researched and it was my boyfriend who came to me and suggested it. He thinks so too, he also thinks I should talk to my therapist. She isn't a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist. She is a Clinical Nurse with the NHS mental health service in the UK. A couple of months ago she said I was depressed and referred me to a psychiatrist who said I was not, in fact, depressed. Since then my PTSD symptoms have got worse, I am avoiding everything, including the odd session with my therapist. She hasn't brought PTSD up or even hinted at it. The psychiatrist who did the depression assessment wrote that I had a history of trauma, however, my therapist now isn't picking up on the fact what happened to me is having a much bigger impact than what she thought.
I was thinking of saying this to her:
"____ (my boyfriend) said he thinks I might have PTSD. I looked up the symptoms and such and I relate to them. What do you think?"
I'm not good at talking so the bluntness of this might make it easier for me to just get out and say it. I'm not trying to do her job, I just want to know what it is I am experiencing and I feel that having a name to it would make it much easier for ME to manage (I know this is not the case with some people). It would also help with college, since dissociating and anxiety were two of the main reasons I skipped college and ended up being kicked out.
Do you think this is okay to say and ask? I am not looking for a diagnosis, but at the same time I am because right now, I feel like I'm just kind of floating in therapy, not doing anything that is actually focused on me or my symptoms.
Thank you!
I went though a traumatic experience a couple of years ago, it involved being sexually abused by a boyfriend when I was young (13). Since then I have had flashbacks, anxiety/panic attacks, I have been dissociating and I have regular nightmares. On top of that I am also extremely jumpy, always on edge and everything frightens me.
I fit the symptoms of PTSD, I have researched and it was my boyfriend who came to me and suggested it. He thinks so too, he also thinks I should talk to my therapist. She isn't a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist. She is a Clinical Nurse with the NHS mental health service in the UK. A couple of months ago she said I was depressed and referred me to a psychiatrist who said I was not, in fact, depressed. Since then my PTSD symptoms have got worse, I am avoiding everything, including the odd session with my therapist. She hasn't brought PTSD up or even hinted at it. The psychiatrist who did the depression assessment wrote that I had a history of trauma, however, my therapist now isn't picking up on the fact what happened to me is having a much bigger impact than what she thought.
I was thinking of saying this to her:
"____ (my boyfriend) said he thinks I might have PTSD. I looked up the symptoms and such and I relate to them. What do you think?"
I'm not good at talking so the bluntness of this might make it easier for me to just get out and say it. I'm not trying to do her job, I just want to know what it is I am experiencing and I feel that having a name to it would make it much easier for ME to manage (I know this is not the case with some people). It would also help with college, since dissociating and anxiety were two of the main reasons I skipped college and ended up being kicked out.
Do you think this is okay to say and ask? I am not looking for a diagnosis, but at the same time I am because right now, I feel like I'm just kind of floating in therapy, not doing anything that is actually focused on me or my symptoms.
Thank you!
