So, i want to share that i no longer have ptsd

[Suzetig]

And in the context of someone saying they’ve recovered from PTSD, the trauma must have been of a particular nature (eg Crit A). The OP said they’ve recovered from this particular label, meaning they no longer meet the diagnostic criteria which assumes they did at one point meet the criteria, which means their trauma was - by definition - major. The OP then said

I think maybe the bone analogy only works if you are assuming that more serious trauma is likely

implying their trauma wasn’t serious - which is what I and others are challenging. Of course trauma exists on a scale but for PTSD the scale has a particular, defined starting point.

 

[Virtues]

I'm pretty sure this is going in the direction of...

My trauma is worse than yours...

seems like a slippery slope...

 

[Suzetig]

I’m not sure where you get that from - I’ve not seen anyone comparing trauma other than the OP implying that their PTSD inducing trauma wasn’t serious.

 

[Virtues]

it just seems like that's the direction it's going in... maybe I'm wrong...

 

[CdnCopper]

I just think that some are a bit bewildered given the decades of research, treatments and therapies that agree that although not "curable", there is the ability for sufferers to learn to minimize the effects of ptsd to the point where they can function and be symptom free be it through therapy, medication, other supports such as well structured wellness plan or a combination of all.

Perhaps it's just confusion between recovery vs cure.

There are stark differences between the two.

 

[anonymous]

I just think that some are a bit bewildered given the decades of research, treatments and therapies that agree that although not "curable"

Except that’s far from the agreed position on this, research shows that something like 80% of people diagnosed with PTSD will recover (as in not meet the diagnostic criteria) without therapy or medication. I’m not in the headspace to find the reference for you just now but I’ll try to come back to the thread when my heads in a better place.

Folk who find themselves here tend to be at the more intractable end of the scale, and some of the recovery rates may relate to folk who got a very early diagnosis (ie 6-8 weeks post trauma) but people can and do recover.

 

[Suzetig]

Sorry, that was me - hit anonymous by mistake!

 

[CdnCopper]

Not in disagreement with that at all.

What I am saying however is that their is a difference between living in recovery and cured.

 

[Suzetig]

And what I’m saying is that research shows the vast majority consider themselves to be cured and are considered to be cured by the professionals involved. The concept of recovery suggests active management of symptoms when there are folk who would say they don’t have symptoms to manage and hence consider themselves to be healed.

 

[CdnCopper]

I think its just a play on words. For example.

A person who is bipolar who adheres to a very strict plan that includes medication and therapy, controls that condition where they can function and remain symptom free. Are they cured, no they are living in recovery, however are at risk of a relapse.

An Alcoholic who hasn't drank in 30 years has learned to control their triggers so they don't relapse and they can live symptom free and function normally without medication or ongoing therapy, are they cured, no they are living in recovery, however they are still at risk of a relapse.

A person who has learned to control and manage triggers etc of ptsd can live as you pointed out symptom free and no longer meet the criteria, however that does not equate into being cured as there is still at risk of a relapse. Therefore they will be living in recovery.

Just my take on what I have read over the years concerning mental illness.

 

[Suzetig]

And a person who no longer experiences situations as triggering and doesn’t experience any symptoms to a debilitating degree, for whom their trauma is a memory like any other is...?

 

[CdnCopper]

....is living in recovery.