Social Class And Ptsd

[ladee]

Grew up in lower working class. Have been poor most of my adult life and dirt poor now that I am retired.
In my case it forced me to search and seek help where ever I could find it. I didn't nor do I now, use being poor as an excuse to stay sick.
Somethi g as simple as taking a walk in the woods is theraputic for me.
Guess if we want to face our demons...we will find a way. One great thing about being poor.. I could give a rats ass what label or stigma people put on me. I've heard it all before. Didn't care then either.

 

[anonymous]

Upper/middle middle but because of this stuff I have struggled financially as an adult and haven't ended up in an an appropriate career like my other family members; and my father used money as a means of control when I was younger.. I suspect there are negatives and predisposing factors in every possible circumstance. Poverty for those who grow up poor and everything that comes with that. Possible emotional neglect in upper classes (I have seen this - obviously happens a lot across the board). False respectability in middle which sometimes protects abusers (see powerful positions for this too). Lower class families may have less protection against criminal elements or gang violence because of where they live. I come in contact with many in the upper classes and am always stuck by the amount of dysfunction and trauma. Suspected with the latter.

My family is full of lawyers and vicars and other pillar of society types. Won't mention my fathers job but it was highly respected and the hypocrisy is always a bit ironic to me. It did make me feel hopeless about being believed. The hypocrisy of my whole family dynamic is quite something actually, They even believe themselves most of the time. Roles eyes.

 

[illusionist]

I know of someone close to me who chose to ' downsize ' on their social standing....never looked back.

Sometimes people have a choice in which class they live, others it's not so easy.

I understand the stresses of being middle/ upper class...without Ptsd, and can only imagine the stresses with ptsd....imo it is a life choice...something that can be changed.

 

[hodge]

Grew up in lower working class. Have been poor most of my adult life and dirt poor now that I am retired....

Amen, Ladee. After all, none of this is our fault. American society is structured in such a way that there are not enough good-paying jobs for all of us. Add PTSD, and, well, you know.

 

[anonymous]

I suspect that the UK is also more complex when it comes to class issues. Old entrenched ideas of class.

 

[hodge]

I believe everyone who is able and willing to work should have a job that pays for a decent life. I don't care if all you can do is sweep streets. You should have a living wage.

 

[hodge]

I suspect that the UK is also more complex when it comes to class issues. Old entrenched ideas of cla...

Definitely. British society is even way more class-oriented than the US and has been for centuries. Cripes, just read Dickens, Austen, etc.

 

[Rani G2]

While seeing, understanding social classes, and the individuals living in them, my goal is not to climb up on the social class ladder. I personally(My own perception) Dont want to belong to some “higher“class. The so-called logic of competition doesnt make much sense to me. But, I cannot get rid of it, I am a part of the system, and again NOT. The emancipation happens when I realise that exploitation takes place where people in power want to secure their power.

 

[lonelyone82]

No, there wouldn't, not really. The judgment stays & everyone's frustrated turns into everyone being quick...

Sorry.

 

[Ronin]

@lonelyone82, nothing to apologize for :) Just saying that assumption hasn't been my experience with poverty & how societies work around poverty.

 

[Friday]

None. Not really.

My family of origin is interclass, many times over. My immediate family, military, which is outside of normal class structure to a large degree, but has it's own class structure sort of cemented that. As a military brat I belonged everywhere. State dinners to dockyards. Looking back I think I just had the right amount of mischief in me to always find compatriots. <chuckling> Those 'solemnly swearing to be up to no good' usually find each other. Regardless of where I happened to be at the time. As an adult I've shifted classes too many times, often on a dime, to really belong to any of them.

Every class has it's own struggles, hardships, freedoms, & strengths. At least in my experience. People are people. The rules we invent for our games just change around a bit. First learn the rules, then break them at your leisure. Cough. The first bit is key. It's breaking rules on accident that bites you in the ass.

PTSD means I often don't have patience for rules or games. I'm not going to play. It makes being anywhere difficult.

 

[The Albatross]

Lower working class. "Do you think that social class plays a role in how you cope with your PTSD or your loved ones PTSD?" Yup, that would be me and absolutely-fing-lutly. Close enough at various times to have a pretty healthy fear of adverse consequences pretty much lit and lights a fire under my ass. I don't volunteer for adverse consequences, life is already hard enough to do and manage.