Society's View Of Ptsd

[intothelight]

For me, one of the hardest things about having PTSD is the feeling that it is something to be "ashamed" of. Society has a warped view of mental illness, and the mainstream media does no favors in it's portrayal of those with mental disorders. It is either something that is misrepresented or to be feared.

Since my cancer diagnosis, I have had no problems telling people that I have cancer. Actually, I find that people open up and talk about their own experiences or those of a loved one. But at the same time, I would never just open up and talk to someone about PTSD. It is easier to address physical illness than psychological.

But I have also found there are some settings where I can open up and share my PTSD diagnosis and find there is a lot of misinformation and misconception. I am finding this true among the medical staff, but they are also very interested in learning more and not afraid to ask questions. So I am finding myself more open and willing to share.

What has been the experience of others? Has anyone found that sharing information has been beneficial? Do you think their should be more public education on mental illness so the fears and misconceptions can be dispelled?

Sometimes having PTSD makes me feel like a "leper" of the Old Testament.

 

[Red Feather]

As an artist, I always wanted to fight against the stigma and be open about what happened to me as well as my illness. I even made a video about one of my dissociative episodes for my diploma exhibition at art school. When I showed the video for the 5-6 Professors at my exams, I had no problem with it. I think it was because it was a special context and the professors were there just for me and to judge my work. I got one of the best grades in my year. :) But when I showed the video to the public, I got triggered and got really unwell and had lots of nightmares. So I agree it is not easy.

My friends have always been very very supportive and I talk to them about what I am going through. There are people I wouldn't talk to about it. But actually I try to tell people if it is possible. I just feel so misunderstood otherwise. I think that also because of the stigma I had to face, people had the impression that I had left my children, I always wanted to fight that and tell people the truth about what happened to me.

If I ever start to work creatively, it will be one of my goals to continue fighting the stigma and even get political. I wanted to do a PhD but have lost so much of my focus and motivation. There is something called "Mad Pride Day" which is a movement to reduce the stigma against the mentally ill. It stops so many people from getting help. I am one of them, as I did not go to a therapist or doctor until it was way too late.

 

[Loner]

There is a lot of stigma. Lots of people are pretty stupid, and since they aren't smart enough to actually judge other people's character for themselves, they just assume anyone with any 'issues' isnt safe to be around. Its unfair but its really just them trying to protect themselves from being hurt.My anxiety has been great enough that for most of my life I havent made microfacial expressions when I talk to people. This, combined with the fact that the emotions I was displaying were things most people are incapable of feeling empathy for because they have never experienced them, namely, powerful isolation, complete lack of trust for others etc, these things led to people reacting to me by thinking 'oh he seems wierd, i just can't get a read on him, he must be crazy/dangerous I'm going to stay away from him'.

People have actually accused me of being a sociopath, not for my behavior, but just because they didn't get a nice happy feelnig from talking to me. Forget the fact that sociopaths are always really charming and people with ptsd are almost always fairly kind caring sensitive people, that might just lack some social skills.

Its unfair but thats just what it is.

This thread ties into the 'explaining your ptsd to others' thread I think. If you wait longer to explain your ptsd to people who already trust and have love for you, but whom might sense there are things you struggle with, they will be far more accepting and understanding I think. If you explain to early, in an effort for them to cut you some slack and feel pity for you so you won't feel akward around them, it won't work out so well. Of course, I havent gotten that close with anyone yet.

 

[piratelady]

I have not told anyone about my PTSD....and I mean no one. I don't tell people for the very reasons you state above. It does feel like something to be ashamed of. I've come close to telling my boss, but then I wonder what affect it could have on my ability to be promoted down the road.

 

[Springer80]

I have always maintained that I am not mentally ill or a depressive. Trauma is an emotional state, there is nothing wrong with my brain, it did exactly what it was supossed to. Society has a problem with 'losing' and 'weakness,' anything that is the opposite of 'winning' and 'strength' so it doesn't want to be associated with it. Why? Because trauma is contagious (more so if it is feared),we know that as sufferers and supporters.

This of course is based on the assumption that humans minds are entirely in control of their own bodies and we aren't....buts that's the received wisdom of modern western science.

I'm being reffered to my local mental health team at the beginning of September and I resent the implication. Not because I don't want to be 'lumped in with the nut-cases' but because in my opinion, an awful lot of 'mental' illness is emotional trauma (bourne out in the nervous system) and becomes perpetuated by the shunning of it due to a lack of understanding and compassion. I can't help but wonder if this 'lack of understanding' is maybe a bit generous...perhaps it's more a obtuse attitude?

A study done by some researchers in the UK went into NHS inpatient mental health wards to assess for dissociative symptoms. They were only allowed access on the proviso that there results would be revealed to nor alter the patients treatment. People are being mediated and sectioned as schizophrenic when they have DID etc and the authorities know about it, they just haven't got the resources to admit it.

PS. It is quite depressing though ;) ....being told your mentally ill an depressed for ten years or more!!! I keep my chin up though by having pity for their singular viewpoint. They can't help it, bless em.

 

[Anna]

What has been the experience of others? Has anyone found that sharing information has been beneficial? Do you think their should be more public education on mental illness so the fears and misconceptions can be dispelled?

Sometimes having PTSD makes me feel like a "leper" of the Old Testament.

Thank you so much for bringing this subject up. I was actually talking to my father about this. It disgusts me how society views mental illness.

In short, I have recently been disgusted with two friends who I thought better of, toxic now to me, who made a comment about a collegue who was sectioned after having a nervous breakdown. Their comments sickened me to my bones. This poor woman was suffering and they said disgusting sick things about her, which I will not repeat. If it had been a physical illness such as cancer they would have had empathy and been more caring. Boy was I happy I had not shared with anyone my illness.

I do not share with others. I have disclosed my illness only to people on this forum and some family members, also close friends who also are mentally ill and have therefore the empathy to deal with it.

People disgust me every day with their sick comments about mental illness. It sickens me to the core.

 

[BloomInWinter]

NAMI works tirelessly to combat stigma, and every time we stand up to bigotry and ignorance, we help us all.

I live openly with it for that reason. Supportive people show themselves, unsupportive people draw away. I will say with the caveat that I have a protected job where I've declared ny disability in case any supervisor wants to start messing with me again.

It's like a magic detector that reveals people I'm better off without.

 

[Loner]

Bloom, I agree with most of that but with some caveats.

I think there are MANY people who would be supportive if I told them, oh I had a really rough childhood, abusive parents, an abusive brother, no freinds, no other family members or positive influences around, and as a result, I have had a lot of problems with anxiety and trusting people, and have spent much of my life isolating myself.

That puts it in a way even someone without ptsd can sort of empathize with. Saying I have PTSD, I dissociate, I'm paranoid, I have emotional flashbacks, panic attacks, etc, while also still true, is perhaps a more alienating way of saying the same thing and will throw a lot of people for a loop.

 

[Springer80]

Hi Loner,

I take your point...If people ask if what my health problem is...I tend to reply by saying, I chronincally over- produced adrenaline for a long time, which has caused neuro-biologocal imbalances that led to sympathetic nervous system problems and secondary symptoms like vitamin d deficiency/insomnia etc. All absolutely true. :) You' d be surprised how people are quite fascinated by and accommodating of that. Like you say it's the terminology that causes the divisions. Once I've got em and if I feel comfortable I say, yeah its called ptsd. The bit that makes me feel uncomfortable is from there on, cos people associate it more or less exclusively with combat (one of my other 'beef's) so they want to know what's so bad for a civilian to go through. This is often too personal for me. Not on a re-traumatising level but judgement/rejection stress.

 

[Loner]

Yea, I dont think you have tell them exactly what happened. Maybe just say, I had a relaly rough childhood. Most people can imagine, the details don't really matter.

 

[Sheer Force of Will]

My boyfriend's family found out that I had PTSD and told him that it makes dangerous and I should stay away from him. It was the first time anyone had ever found out about my PTSD and their reaction was humiliating and degrading. The worst part is, my boyfriend was influenced enough by his family to listen to them, and attacked me for posting on this web site. We are trying to move past it but it has haunted our relationship ever since.

They seemed to think that it was making me emotionally abusive, because I had posted on here that I was unhappy in my relationship. I don't know what they thought they knew about me or about PTSD, but it was one of the most overwhelmingly negative experiences of my life. It has tainted my relationship and my ability to talk to other people about my PTSD.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Choosing who to share with, and being ok with not caring what others think about it was important to me before I shared.

People I thought wouldn't understand stepped forward and were very compassionate and supportive.

People who weren't would have required me to keep putting up appearances instead of being able to be my true self.

I spent enough years trying to be what I thought others needed me to be, instead of being myself. Now that I live openly with it...it's not a secret that has any power of me. If someone were to be uncomfortable with it, that's all their problem.

My circle is far smaller but much healthier, deeper, and more satisfying.

My sister tried to tell me not to talk about it, because some of our old mutual friends might know.

My response was 'if you and your friends can't fnd a better topic to discuss than me, you're the ones with a problem. Healthy people don't care what a friend's sibling does.''

It's not a road for everyone but I'm glad I decided to live openly.