Stereotype Of Ptsd In Society

[InHell11]

Why, I cannot keep all my text when I edit escapes me. I will figure it out eventually.

 

[matthios]

PTSD doesn't cause a person to be suicidal, depression does.

This runs counter to what I've read, er, almost everywhere. Or rather, even when studies don't point to PTSD "causing" suicide, the correlation between PTSD and suicide is higher than those for "trauma survivors diagnosed with other mental illnesses (nonptsd) or no mental pathology" (I tried to post a link to the ptsd dot va dot gov site on the relationship between ptsd and suicide, but the forum says I can't post links until I have ten posts... which baffles me as I've got more than ten. anyway- google it, it'll turn up easily enough.)


There is also a body of research that indicates many, many other reasons for suicide other than depression. (guilt, shame, fear) which seem more consistent with PTSD than just depression.

I won't say that PTSD doesn't cause depression in a tremendous number of people, because it does. So if we're going to argue that PTSD causes the depression that causes the suicidality, then maybe I can marginally come around on this, but it mostly just seems to come down to if we're going to bother specifying causation or correlation.

 

[Privateer]

There is also a body of research that indicates many, many other reasons for suicide other than depression. (guilt, shame, fear) which seem more consistent with PTSD than just depression.

With me it was guilt.

I mean, obviously I'm not dead, but that's not for lack of trying.

 

[Shellbell]

I won't say that PTSD doesn't cause depression in a tremendous number of people, because it does. So if we're going to argue that PTSD causes the depression that causes the suicidality, then maybe I can marginally come around on this

I agree with this. The PTSD does cause the depression that causes the suicidality.

 

[Lucycat]

PTSD doesn't cause a person to be suicidal, depression does.

I disagree here. I do not have depression, I have PTSD. I have been suicidal. My GP tried to diagnose depression as she does not understand PTSD. My psychiatrist was able to override that decision and said I was NOT depressed. It felt like a relief as I knew that myself, and felt invalidated trying to argue with a GP.

Yes, I had to deal with the reasons for the suicidal thought, feelings and actions at that time, through therapy. It certainly helped - and very quickly. However trying to deal with the backlash of other people knowing I had been suicidal took much longer. They stopped trusting me. I had a 'minder' for some time and had to accept that, in order for them to feel better.

There is certainly a lot of misunderstanding about PTSD. I have only told a few people. On the surface they claim to understand, but when I am overwhelmed they do not relate that to the diagnosis. I think when I am functioning well and normally they think it is all over and do not understand that it comes back to bite you at the most unexpected of moments.

 

[Shellbell]

I just read a book that is about all forms of trauma not just PTSD. It's 'Healing from Trauma - A Survivor's Guide' By Jasmin Lee Cori, MS, LPC.

It states clearly about the difference between Post Traumtic Stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I will quote the parts relevant to my previous posts:

'Not everyone who has trauma develops PTSD, although everyone who has PTSD has experienced significant trauma'.

'The key here is that a person feels helpless and deeply threatened at a survival level'.

'It is feeling a threat to your existence that leads to PTSD'.

This all confers with the APA and all leading experts, as to the types of trauma that cause PTSD.

Most experts dealing with trauma and PTSD believe the cause of the trauma is absolutely significant in PTSD, not just the symptoms.

I will always lean towards the world's leading experts and those who have considerable knowledge in the field, as opposed to a few well meaning, but ill-informed mental health professional who mis-diagnose.

 

[matthios]

I agree with this. The PTSD does cause the depression that causes the suicidality.

But I'd still only go that far for the cases where the depression caused the suicidal behavior and not a non-depressed PTSD sufferer's suicidal behavior... depression does not account for all suicides, PTSD or not.

 

[Shellbell]

In all the reading I've done it states that around 80% of PTSD sufferers, also suffer other mental illnesses. A common one being depression. I have severe depression, as well as chronic PTSD. The PTSD caused my depression (and this is more often the case). I don't like it, I don't want either, but I'm not too proud to admit it. Even with the stigma attached to it all.

I want to be diagnosed with only whatever mental illness(s) I actually have, stigma or no stigma and as a result get the right treatment and therapy in order to work towards healing from this. My aim is to get well and healed.

My concern in all of this incorrect diagnosis, mis-diagnosis, incorrect self diagnosis (and this happens), is the failure to then get correct treatment, therapy and medication if necessary. It's really dangerous.

I want people to acknowledge what they do and don't have - only to be able to come to terms with their illness and be able to appropriately deal with it. Not to be right. It's out of concern.

There is a lot of stigma about PTSD and all mental illnesses - with people with mental illness.