The Silent Language Of Ptsd

[Kolten]

I think this is One of the hardest parts of having this disease. I myself have PTSD and when diagnosed I didn't even have any clue what it was or what was behind it. It took a lot of research on my part before getting into a therapist months later to try and figure out what was going on with me. I knew I felt like a completely different person as though my old self left my body and a new self took over and it wasn't pretty. But I did take the time to look into it thoroughly. At times too much almost hyperobsessing over it. I did not self diagnose or attempt to. Truly I was hoping to see a therapist that said the other one misdiagnosed and I was going to be in the clear. That wasn't the case. And I am still learning to cope and be OK with it. I am a thousand miles farther than I was and get farther daily thru strong effort.

I have a large family and I can tell you the battle has been this issue of understanding PTSD and it's effects. The fact that I am not careless or lazy that I fight inside daily Just to make it thru simple tasks at times. Some family has been exposed during an episode unfortunately But it seemed to give them a peek into what it looks like at it's worst. The other family looks at me as though I have no issue and I should be "back to my normal self" by now. I'm sure many of you incur the same. That being said I cannot force anyone to even research PTSD to get better educated so they may understand this isn't a common cold that goes a way. Its up to them to do so and if they don't i must cope and be OK with them thinking whatever they think. I keep in mind this is not they're journey to understand. It is mine.

 

[I_will_recover]

As for folks who dismiss PTSD or have no desire to learn/understand when you try to explain/educate....

Don't try to explain yourself to stupid people.
You are not a jackass whisperer.
(Not my quote but I cannot find the author to credit)

And I apologize if explicit language like jack*** is not allowed. I looked for language allowed and not. Please send me a link if you know.

 

[Forgetful]

Kind of related but I saw this and it made me think of this post
If Physical Ailments Were Treated as Mental Ones:
(artist Robot Hugs)

@Silver I'd be interested in seeing this. I searched the archives on the artist's website but didn't see it. Where could I find it?

 

[Silver.]

@Snafu
http://www.robot-hugs.com/helpful-advice/

 

[Forgetful]

Thank you Silver

@Snafu
http://www.robot-hugs.com/helpful-advice/

 

[Reaching4thestarrs]

Over the past year I've heard well meaning people who don't have PTSD, say and write some awful th...

Well said!

 

[Freedomfighter]

Over the past year I've heard well meaning people who don't have PTSD, say and write some awful th...

That's what I like too, because it is almost impossible to tell someone that does not have this condition what it is like. It encompasses every cell, every fiber in the body, not just the brain. The repercussions of anxiety attacks reverberate in all aspects of life, leaving the patient confused, disoriented, and utterly lost in pain.

No, no one would understand. The callous people that I see every day I would never even try to make them understand what it feels like to be trapped within PTSD.

I see other people with mental health issues occasionally and I have empathy for them, fully understanding that it must be tougher for the ones that understand what is happening with them, to be stared at by other people as if they were somehow diseased. Well, some of them are actually more intelligent then the people I work with. Some have dulled senses, and then some do not understand things that we would take for granted.

I don't think I could trust anyone that does not understand what PTSD really is.

 

[katz]

@Pixielicious I'm not defending non PTSD people and the things they say that we fee...

If this helps you any....as a child, I would hit myself with a hammer (usually, on the knee or a bruise that I got at school) I would hit it because it made it look worse. I would get more attention from others and have an excuse to "feel bad". Extra love from grandparents, an excuse not to go to gym or even stay in for recess. I also did it just "to feel". To me, the only emotion I could "feel" was pain.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@katz To me, the behavior you just spoke about seems more on the lines of "looking for attention" than self harm.

 

[Pixielicious]

I agree, and also a very Manipulative type of attention seeking. To hurt yourself purposely to get attention from someone is Manipulative behaviour.

 

[katz]

I agree, and also a very Manipulative type of attention seeking. To hurt yourself purposely to get...

thanks

 

[Sophie's Daddy]

I understand that many of us here feel insulted, hurt, angry at those that say things like "just snap out...

You're right about the cancer example. Lately, I've been lucky to meet a few cancer survivors, other folks my own age (50-somethings), one of whom also had heart bypass surgery.

Though, far as I know they aren't also dealing with long term ptsd, I get an amazing shot of inspiration from them.

I'm sure they've had their share of self-doubt and their trying moments but, happily, I've found they'd never pretend to know what I am going/have gone through any more I would them.

I call them Iron Men and Women, like the endurance athletes. In my eyes, they haven't just finished a grueling race-chemo, as one compared it to-but finished strong.

The very real possibility of relapse is something we both share, it's the wolf always lurking at our door.

Because I've found them so easy to relate to, something that's really tough for me to do, they've opened up my world to a bigger picture I'd might never consider otherwise.

We're all survivors, albeit in some pretty different ways but I've felt support from them just by their being there.

Someone's willingness to share their powerful story of survival like that makes me feel good about myself because of the mutual sense of appreciation we find in each other.

I feel like a better person for the exchange..!