What To Never Say To A Ptsd Sufferer

[Kopykat]

This may just be me but I find it unhelpful when someone says "it's not real" as I'm in the middle of a flashback meltdown

 

[EmmaOwl]

"Build a wall in your mind between yourself and others."

 

[Alittlebitdown]

"Just get into a routine, just get up and do something"
I have nightmares every night. I wake up 5-7 times a night. In the morning because of those same nightmares, I dissociate or I'm so depressed, all I want is to die. But yeah, I'll get up and do something when I've finished going through all that. I'll get into a "routine". Asshat. I'm trying to just survive.
"I had bad stuff happened to me, I just put it all in a box"
Yeah like that's healthy behaviour... No wonder you emotionally neglected me, Dad.
"You're not helping yourself. If you stopped dwelling on it then it wouldn't bother you so much."
*Slow Clap* Yep because I like reliving the good old days of pain; and I like being suicidal 24/7.
"Exercise helps depression. Just go for a walk... It always helps me."
Walk around the neighbourhood that I was raped every day for three years in? No... But thanks for thinking of me and all that would do for me!
All from my supportive family. I understand that there is good intentions there in those statements... But as they say the road to hell is paved with similar sentiments.
And I'm in hell.
Cheers

Oh and when I'm in a panic attack:
"Nobody's going to hurt you or touch you"
I would like to say that I believe you but you let it happen far too often for me to trust you.

 

[LoveTea]

"You are strong you can deal with it yourself"
"There's nothing to be afraid of"
"Geez stop being so jumpy you knew I was here"
"It's not really happening"
These are from people who love me and are trying to help. Most of the time they help, but sometimes they get it wrong. I can't imagine what someone who didn't know what to do would say. I can't imagine what someone who was trying to hurt me would say.

 

[Teasel]

"You're so lucky you don't have to work" :O_o::stop:

 

[Alittlebitdown]

Oooh and a great one:
"When I have a nightmare, I try a rewrite it...like I'm the one who won... Can't you try that?"
Nice. Well if I ever invent a time machine... I'll change the past to suit me and then I'll be able to do that!

 

[Neverthesame]

"Oh, that thing? It was over ten years ago."

Oh really... Feels like just yesterday. Like it has been every yesterday, for over a decade.
That thing. That damn thing. Was one hell of a thing.
I'm glad they don't understand. I wish I didn't.

 

[Deleted member 19804]

A well-meaning comment from someone I love very much: "You are already so damaged. Please be careful."

 

[EveHarrington]

"Build a wall in your mind between yourself and others."

Huh?.....but I already have a MILLION walls in my mind! (This is why I'm going to therapy....)

 

[DharmaGirl]

"If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't sit around and do nothing, I would find some work at home thing to do." Hmm, if I were able to work at home, I would go back to my high paying job with benefits and retirement and work there. But I can't work, at home, at a workplace, on the moon. That is why I get disability, because I can't work.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

I got this just a week or two ago from my sister after attempting to talk with her about something horrific she did to me when we were children (and still affects me badly 50 years later): "You've always been a crybaby".

Yes, you blockheaded bitch, in your world I'm a crybaby, and in my world you are cruel and inhuman and you caused me the two worst traumas of my life, one of which still does make me cry.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

Oops, I didn't mean for that to turn into a rant. I guess I'm still upset. :(