When Is Bullying Considered Traumatic??

[daniel]

Hi everyone :)

First of all, sorry for my not perfect English :D, but I would really like to know what you think about bullying and ptsd! I tried looking for similar topics but couldn't really find anything with the search engine, sorry if this topic has been extensively discussed already?

Could someone tell me when does Bullying fulfill the PTSD criteria? I would really appreciate your help!

What I would like to know specifically is if "threatened injury" (by the bullies) is still a criteria for PTSD?

Thanks a lot
:)

 

[Leah123]

A. Exposure to actual or threatened a) death, b) serious injury, or c) sexual violation, in one or more of the following ways:

1. directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)
2. witnessing, in person, the traumatic event(s) as they occurred to others
3. learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend; cases of actual or threatened death must have been violent or accidental
4. experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse); this does not apply to exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures, unless this exposure is work-related.

These are the official, latest criteria for potentially developing PTSD. In addition to exposure to actual or threatened a) death, b) serious injury, or c) sexual violation, experiencing several distinct long-lasting symptoms is required for the diagnosis. Hope that helps.

 

[daniel]

Thanks for your reply Leah! :)

See, I'm a bit desperate right now, I don't know why my psychologist is so reluctant in giving me a proper diagnosis (here in Austria by the way).

My bullies did threaten me with injury but serious injury, not sure about that. All I can say I'm still suffering from this experience even today, my bullying happened from 1995 to 1997 and to this day I'm still scared of being in groups of people because I fear that I'm gonna get bullied again, it's ruining my life, I have psychosomatic problems as well!

 

[Abstract]

Hi Daniel,

From what you have said it seems your psychologist doesn't think you have PTSD. ? Like Leah said PTSD is not only about very specific type of experience but is also requires having all of certain symptoms and with specific frequency. It happens when the brain doesn't process things in the right part of it and the information gets misfiled in a specific way. That's why symptoms such as flashbacks happen.

Something that doesn't lead to PTSD can absolutely still be life altering and cause major symptoms and distress.

Have a look at the diagnostic section Link Removed
For example someone may have been tortured and been shot but have Adjustment Disorder rather that PTSD. I imagine there are specifics regarding what "serious injury" constitutes too but I don't know what they are.

 

[.Bubbles.]

This is just my opinion, I'm no expert!

I think bullying can for sure cause PTSD. Most people that are bullied don't get PTSD, but then not everyone who are severley abused gets it. I believe it's a mixture of factors that causes the PTSD.

I have wonderd when bullying crosses the line into abuse. People don't really refer to it as abuse, but it sounds just like it to me?

You need an official diagnoses. Nobody here can diagnose you. There are a number of issues you could be dealing with, that may not be PTSD.

Good luck

 

[saffy]

I agree. Bullying is very traumatic and can cause immense emotional pain.

I believe that as soon as someone makes you feel bad about yourself and they continue know they have hurt you then this is becomes emotional abuse. Most people can take an insult or a stupid comment, but when it continues then it is bullying and therefore abusive.

If it has affected you emotionally and you feel you have signs that are consistent with the criteria then you are still traumatised by it and therefore by definition you might have PTSD. But I am no expert. :)


It is definitely worth talking to a professional about it to though. But if you feel PTSD makes sense then accepting that it could be that at least give you a starting point to help yourself. IF that makes sense.

Best wishes
Saffy :)

 

[Raj]

For me personally it is/was traumatic when it was repetitive (as in daily) and lasted a school year as a child and related to my physical disability. Having a group of your so called peers refer to as freak and pointing out how weird you look because of how you were born is something you just never get over! At-least I haven't. Then later in middle school I had ten kids physically triy to run me down and assault me because of my disability, i out ran most and had to defend myself in order to not be harmed. My step father called me a "sissy" for running!

So for me anything another person intentionally does that makes you feel bad about yourself or is even intended to make you feel bad can be traumatic and usually does lead up to some type of physical violence either from the bully or the victim. That for me includes self harm and at one point the desire for revenge.

 

[Me Myself and I]

Hello Daniel,

I myself been bullied for four years back when I was studying at the university, I was anorexic an had terrible skin, they were calling me names and making fun of me all the time, then they started touching, then threatening, and so on.

I was feeling so upset and angry all the time, but nothing serious had evolved as a side effect to all of that. Untill one day all of a sudden (due to other factors as well) I have started having severe attacks, some sort of spasms, there in my country (Libya) thought it was epilepsy, but when I came here in the UK, I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD, and one of the main factors of course, was being bullied back then.

what I am trying to say, is that when I was being bullied, I know I was angry and upset, but that's it. I didn't think that would ever cause anything "complex" let alone PTSD. But I have learnt that, this is what happens when you push things (thoughts, feelings and emotions) back into your mind ignoring them, it will come a day when they will find a way out whether we like it or not. :confused:

 

[Dillon]

Hi, Daniel

I think it also depends on the person and the situation that person is in. I was bullied in primary school and that had no long term damage on me whatsoever, in my opinion anyway. However when I was also going through some traumatic experiences at home and later on in life I was also being bullied and feel that had a much larger impact on me.

My bullying was without a doubt severe (being hit with planks of wood and being pushed in front of cars for example) but I think it's hard to definitively write what is and isn't traumatic for it depends on the person who is experiencing the trauma.

I you feel like your experiences have had a traumatic effect on you then they have, nobody can argue that. I wouldn't pin your ideas of what you have on PTSD until you have an official diagnosis though. It may be that the impact was different, although treatments for other similar disorders could be similar to those of PTSD, they could also differ greatly. In which case they wouldn't help which would unfortunately leave you more confused.

I truly hope you find the answers you are looking for soon.