Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

[hsshannah96]

A side effect of PTSD (some of us were ACTUALLY diagnosed by a psychiatrist) is irritability. I encourage people to educate themselves on it more. No, it isn’t only Veterans who can be diagnosed by a psychiatrist -And we can’t help it.

PTSD is an anxiety oriented disorder in the DSM 5 that stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Symptoms include flashbacks, decreased cognitive abilities, hostility, irritability, mood swings, aggression and startled reflexes.

[notatrap]

Yeah I have been diagnosed with a pretty severe case. Thank you for the reminder, I tend to avoid reading up on things I have a hunch about if they have had a negative impact on me or someone I know... but it does help to study up.

It is treatable, though length of recovery with each person is always different.

[hsshannah96]

It is not curable. And it can’t be recovered from

[Yamahoo]

I don't know about your specific case but my mother has it and she takes meds that help a lot. Although she has been taking it less lately because she noticed that it's bothering her less.

[notatrap]

@hsshannah96 I wrote treatable, which it is entirely. It doesn't make it less traumatizing, but getting from point A to B in life is still a necessity.

@Yamahoo yeah i was never pro medication until about two months ago, though im very open about treatments, especially my own. I am trying a low dose anti depressant for the first time. It was described to me that it will help keep me focused and balanced. It does help me think of horrible things of the past less, and when they arise I am reflecting on them differently too. With less nightmares. So theyre helping as im also changing my perspective about who I was and what happened, but its just as painful, if not more at times and strange moving forward as it was before.. because I'm a shell of someone who wants to be someone completely different than the person who I was for years before. Many times, I was was kind and many other times I fought, neglected friends, lied as a defensive mechanism out of instinct, like I had no control over it.

So its weird to self analyze this way, and my misconception of psych meds before I started taking them was that meds make people... all similar to each other. Maybe I'm not too far off base because I'm constantly judging my old self, in a way I haven't done before and it just feels like a second puberty. Now it feels like I'm constantly trying to be nice, bubbly, warm, honest. Which is a large part of who I am, no doubt. But its whatever society will reward. Unfortunately, this behavior doesn't garnish any creativity. Its too accepting and has no standards.

You can probably tell I have thought this over a bit too much...

Anyway, thanks for the good wishes.

[Yamahoo]

@notatrap Well, at least ya got it out of you. I've got my own problems and I write a lot of my frustrations down and it just helps so much. I encourage you to do it more on a Google doc or something.
What you said was very insightful though, kinda helps me understand my mother a bit more. You got any advice on how I can help her?

[notatrap]

I really should, thanks for the reminder. I've just never been much of a writer. I will log some thoughts tonight though!

Hmm.. well, what do you want to work on? How is your relationship with her right now?

I was very hateful growing up. I reacted with all sorts of hate and anger, and avoided my family any chance I could get. I convinced myself I wasn't like them, then I realized that I was in fact.. very similar to them in many ways.

The best thing you can do at your age is to simply be yourself, but be intentional about what you say and do. Live as if a camera crew is following you. This is why people vlog, I imagine. Its profitable as hell, but you can't really say terrible things on camera. I'm sure many stars off camera are rude and have their moments, but its good practice in life. Its discipline.

Your mother will worry less if you give her less to worry about. I was told having a child is like having your heart outside of your body, moving around. So before you're 18, making big choices and testing your independence, now is a good time for you to graduate to an extra mature person, loving, and caring. Do extra things, ask what your mom needs, go the extra mile so she feels secure and cared for. And do something she likes... card game, cook, tv, walk, something. Eventually you two will hit it off more as friends and bond, just try to spend less energy figuring her out. I went through all that, its painful and you won't be able to do it in a fair amount of time. Trust me, just be her son and know she's hurting, and she just needs support. she's older than you so she's not thinking about a party or grades, she's thinking about you, bills, her past, your past, the future, work, this week, the next week, groceries, meals, planning... lots of stuff. But yea dont get so involved that it burdens you.. focus on you, give her a hug, thats what she needs 👍

[notatrap]

@Yamahoo and you really need to internalize the truth that none of her issues are your fault. I used to think that I had to do something huge to repair my family, I always put on a big show, spent my money on them, and tried to fix their issues without questioning it. I felt like it was my responsibility to fix what wasn't my problem in the first place, just because I grew up around it, while putting a huge target on my own back.

So I understand if you feel a insatiable need to be there. But its why I said do the simple things like a hug or spend time with her. Cause thats the most you can do today and each day that helps you and her, and doesn't jeopardize your health or $ 😉👍

[Yamahoo]

Huh, yah, I do sort of try to fix thingsbthat I have no control over. Ile definitely apply this advice to my life. But now I have an excuse to hug my mom more cause if someone asks Ile just say "someone on the internet told me to" :)

[hsshannah96]

No, it cannot be recovered from

You always have it. If you have it the brain is altered

[hsshannah96]

Are you dumb? Do you understand how synapses work? Or any science?

[Yamahoo]

Hey, @hsshannah96 , I don't mean to devalidate your trauma, but it just sounds like you are making your PTSD seem like something that can't be helped, when I know that through meds and and talking to a therapist and other things, my own mother has shown a lot of improvement to the point where she doesn't need it as much. Of course, every case is different but it just sounds like you are purposely makin' it sound like there's nothing you can do and that makes me think you take advantage of it. Then again, it's just a hunch.

[hsshannah96]

@Yamahoo neuroscience. Study it. Then open your mouth

[hsshannah96]

@Yamahoo I’m on meds and have been since middle school (not for PTSD but for other things)
Was diagnosed PTSD two years ago. Had therapy since then and even well before that. It CAN NOT BE CURED. What don’t you get about that?

[hsshannah96]

@Yamahoo how about just shut it. Fucking idiot with no idea what you are saying

[razzmatazz11]

Yes, I believe it. But I don't think people with PTSD should use that as an excuse to be pitches and assholes to everyone. In the same way that men can use their sex drive to justify cheating on their spouse.

[hsshannah96]

Nothing here was an excuse. I’m explaining why when someone deliberately provokes me that they’re asking for shit

Like you just were

Now stop with the crap

[ZELLxoxo]

What are your methods of dealing with it? Do you see a psychiatrist or take medications?

[hsshannah96]

I see a therapist

I had one EMDR session with a previous therapist and I had a full panic attack

So I stopped seeing her

[hsshannah96]

I am on paroxetine

[Agape93]

My girl has it bad, diagnosed as well

[Yamahoo]

I ain't sayin' it can be cured, I've talked to my mom about it (btw she has a masters in psychology) and although I didn't fully understand, I did pick up that it can't be cured, but can be managed (treatable). What I am talking about is not whether or not it can be cured, but your seeming stance that nothing can be done and your situation is hopeless. I feal like I'm repeating myself but Ile say it again. Every case is different, but I know that you can at least get better enough that you can manage, eh?
I also do have my suspicions that, due to your defensive nature to people questioning your illness, that you take advantage of it. Yet again, yes, I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that you are just going to respond in a hostile manor again further proving my point.
I've seen stuff like this before with myself for example. I have some pretty bad ADHD and when I was much younger I would act like 'woe is me! Whatever will I do?' And not even try to control it at all because it gave me an excuse to not do certain things. I hope your not like that with your PTSD but considering how you have been responding I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that's the case.
Oh, and by the way, this is an advice forum (not sure what the actual term is) you should expect responses, if you think I'm so uneducated than just ignore it. You have the agency to make the decision to just ignore me. Be careful with what ya take serious on the interwebs or else the trolls are gonna destroy ya!

[Phoenix98]

We know what it is and that Veterans are not the only people who suffer from it.

But it was originally called Shell Shock for a reason in that Veterans are the people who most usually suffer from it and in the greatest numbers.

Doesn't make it any less terrible for anyone who isn't a Veteran to suffer from it if like first first responders, law enforcement or civilians who have suffered legitimately traumatizing experiences.

While there isn't a 100% guaranteed cure for it, it is treatable and if your lucky you can get rid of it and recover from it altogether through a combination of medication and therapy.

[Jmmmfi4]

Yeah I know I was diagnosed with a mild case

[Mrswright077]

Okies