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Old Jan 09, 2010, 10:08 PM
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amandalouise amandalouise is offline
Wise Elder
 
Member Since: Mar 2009
Location: 8CS / NYS / USA
Posts: 9,171
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattRich View Post
Hello everyone,

I've been a reader of the boards for some time now, but recently decided to participate.

I'm a 29 year old male who has struggled with mental illness for about 5 yrs. now. The short story was that after a particularly stressful final semester in college (a difficult internship, a breakup with a girlfriend, the overall stress that accompanies leaving college and entering the "real world") I had a really sudden, acute onset of mental illness. It literally occurred within the space of a week. I was normal one day and suddenly within a few days I was worried, fearful, and unable to concentrate. My life has not been the same since.

I eventually saw a psychologist who though I had OCD. I even took Paxil for a year (which in no way helped.) For some reason I was never comfortable with the OCD diagnosis. I after a few years ended up seeing a different psych. who gave me a more through psychological screening said I had strong characteristics of PTSD.

I wasn't sold on this theory but it was intriguing. I read up on PTSD and found out that some symptoms fit me to a "T" and others did not. I had never been in combat, I had not experienced some sort violent crime or even seen one. I will admit that I had an fairly unhealthy childhood, which I read can lead to PTSD susceptibility. I will also admit that during that fateful final semester, I was probably drinking more than I should to deal with the stress.

I suppose what I'm trying to find out is if anyone has had similar experience and what has helped for them. Everything I read seems to address PTSD associated with combat or victims of violence.

Thanks for reading and look forward to discussions with with you guys.
You can have PTSD from almost anything it doesnt have to be a major trauma by other peoples standards or from combat or child abuse. example most people are not bothered by their parents having to go to work but we see a guy who's PTSD stems from feelings and fears of abandonment because his single parent suddenly had to go to work after her divorce when he was a child. Another client that came to the crisis center was in a car with a relative. the client was learning how to drive. they were at an intersection and this client perceived a moving vehicle in the next lane passing them as going to crash into them. there was no actual danger to the vehicle nor its passengers. this client is unable to get into a car and drive through high traffic zones without experiencing extreme anxiety.
Thanks for this!
AShadow721