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Open Eyes · 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teacake

Hey, Doglover

Isn't It funny how one person's reality can be so unlike another's? Even our own reality changes over time with education, information and life experience.

I will ask doc if she wants to refer me out for a new diagnosis or if she has any qualms about my reality contact. I will also share your concerns that I may be inadequately treated. I assume you would be available for consultation if she needs more specific information than you have so thoughtfully chosen to share with me.

I just wanted to point something out here Teacake. Yes, you are right one person's reality can be so unlike anothers. Yes, our own realities do change over time with education, information, life experience and help from a qualified therapist.

When a member opens up and talks about their history, while they struggle with PTSD, they are "trusting" others to "listen" and be supportive and not judgmental or decide to label them or diagnose them.

You "have" intruded on others here including myself by insinuating that others do not have "real PTSD" and you have also told them they are disordered, and you did that to me. I took your input about me to discuss with my QUALIFIED THERAPIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN TREATING PTSD, and showed him. I was very badly triggered because I genuinely was misdiagnosed and have been receiving therapy for "bad therapy". It was the closest thing I could do to bringing "you" in to consult with "my qualified therapist" about your need to say his diagnosis and treatment and "talk therapy" was wrong. He pointed out how "your need to analyze was wrong and why it was wrong".

PTSD is a beast that each person who struggles tries very hard to understand, and during that healing process, yes, the sensitivity is great and it can be a challenge to "listen" and support as there are a lot of "eggshells" around those who genuinely struggle. Also, in sharing challenging memories, the sufferer sees and feels the trauma unlike those who are trying to "listen" and often telling a story can come out sounding a bit distorted and it is important to realize the other person is recalling somethings that were, in fact things that have profoundly affected them in some way.

Personally, for myself, I have struggled through some very challenging stages of PTSD during my time here at PC. I have been triggered and have also responded while triggered and it took me "time" to slowly calm down and revisit each place where I struggled with another member or in a discussion.
When someone struggling with PTSD gets triggered, it hits on a deep hurt that often that person is not aware of yet, because that person is triggered, they react often before they "think about that reaction", that is what most complain about PTSD and how to manage it better. Lets all be frank here it is a big challenge.

Opening up and talking about our history is a big challenge because it is exposing our deep wounds, may even expose how we try to self protect too. I did that and that is extremely hard for me because I had suffered a lot of abuse when I did reach out or opened up in my past. I have experienced some very "disordered" people in my life too. In my time here, I have noticed how others have had those challenges as well.

Well, we try, we don't always do it right, hopefully, we can see that and do our best to learn from it and be more supportive and understanding, and even appologize if we have made an error. PTSD is tough and at times can be extremely debilitating too.

You have "real PTSD too Teacake" but so do others however, they may have developed it differently than you have, it doesn't mean theirs is not as real as yours is.

Yes, our realities can be different, we have all had different lives, and we all struggle with different traumas and somehow not getting help and support when we really needed and deserved it.

I am sure you "are" gifted, however, you do tend to make quick decisions about others that you "should" take more time with. I have had to do that myself, a part of PTSD is slowing down and learning how "quick decisions may not be all that accurate". As I mentioned, my therapist has explained to me that people who suffer from PTSD notoriously get misdiagnosed with NPD, and Bipolar when a PTSD cycle is "not" a manic cycle but can appear that way, or a person's extreme moods, especially anger can appear as NPD, but is "not the case".

The PTSD forum is a difficult forum, we are all going to make mistakes. It's just the nature of the beast. What is important is trying to see it and learn from it if we can, that can be hard.

OE