Hellion, I was addressing "Mowtown" and not you in his thread. I understand you have more than just PTSD challenges.

That being said, the problem with PTSD is how hard it is to "just" let it go. My therapist has explained to me that it "is" intrusive because someone struggling "wants to" let it go and move forward, but struggles with unwanted reminders. I struggle that way myself.

The list I provided that helped Mowtown look at it differently talks about the difference between Paranoia and Hyper Vigillance, the difference between Mental Illness and a PTSD injury. Often people with PTSD use the word "paranoia" to describe their challenge, however, as the list of comparison states, there is a difference and it really "is" helpful to understand that difference IMHO.

In the information I provided, is discussed how PTSD is often misdiagnosed as "other" disorders or mental illnesses too. Well, that happened to me, and Mowtown and it happens to others too. That information came about through a tremendous amount of study and quite honestly, it has been extremely helpful and understanding those who struggle with PTSD and what kind of treatment can be "more helpful" instead of the person who is struggling being left in confusion thinking they have a laundry list of disorders that will impede their ever being able to "heal" or better manage their symptoms.

For myself, I wish I had this information from the beginning and had the right treatment as well instead of reaching out for help to only be further traumatized and confused and misunderstood.

I liked Splitimage's input because she discussed the therapies she had tried that were helpful as well a therapy that has helped her learn to better manage her symptoms even more through learning how to calm down and practice that skill so she can actually gradually control the symptoms even more.

I am not "diagnosing you" Hellion, I am just addressing Mowtown who has been working with professionals that have diagnosed him with PTSD. If you have some other challenges along with that, which "can" happen, you may struggle in additional ways aside from PTSD.

OE