Do you recognize your own PTSD symptoms?

I have difficulty recognizing all 3 types of PTSD symptoms (intrusive recollections, avoidance and numbing symptoms, and hyperarousal symptoms) when they appear. I think I have detached myself (avoidance symptom) from being able to recognize that PTSD does effect my daily life.

Do you have difficulty? If so, what do you think?

I think confining the symptoms to the 3 areas is too limiting... PTSD is a tough nut to crack, so to speak. Trying to determine things on such a micro managing level is going to become very frustrating if you ask me... because sometimes things are that way and the next time it isn't.

Don't push yourself... try to "just" be an observer and "go with the flow" ... try to "be" when you can... and when you can't. well??? then you can't!!!

What you wrote makes sense.

I started this poll because I keep bouncing back and forth, denying and accepting I have PTSD.

I was asked by a doctor if I was agoraphobic. I rarely am able to leave my apartment, unless my husband is with me. I just don't feel safe. I am unable to interact with strangers without panic or fighting tears. I'm so scared of unfamiliar things. Those are the main things that I avoid and forget that they are symptoms of my illness. I haven't really dealt with the emotions, too scary. It's hard to face this stuff but I believe understanding your illness helps one in recovery.

I was curious if others struggle with the same thing that I do. Hmmmm . . . .

one thing that i thought about when i saw this is that i don't always recognize a lot of the 'classic' symptoms when they present in my life simply b/c i'm too bogged down in -being- in the symptoms. does that make sense? after i'm out of it then sometimes i can look back w/ my T and be able to go "oh yeah, i guess that could stem from something other than this trivial problem i attributed it to" or "huh, i guess that didn't just pop out of nowhere" or something like that. i'm big on after the fact, lol. hindsight is about the only sight i've got.

-shadow

Very good question.. I am told i have ptsd, but i don't recognize the symptoms. we didn't work on this in therapy. guess cuz one counselor wanted to dig into yesterday, and the T that dx'd me, gosh i've forgotten what was worked on with her. anyway the answer is i do not recognize the symptoms. goes to show ya what good 7 years of counseling did for me....

Still thinking about this... wish I weren't The yes and no answer... and also a maybe? There are times, like today, the 13th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew... when I know anxiety rages and now added to by a newly named storm only 250 miles away... and I need to go stock up on food (only.) This I can identify easily.

When I'm driving down the road on a sunny day, listening to the radio music, with the top down on my convertible.... and suddenly get to experience heart palpitations and "fear"... wha????? Maybe the music contained a drum roll like thunder...or maybe a comment about storms moving in... or I glanced and saw (but didn't "see) dark clouds on the horizon... or....???? No "knowing" that trigger, not for me, yet.... I am just to the point of recognizing it as being "triggered."

[I was injured during a thunderstorm, long before the hurricane, was evacuating.... but didn't get to... another story...]

This is a very good question and poll. Yes, I recognize it all now. But a year ago, when I was triggering daily and had 3 nervous breakdowns, I was so lost that I had no idea what was going on. Thanks to good meds and a good therapist, and in a MAJOR way this wonderful forum and the people here (especially Sky ), I understand the beast that lies within. It doesn't mean that it is any better sometimes, but it certainly makes a big difference to understand the nature of the problem.

Yep. My biggest symptom is hypervigilance, so I recognize (and over analyze, amongst other things) everything that passes my way. It's one of the hyperarousal symptoms...but it can have good and useful purposes in life so I try to make the most of it. I use it to keep a watch on the other ones.

Consider that you may be coping better with PTSD and it might not be affecting your daily life as much these days...................