[porcupine2]

I get very confused on PTSD. It seems that there is one event that people relate to or are traumatized by. I have 'events' all the time. Anything stressful takes me down for days. For example - my neighbor moved and now I feel isolated and paranoid, hardly leaving my house. I had a bad experience on the bus and now I haven't been able to use public transportation. I got pregnant after having sex only once and even though I loved being a single parent and my daughter is now 30 and doing well, I have been celibate ever since and stayed away from relationships. I fell down stairs a few times and now I can only go down steps with handrails, two feet on one step at a time. When there is a situation that I think is unfair I go into rages before I can think rationally. Having a bad day can take me days to recover - usually staying in bed. I have a new doctor to start within a week and she's a psychiatrist, not a therapist, and I am afraid she may wipe the slate clean and put me on new meds. I have had terrible reactions to many medications and been thru 53 drug trials. I have now been on the same meds for a couple of years and do not want to be a guinea pig again. The only reason I'm getting a new doctor is that I moved to a different state. Is this just anxiety or PTSD? Maybe both? I have been diagnosed bipolar and schizoaffective disorder just for starters. Anything anyone can tell me would be very helpful. Thanks in advance

[Open Eyes]

(((((((porcupine2))))))))

Well, I don't know about schizoaffective disorder. I do know about PTSD and that it doesn't have to be one event, it can be several events and it can be an onion with layers of intrusive events that took place in your past. And all the experiences and feelings you are describing are symptoms of PTSD and that layer of experiences that carry many surpressed emotions in your past. And yes, having a bad day can result in being exausted and not wanting to get out of bed or even a great desire to isolate and not really understanding why.

I wonder about your diagnoses as well because often the symptoms and reactions of having PTSD can cause a therapist or even a psychiatrist to misdiagnose someone with symptoms of complex PTSD with symptoms that may appear to be some other disorder.

I would suggest that you make sure that you are no longer a guinea pig, you have the right to your own mental health. And I would strongly suggest that you find a therapist that is truely knowledgeable about PTSD and how to treat it. And that can be hard to find. PTSD is still being studied and more and more is being learned and understood about it almost every day. And most people that have it are very misunderstood, even by themselves. Oh, I can raise my hand on that one. But as I have been taking the time to peel away my onion, I can definitely see and feel all the symptoms that you are describing. But now that I understand it better and am working at my own layers I am not as confused and frightened and even lonely like I was.

One of the symptoms of PTSD is that when someone experiences something scarey they have a tendency to have a heightened sense of hypervigillance. And often they don't realize it. And when you say, just for starters it makes me wonder about wether you are being misunderstood by therapists, psychiatrists, and even yourself.

So make every effort to make sure you see a specialist in PTSD. Dont go on any new medication until you look into that first. You need to make that a priority. And if you do see a new pdoc make sure you express that concern. And start keeping a journal, it really sounds like you are experiencing triggers that bring out upsetting emotions and fears from your past that you are truely not aware of.

I am not a specialist, but I do have PTSD and I have been misunderstood, even by myself. You deserve to know exactly what you are struggling with.

Open Eyes

[kaliope]

porcupine2
it would take a good pdoc to diagnose you on that. ptsd is an anxiety disorder but one of the criteria is that you fear for your life. is that one of your symptoms? to me, from what you have shared, it leans more towards phobias. you have a bad experience with something and you are afraid it will happen again. all definately anxiety based.

i agree with open eyes, dont let them make you a guinea pig. if your meds are working, insist the new pdoc leave yu on them. there is no reason to change. you must be an advocate for yourself. make sure you speak up.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by porcupine2

I get very confused on PTSD. It seems that there is one event that people relate to or are traumatized by. I have 'events' all the time. Anything stressful takes me down for days. For example - my neighbor moved and now I feel isolated and paranoid, hardly leaving my house. I had a bad experience on the bus and now I haven't been able to use public transportation. I got pregnant after having sex only once and even though I loved being a single parent and my daughter is now 30 and doing well, I have been celibate ever since and stayed away from relationships. I fell down stairs a few times and now I can only go down steps with handrails, two feet on one step at a time. When there is a situation that I think is unfair I go into rages before I can think rationally. Having a bad day can take me days to recover - usually staying in bed. I have a new doctor to start within a week and she's a psychiatrist, not a therapist, and I am afraid she may wipe the slate clean and put me on new meds. I have had terrible reactions to many medications and been thru 53 drug trials. I have now been on the same meds for a couple of years and do not want to be a guinea pig again. The only reason I'm getting a new doctor is that I moved to a different state. Is this just anxiety or PTSD? Maybe both? I have been diagnosed bipolar and schizoaffective disorder just for starters. Anything anyone can tell me would be very helpful. Thanks in advance

PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. its one of those mental disorders that share the same symptoms as many other mental disorders.. the short and cut to the quick explaination is that its any reaction you may have after experiencing a traumatic event...

nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, insomnia, depression, paranoia, phobias.. and many more..

since it shares symptoms and problems that other mental disorders have (example anxiety and paranoia can be part of PTSD, Schizophrenia, Schizo affective, Schizo typical, borderline, advoidant, OCD, bipolar, depression.....)

the only way to know for sure what these problems are with in you is by consulting your own treatment providers.

we cant diagnose your problems here on psych central sorry.

[porcupine2]

thanks for your input everyone. I'll see what my new doc has to say and keep you updated. I'm already a wreck cuz I don't know my way there and don't understand the bus system too well. Wish me luck!

[notreal78]

DR"S are usually wrong before they are right. It takes a good Dr. and a three hour long psych test to figure out what's goin on. IT's SO important to get a second opinion. Also being 'labeled' something can have a tragic outcome on a persons mental status. FOCUS on living not figuring out what this is. I say this b/c I have dealt with many things...of course a lot of them were unpleasant. But we get through them with good friends and books. Our circumstances do not make us. Our past does not define us! We all flip out at times. Feel paranoid etc. anyone who says they don't are full of b.s. Sometimes people can blow....to be blunt. Hang in there!