[rep97]

I think I have c-ptsd(complex ptsd). It is like living in a hell. It is a severe c-ptsd and it is not letting go. The hard part is finding a therapist that is caring and not a yappy and an idiot. The last therapist which I used to pay over $200 per session flat out said I don't have ptsd. She said she agrees with my schizophrenia diagnosis which I don't agree with. I told her how about my hyper vigilance, dissociation, panic attacks, depression and getting bored all the time.. I didn't have this before the traumatic incident. And she said schizophrenia can be like that. WTF!!!!! It's been such a hard task to find a therapist and then I find one and she flat out rejects that I have ptsd when I have c-ptsd.

I am going to have to find another therapist but it is proving sooo difficult to find one that is caring and listens to you and not just passes judgements and is an idiot. On top of it a couple therapists rejected me and said my problems were too complex for their level of expertise and skills. It is like turning every corner and finding an obstacle.

[A Red Panda]

I'd try to look for a trauma specialist. C-PTSD isn't an official diagnosis as it isn't in the DSM, which might explain your past T's choices. But a trauma specialist wouldn't really care so much about the diagnosis and would work with you on the trauma you experienced and the symptoms and issues you are dealing with as a result of that.

[rep97]

My last therapist specialized in trauma and ptsd. That is why I chose her but she cared more about my schizophrenia diagnosis than she cared about my ptsd. It sucks because I thought we had a connection. She didn't care about trauma though.. she only kept telling me IT IS A LOT OF HARD WORK.

[A Red Panda]

Then she clearly isn't a good trauma specialist. Or, perhaps, she thinks that your schizophrenia needs to be helped before you would really be ready to focus on the trauma?

[ResaLock]

Do you know why she claims you have schizophrenia?

Though C-PTSD is not in the DSM it is recognized among psychologist. I have CPTSD but only by their codes be diagnosed with PTSD.

It is difficult to find a specialist. The problem I have though. Those who claim to be specialist as what I have. Is not specialized at all in it. Matter of fact they are uneducated as I have found out with my PTSD specialist.

I actually looked for years. I even called the government because of the war and many getting PTSD. To see if they could help me or have any suggestions.
Their specialist are only for those of war.
...so they could not help me. I am not sure if they are gathering the good ones up for war victims of PTSD.
...if it is scarce...WERE GOING TO BE THE LAST to get or find a good PTSD specialist.

Can I ask what you are suffering that you think you have PTSD ...?

like I said in the beginning also...
Can I ask why you think she may of got wrong and thinks you have schizophrenia?

[rep97]

I have ptsd because ... did you read my post.. I have hyper vigilance, don't feel safe anywhere, dissociation and depression .. and I didn't have these before the traumatic event or events in my case. Which is why I think I have complex ptsd.

[Hellion]

In my medical records I apparently don't have PTSD because my Generalized Anxiety supposedly rules it out. Yet I have had many therapists, an neruopsychologist and other mental health professionals say I do fit the symptoms and could benefit from a real diagnoses.

I suppose there are ways to deal with trauma without calling it PTSD, but it would be nice to get some validation that something in my brain changed in a way that resembles PTSD after one specific traumatic even....though I am sure all the ostracism and bullying I got even from teachers as a kid was also a trauma of sorts...since it was like being trapped somewhere, where people can treat you badly and there is no escape or anyone to turn to.......because even teachers were in on it.

Anyways enough of my ranting...I guess my point is I can kind of understand the feeling of not having it validated. I don't know what it is but for some reason some mental health professionals seem to scoff at the idea of PTSD, as though if the person just ignores it...it will go away.

[here today]

Websites for two organizations that I know of say they have data bases of trauma specialists: Sidran Institute (http://www.sidran.org) and the ISSTD (http://www.isst-d.org)

I was diagnosed with DDNOS although my T prefers would prefer to call it C-PTSD. I just lucked into finding her. She’s a member of the ISSTD and has helped when therapist after therapist could not.

[rep97]

When I mentioned to my last therapist that I had hyper vigilance.. she said it is anticipatory anxiety. When the fact is that when I was at her office I was completely calm and collected.. no hint of anxiety but yet she still believes that. Yeah it was time to move on. I haven't terminated her.. I have told her if I decide to do other stuff there might be a delay in our therapy and she said she understands.. so for the time being there won't be any further sessions with her. In the meantime I emailed another therapist who specializes in trauma and in her approach 'trauma-focused' approach is mentioned. So I am hopeful this one will have a "trauma-focused" approach. But I also found another therapist through ISSTD (http://www.isst-d.org) .. I don't know how much involved she is with this organization but that is a lead too and if I email or call her I will make sure I mention ISSTD to her and why I chose her.

Also Sidran Institute website doesn't mention if they have therapists in Canada that are associated with them but I might leave an email for them and find out later..

[ResaLock]

Originally Posted by rep97

I have ptsd because ... did you read my post.. I have hyper vigilance, don't feel safe anywhere, dissociation and depression .. and I didn't have these before the traumatic event or events in my case. Which is why I think I have complex ptsd.

How long ago did this trauma occur? What was the trauma if you do not mind me asking. (???)

You do not have to specify if you do not want?

Just trying to get a clear picture of what I am looking at. Thats all.

oh and yes I did read your post.

[rep97]

I don't mind talking about the traumatic incident but I feel anything could trigger me so it is best I don't.

But back to my c-ptsd. It sucks because after 3 sessions with my last T my panic attacks are 30% less intense and I felt I had a connection but her insistence on my schizophrenia diagnosis and totally disregarding my ptsd totally turned me off. I left a message(email) for another T yesterday morning and she hasn't replied back. Should I wait or call and leave a message on her phone too?

[A Red Panda]

If your panic attacks are less intense and you feel like you have a connection with her, then it might be worth it to stick things out with her.

You can keep asking her why she is focusing on your schizophrenia than on your trauma.

If she's working with you on the issues that you're facing, it won't matter so much what the diagnosis is.

Just thought I'd through this out there... but if she thinks that you have paranoid schizophrenia, then hypervigilance may just be a part of that, and it may be why she is focusing on this.

Hypervigilance

That site mentions how hypervigilance can be found in paranoid schizophrenia. Perhaps she feels that it is a more fitting diagnosis for you than PTSD, as C-PTSD isn't in the DSM and she may want you to be able to pay for things with insurance and whatnot.