[BatsBelfry]

Hi all. I'm really new to all this and new to finding out I have mental health issues, I'm told to stop saying crazy . I came here in search of help/ advise on my reaction to the new 'working theory" on me that I have PTSD.

So my original diagnosis from my psychiatric nurse practitioner was bipolar II, severe anxiety, eating disorder, and ADD. I have a therapist that I see weekly from a separate practice. Both are amazing people and I trust them.

We landed on this theory for a few reasons I guess. One is that I have no memory of my life prior to being 7. When I was 7 my Dad died of cancer. We went through an exam full of questions and I guess the scale ranked me as definitely having PTSD. As far as I can understand the line between bipolar II and PTSD is blurred at times but you cannot have both. My severe anxiety is almost debilitating in life and comes out when I'm in stressful situations. It's a strong fight or flight response.

So here is my ask of anyone willing to write:
- If you have PTSD and were never a military person or cop, do people
believe you?
- Do you think a parent's death is enough.

[Skeezyks]

Hello Bats: I'm sorry I cannot really answer your questions. However I noticed this is your first post here on PC. So... to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit. By the way, I've never actually been diagnosed with anything either by any of the mental health professionals I've seen over the years. And I have pretty-much no memory of anything prior to age 8.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

[TheDragon]

Originally Posted by BatsBelfry

Hi all. I'm really new to all this and new to finding out I have mental health issues, I'm told to stop saying crazy . I came here in search of help/ advise on my reaction to the new 'working theory" on me that I have PTSD.

So my original diagnosis from my psychiatric nurse practitioner was bipolar II, severe anxiety, eating disorder, and ADD. I have a therapist that I see weekly from a separate practice. Both are amazing people and I trust them.

We landed on this theory for a few reasons I guess. One is that I have no memory of my life prior to being 7. When I was 7 my Dad died of cancer. We went through an exam full of questions and I guess the scale ranked me as definitely having PTSD. As far as I can understand the line between bipolar II and PTSD is blurred at times but you cannot have both. My severe anxiety is almost debilitating in life and comes out when I'm in stressful situations. It's a strong fight or flight response.

So here is my ask of anyone willing to write:
- If you have PTSD and were never a military person or cop, do people
believe you?
- Do you think a parent's death is enough.

Hi BatsBelfry,

First of all, welcome to PC! I hope you'll find your time here beneficial.

Lots of people have PTSD and it doesn't have to be combat PTSD. It can come from practically anything and the current view on it has a lot less to do with what caused the trauma, but what your brain does immediately after the trauma during the processing period. If someone has a proper understanding of PTSD, they should believe you regardless of what caused it. It's likely that your father's passing had something to do with it, but as you work through everything in therapy, you might find out more.

I'm not an expert and I highly recommend you do more reading on it, but as far as I understand, there's nothing that says that PTSD and bipolar (either kind) cannot co-exist. One is activated from trauma and the other we're not completely sure about. The symptoms don't overlap either, but they definitely can affect the other.

Misdiagnoses can happen, but since you're working with people you like and trust, the more therapy you go through, the more accurately they can help you pinpoint your problems and help you through them.

PTSD Diagnostic Criteria

Bipolar Disorders

P.S. Severe anxiety is very common in PTSD and if you're getting the fight or flight response, that's almost a key indicator of PTSD. Lost memories are also a common sign of trauma. You should talk to your team more about PTSD and how it might affect you along with the other things you struggle with.

[Unrigged64072835]

I have bipolar and PTSD. So yes, they can be comorbid.

[BatsBelfry]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I have bipolar and PTSD. So yes, they can be comorbid.

Interesting. So far PTSD is a working theory with my therapist and she said they don't work together. Now I don't know what to do.

I think maybe your therapist means that the symptoms you attribute to PTSD may actually be bipolar, or that the symptoms you attribute to bipolar may actually be from PTSD. I think she means that 1 symptom has to either "belong" to bipolar or to PTSD, not to both. But bipolar and PTSD can coexist.

[Werewoman]

I think you should ask your T what she means. I have CPTSD and bipolar 2. I've been dealing with this crap for at least a couple of decades and have been treated for it since 2003.

My ptsd and bipolar tend to feed off of one another. My ptsd is from childhood abuse. I don't know how I got to be bipolar except it was more of a gradual illness than ptsd.
My ptsd gets triggered which can throw me into a mde from the bipolar and around and around I go.
Take your time, try different treatments and meds as recommended, and eventually you'll find the right combination that works for you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to message me.

WW