[ceepei]

Hello I have a question, exactly how is ptsd diagnosed, I applied for a study on the effects of a pill and it's effectivness for people who have ptsd and was accepted but backed out..this was 12 yrs ago, now today I suffer from generalized anxiety so my G.P DR. has diagnosed and has said a diagnoses of ptsd is possible.
The study was a bunch of questions and was done by a psychologist but there was no therapy involved. I have had really no physical problems except denial for the past 10 yrs. My children were taken to a middle east country 13 yrs ago and have not seen them since, recently we have had contact by phone because they are now young adults. There was a time I could not think or talk about it without breaking down even now as I speak I can feel the lump in my throat...but I can swallow it now and talk about it. The effects are I can think about them now but I can't ever forget the time of when it first happened and how they must of felt. they were not close to my ex and always perferred me to him so i imagine how much they missed me and how it hurt them, the pain from that still makes me upset, I feel guilt and helpless that I was somehow at fault like trusting him to be alone with them and that's why it happened, I know my brain tells me I couldn't possibly have known this was going to happen, so how could I prevent it, but my heart tells me different that I could of somehow protected them better.
So now I had my first full blown panic attack a year ago which I thouhgt I was having a heart atttack I ended up in the E.R and since then I have high blood pressure taking meds for that and take ativan when needed, have heart palps, anxiety like I am going to lose my mind. I ahve not been the same since this all happend. Even my husband now tells me I can be a very cold person when it comes to his nieces and nephew it's like I won't let them get close to me so there for I am not a very good aunt.
I did ahve treatment when this all started I took Zoloft 50mg for 9 months and I was pretty good and now I only have my ativan but I think it's all starting up again that feeling of feeling terrified like I am going to lose my mind, I feel like I am really struggling to stay sane!

[free2beme]

((( ceepel)))

I'm so sorry you had to go through this.

therapy, along with medication, would help.

here's a link to ptsd info here on PC:

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/ptsd/

this one is for panic disorders:

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx28.htm

hope they help.

[phoenix7]

Hi Ceepei,

you ask is this ptsd, its sounds like it - and your Dr thinks so - you have some really bad experiences - I am sorry that you had to suffer through that - but am glad that you have had some contact with your children now - you are absolutely right - there was no way you could have known what he was about to do - try not to beat ourself up about it.

Keeping your neices and nephews at arms reach is understandable too - you suffered a great loss when your children were taken and so dont want to make the same connections with your neices and nephews, as these connections were so painful last time - but without connections life can be lonely.

You said you got help before - did you see a psychologist/psychiatrist/counciller as well as take the medication? they
can provide you with strategies to help you

Whatever happens, try to be kind to yourself and seek help - take care P7

[Christine1123]

((ceepei))
It is not your fault, as you said there is no way you could've known what would have happened. It does sound like you have PTSD. I wish you the best and a well recovery.

[(JD)]

((((hugs)))) PTSD is an anxiety disorder. A new label won't change how you feel and act/respond... let the doctors worry about that. Do talk to the doctor about your heightened anxiety, he might wish to adjust your medicine?

Good that you've heard from your children! How wonderful is that...they DID remember you all this time!

[skymonk]

Sounds like PTSD to me&yes, you can have it come up late in life many years after the initial trauma happened. I forgot about all of my PTSD stuff for 29 years. Sorry to hear about what you're going through-be glad you've heard from your kids&just take it steady as she goes.

[madisgram]

[(((ceepei))) i'm sorry this happened to you.it sounds like ptsd to me too. could be some depression there also. when we have stuffed something for so long that can cause depression. i can't even imagine having to go through something so traumatizing.
i am so glad to hear your children are in touch with you now. they love you. and you need to love yourself. have you considered therapy? with what you've gone through i'd consider it. you have a lot of feelings to process and therapy can be a safe place to do that. you didn't do anything wrong. you were trusting and that's what marriages are "supposed" to be about.
hope you will consider therapy. i always prefer a phd psychologist but i'm sure there are other degrees out there too that could help you.