PTSD Poll/Question Results for How many Mental Health professionals did you see before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD?
PTSD Poll/Question Results for How many Mental Health professionals did you see before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD?
The results are now in for our latest PTSD Poll/question. Once again the Poll received a great response. This was an anonymous poll and I would like to thank everyone who took part :)
The results are as follows:
29.6% of those who took part had seen more than 5 mental health professionals before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD
29.6% of those who took part had seen 1 mental health professional before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD
25.9% of those who took part had never received a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD
7.4% of those who took part had seen 4 mental health professionals before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD
7.4% of those who took part had seen 2 mental health professionals before receiving a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the better known but perhaps poorly understand disorders. Many people think PTSD is a potential consequence of war and this is probably because battle veterans were the first to bring it to our attention. Today, our understanding of PTSD has advanced to the point where we acknowledge that any traumatic or tragic event can lead to symptoms of PTSD. Significant issues challenge the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, applications of the PTSD ‘model have been extended to an increasing array of events and human reactions across diverse cultures.
PTSD is often easier to describe by those suffering this condition, but not so easy for mental health professionals to diagnose. Those with PTSD/C-PTSD have often beeen victim of or witness to one or more emotionally traumatic events. It can occur at any age. Such events may include natural disaster, acts of terrorism, car accidents, kidnappings, muggings, sexual assaults, explosions, childhood abuse and so on.
The effect on the individual is profound and can have devastating long term impacts. However, symptoms dont necessarily surface immediately and in cases of extreme trauma, may be blocked out, or dissociated from. Recollections of the event often tend to come and go. Frightening thoughts and memories may be triggered by an image, a smell, a sound or spontaneously. Effects of trauma can lead to nightmares so terrible that the individual finds difficulty, going to sleep, coping with bedtime, staying asleep, and having disruptive sleep, leading to exhaustion. Flashbacks can overwhelm the individual for seconds, hours or possibly days and this can impact on their ability to cope with day to day life.
Before a diagnosis of PTSD can be made, the patient's symptoms must significantly disrupt normal activities and last for more than one month. Approximately 80 percent of patients with PTSD have at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder. The most common comorbid disorders include depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and other anxiety disorders.
In some cases the traumatic event or pattern of events is so well documented that diagnosis is easier, but in cases where exposure to trauma has been long-standing, and historic, where perhaps the individual has been reluctant to open up and share with someone their experiences eg childhood abuse, giving a diagnosis of PTSD is a lot harder, and there may be a variety of other symptoms may mask the cause. Major depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and substance misuse are commonly seen in people with PTSD. Other anxiety related disorders such as agoraphobia, social phobia, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder may also be present.
Childhood abuse is one example of long-standing trauma and many individuals who have suffered this experience may not share their history for many years but will have often been under doctors or mental health for a variety of disorders and issues. The self-esteem of the person is often low. They may struggle with professionals and suspicious of the motives of others. They may have difficulties in forming or maintaining relationships. These however are not symptoms exclusive to PTSD and could just as easily fit some of the diagnostic criteria for emotionally unstable personality disorder. Direct, empathic, and nonjudgmental questioning is recommended when physicians take a client history. For example, the physician might ask, Have you ever been attacked or threatened? or, Have you ever been in a severe accident or natural disaster?
Making a connection between a patient's symptoms and a trauma that occurred in childhood may be particularly difficult to establish. An appropriate question to establish this connection is, Many people are troubled by frightening events that occurred in their childhood. Do you have this problem? However, even if a clinician demonstrates empathy and sensitivity, this may still not be enough for someone to feel safe enough to disclose their history of trauma
Physical complaints, referred to as somatisation disorder, is another common feature of PTSD. Many people who have suffered traumatic events often have a lot of physical health issues, eg with their digestive system, bowels, nerves, reproductive problems, or chronic pain. Symptoms may be reported in isolation or combination. However, even after thorough assessment no physical cause can be found for the symptoms.
Very often, the family doctor is presented with a person who talks about physical rather than psychological symptoms. Appointments are often short and this may lead to some individuals feeling unable to speak to their GP about their traumatic experiences and subsequently the issues they have been left battling as a result. Unless the doctor is sensitive to the possibility of PSTD the danger is one of overlooking the possibility in favour of treating the most obvious symptoms. If PSTD is suspected, the doctor may consider referring the patient for psychotherapy. A diagnosis of PTSD will not be considered unless a clear history emerges of a traumatic event. For a diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD to be made, it needs an experienced clinician who can recognise and understand the symptoms of PTSD/C-PTSD.
In addition, It can be difficult for someone who is suffering from PTSD to recognize that they have a problem, especially if the symptoms appear after a length of time following the traumatic event. PTSD is extremely isolating, making it even more difficult to get help. Individuals believe they can manage their symptoms and recover without outside help.