Navigating the new diagnosis
Hi, I only am just finding out about how PTSD has affected my life and others. While im still learning can somebody here please take time to answer questions relating to understanding if What I have should be dealt with with a professional? Or something I can manage on my own. thankyou.
Im under the assumption that Posttraumatic stress disorder has symtoms like other difficulties that actually overlap over other problems like say ADHD is common and of course deppresion is related.
I have been diagnosed with all of these mentioned
but am only treating the ADHD for now.
The Question is, What exactly defines PTSD? is it really the intrusive thoughts constantly spewing or is there more that make it this complex nature.
Maybe some others could share there experiences and what a day to day life is like for them and possibly how they have coped with it? (Positively or Negatively and if they are Comfortable)
@LemonGiving4221
Hello, my dear: Glad that you are asking questions. Knowledge is power and the more information you have the better you know how to seek and receive help. There is a self-help topic here under the Path, click on it and go to the self-help topics and PTSD is listed there.
In answer to your questions about how it affects one's life, I suffer from CPTSD and for each person, this can look and feel very different. I think that the type of trauma you have experienced is the true factor in the types of symptoms you will experience.
For me, My trauma began at age 4 years old and was physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.
Daily life was almost unbearable but I survived and now I deal with a lot of back lash memories, night terrors, social anxiety, and inability to feel my emotions. Insecurity is a big one for me just to name a few. I have learned to try and keep my mind on things that help me to not think about this bad stuff, but most of all I had to get professional help to support me and help me find my way back to myself. The journey is daily and ongoing. It can get better with hard work and is dedicated to getting your healing.❤️
@LemonGiving4221 I am not an expert, and I don't have personal experience, but I've read the official criteria for PTSD (in the US), and it's not just the intrusive thoughts, there is more. There are eight criteria: A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Several of them are quite complicated. The intrusive thoughts are Criterion B. To read all of them, see: DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD
Yes, depression is related. In the official manual it's mentioned in the notes following the criteria. I don't see any specific mention of overlap with ADHD, though.
Because all this is so complex, it doesn't seem to me like it's something you are likely to be able to manage on your own without professional guidance.
Charlie