PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD as it's more commonly known, is what I suffer from.

Frequently associated with Combat PTSD as suffered by many veterans. It is often depicted in popular media by a solider hiding away, often with a gun, imagining he's back in the war zone because of a car backfiring in the road outside his suburban kitchen.

While not uncommon, combat PTSD is just one of a myriad of types of PTSD which people can suffer from. The medical profession categorises them into three types:

Uncomplicated PTSD

This type includes persistent re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, emotional numbing, and symptoms of increased arousal. Uncomplicated PTSD is the most commonly diagnosed type of post-traumatic stress disorder when the primary diagnosis is PTSD.

Co-Morbid PTSD

This is where the PTSD sufferer also has another form of mental health issue such as depression, anxiety or substance/alcohol abuse. Often one will exacerbate the other so normally both are treated together. Co-Morbid PTSD is more common than Uncomplicated PTSD.

Complex PTSD

This type of PTSD is associated with individuals who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic circumstances, especially during childhood, such as childhood sexual abuse. Complex PTSD sufferers often are diagnosed with borderline or antisocial personality disorder or dissociative disorders. They exhibit behavioural difficulties, extreme emotional difficulties (such as intense rage, depression, or panic) and mental difficulties. Treatment of Complex PTSD can often take time and sensitive care due to the nature of the trauma

"Dealing with it silently"

So what's my point?

I can only talk from my own experience, but PTSD, like many other mental health issues, is often experienced very silently by the sufferer. I wasn't diagnosed until I was well into my 40's despite having suffered for many, many years. The "memory" would surface, I would deal with it internally and, albeit distressing for me, no one around me would know it had happened. That was until it became so severe that I could no longer hide my distress and that was when I sought treatment. I know of many other PTSD sufferers who share similar stories of "dealing with it silently" because that's what society expected of them. In my case there were many things that could trigger my memory, some totally innocent, others not so. My friends, family and work colleagues had no idea that I was suffering and most, including my brothers, still do not know what the root cause of my PTSD is. Why? Because it's too distressing for me to talk about to others, especially those close to me. I can talk about the symptoms, I can talk about how I was treated, but the cause is known to a very select set of people whom I trust completely, and probably will stay that way.

So how do I talk to you about PTSD?

This one always perplexes me but rarely surprises me. People have always struggled to know how to talk to me when I tell them I have PTSD. Their initial thought, understandably, is that I served in a war zone and "picked it up" there. When I tell them I didn't and that I don't talk about what caused it, they often just accept it and move on. Rarely do I get asked "so how does it manifest for you"? That's one of the best questions you can ask, establish how I feel when I get an attack, or how I cope with it, or what I do to alleviate it. Be curious, most of us PTSD sufferers are happy to talk about the symptoms, and some will also discuss the cause. Most of all, don't be afraid to talk to us about it, the more people know, the better it is understood, the more likely we are to stop suffering in silence and get some help.

#ptsd #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #letstalk