Is it PTSD

Iam confused I don't know if it could be PTSD or not if u followed my journey u know what iam on about. I relive my pain from when my kids got took and when I lost everything I keep having dreams about my flat. Also iam all ways sceard of losing my kids I relive the pain of losing them and my home I don't what to keep reliving the pain over and over again I told my bf maybe I have PTSD he said no I don't have it only people that are in the army get it so I don't have it. I looked it up and I know anyone can get it but he don't listen. One thing about my bf he all ways thinks he knows everything and it pisses me off 😢 he is there for me with my anxiety and depression and ocd but not this all I know I don't what to keep reliving the pain it hurts to much 😢

[Dolphin14]

He's wrong you don't have to be in the military to be diagnosed with PTSD. He can look it up and educate himself.

[Hidden in reply to Dolphin14]

I am going to make a doctors appointment this week how do they diagnose to find out if or not I got PTSD

[Dolphin14 in reply to Hidden]

Once you tell your story and your symptoms they will go by that information.

Then they will help you work through the issues that have a hold on you.

It's been a lot of work for me but I'm doing better. You have to take a stand for your mental health. Many people don't understand PTSD. Clearly your boyfriend has no clue. That's ok, just don't listen to him, he's not the professional. Seek professional advice.

You can do this and put it behind you. You've been through a lot but therapy can heal you. Talking about what you've been through lightens the load you carry.

[Kkimm in reply to Dolphin14]

Hi Dolphin.

As a very knowledgeable person may I ask you a couple of questions I would like answered. The first I just want you to answer from your experience, the second you may not feel able to answer but your comments would be really welcome.

The first question in short is what is it like getting used to a second antidepressant when it is added because the first ceases to work properly after a few years? I suddenly developed what my doctor hinted was GAD and depression two years ago and am on Velafaxine and I found getting used to it horrendous. I am doing well now on a fairly high dose but know it could stop being effective in years to come and I may need another antidepressant added.

The second question is how do I know I have GAD rather than PTSD ?

I have never had a proper diagnosis really. In the UK we do not get access to a psychiatrist unless we have a really resistant condition or present in crisis. My condition started extremely suddenly after a period when I suffered extreme fear as a result of being subjected to tests for osophogeal cancer, I eventually got the all clear but after many weeks in which my fear built up well beyond anything I have experienced before. Since being ill I have had alot of dreams that relate to a troubled childhood that I had never had before but do not find them scary. I had never been an anxious person or ever depressed before the onset of my illness which started with loss of appetite nausea and stomach upset that would not go on the night following my doctor telling me I could have osophogeal cancer and I would need tests and be put on an urgent cancer pathway.

Comments from you or anyone else would be extremely helpful.

Thanks alot.

Kim

[Dolphin14 in reply to Kkimm]

I will answer both based on my own experience.

I had two traumas. One I was able to bury for 17 years with Zoloft and clonopin and some therapy. After trauma two I hung on for three months and then sort of lost it. Both traumas got confused in my mind. I was first diagnosed with major depression and GAD

I was sent to a specialist. He gave me a check list to fill out. Circle the answers.

I had flash backs, mood swings, hyper . Vigilance, lack of sleep, nightmares, loss of interest in daily activities that used to make me happy, increased anxiety depression, felt like I would be better off not being here, avoidance of things that reminded me of the trauma.

I think I checked off all the boxes. He said you have ptsd. My whole treatment plan changed. I don't know how many he expected checked off. I'm sure it was so many out of the list. But, I was once again suffering from full blown PTSD

Hang on for a minute and I can share my med history. Just don't want to lose all this.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Dolphin14]

Let me also say I am in the US. Treatment was at my fingertips.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Kkimm]

Meds

Seriously I have been on so many meds.

I was switched from Zoloft to Prozac. I had a lot of problems with Prozac. So then we went toWellbutrin, then to veneflxine.

I had to have a mood stabilizer added to the veneflexine. So I'm on lamictal. Then I also needed an antipsychotic added. I have tried 3 of these. The third is abilify and seems to be working.

I am also on clonopin three times a day.

I had withdrawal with every med and I had symptoms starting every med. I expected that and just dealt with it. It wasn't pleasant. Some were easier than others.

I have a strong belief regarding the benzos and so does my md. That was stopped and I was given Ativan and developed a tolerance. I took as prescribed. I was switched to clonopin as it is longer acting. The goal is to get me off this as soon as we can. Dependency is horrible your body needs more to do the job. I am not a drug abuser but I am dependent on benzos. My MD is firm benzos not be used long term. There is a Dr called Heather Ashton who did a lot of research on benzos. Great information.

I do therapy twice a week. Talk therapy. I've done Emdr and now I do IFS. I see my md once a month.

I hope this answers your questions. I am open to answering anything if people find it helpful.

Please keep in mind all our journeys are different. Mine was complicated by a trauma I was able to bury and live. I had all the symptoms but was able to function because I had to support my family.

[Kkimm in reply to Dolphin14]

Thanks alot for your reply. I know it is possible to add a med sometimes rather than have to wean off one before going onto another. If you ever did this, or if anyone else who reads this did, what is that like? Do you still get bad side effects on starting the new med or is it easier than when you first went onto an antidepressant in the beginning?

Thanks for your help

Kim

[Hidden in reply to Dolphin14]

Thank u

[Hidden]

Yes agree Dolphin is right ..

I am diagnoses as suffering with trauma (PTSD)

You do not have to have been in the forces to have it...I wasn’t employed in the army

Taking your children away may well have caused trauma to you...as I can only imagine that is an extremely traumatic thing for sure...

Seek help from professionals that understand..

Best wishes xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank u so much

[Agora1]

Dearest glitterangel, I'd actually be surprised if you didn't have PTSD. What you went

through was so traumatic. However, throughout it all, I saw a mother who pulled every

ounce of strength and belief that she would and did get her children back. That is a

phenomenal feat of courage and fortitude to go through. It left a scar on your

heart and mind of what you almost lost. An apartment can be replaced but the

fact your children are once again with your mom and are safe is a big win for you.

It seems like the picture is not complete yet. You seem to be in an unhealthy

relationship for the wrong reasons. He is there for you for your anxiety, depression

and OCD. Sometimes, the wrong people around us can actually be our triggers and

can contribute to our not getting better. Besides you reliving your past memories, there

seems to be something about staying with him that is causing you to worry about losing

the children again. Is he a bad influence for you? You don't have to answer. Just think

about what is important in your life in order to get back what you almost lost.

I guarantee you, once you make a decision or have a plan for the future for you and your

children, the stress will come down.

I've always supported you and still do. You could have a happy life ahead of you but it

looks like once more, you may have to take that step out of your comfort zone.

Sending you my love. I so believe in you xx

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thank u for your support it means a lot also no hes not a bad influence on me the only reason I get scared of losing my kids that I know it will never happen again its the past of what happened its the trauma the pain that I been through when I lost my kids it hurts so bad and I keep relieving that pain that there has been days that I cried so much. Sometimes I do think I got PTSD but when I try to talk to my bf about it he says no that only people in the army get it and I try to tell him that its not true but its pointless so I end up questioning my self maybe I don't have it

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

glitterangel, as others have told you through their own experiences is that any traumatic incident in our lives is capable in giving us PTSD (not just the Army)

What you are feeling needs to be addressed by your therapist. There are steps

they can help you take to help bring down these thoughts and fears playing over

in your mind. Your subconscious mind has grabbed hold of those memories and

keeps replaying the past. It's time to make room for the future. But this will

only happen by ridding yourself of the past. You were blessed in getting back

everything you wished for, don't allow negativity to keep you stuck in this fear cycle.

No one will ever really know what it must have been like for you but you've been given

back the most precious gift of life, your children. Please embrace that gift and start

taking that step forward in talking with your therapist not bf. You are absolutely correct in knowing what you are going through. Don't question yourself. Follow your

instincts and get the help you need. Love, Agora xx

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thank u so much

[Hidden]

Hi diagnosis doesn’t always happen straight away. The dr will need to know how you feel, and try to treat it. Maybe a mix of medication and therapy, some therapy would be good for you. I know I found out I had trauma by going to therapy..if in the uk your dr can refer you or you can self refer to talking therapies on the NHS..the therapist I eventually got was so helpful in helping me understand it.

There will most likely be a wait list for CBT. On The NHS but time goes by quickly and it is worth the wait ..once you have self referred they will contact you and speak to you to decide what type of therapy they feel you need ie face to face, telephone or whatever. Persevere with it all it helps in the end.

Look up ;CBT talking therapies NHS and put in your area.....

If your not in uk I apologise and I guess speak to the dr.

Don’t give up on reaching out for help. It can can help greatly !

Take care xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank u

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Your welcome 🌺

[Danland]

Your bf sounds like a moron. Anyone can get ptsd

[Hidden in reply to Danland]

He all ways thinks he knows everything it pisses me off

[Danland in reply to Hidden]

I think u need to find a new bf