Getting a PTSD diagnosis?

[WildBelle]

I went through a horrifically abusive relationship with my youngest daughter's dad. The relationship itSelf was 2.5 years, followed by another 2.5 years of going to court, 19 times in total.

That all ended 3 years ago and I've definitely come a long way since then. I have been to the doctors several times over the years since this all happened, and they have prescribed antidepressants, sleeping tablets and Valium. But I don't think I am depressed. Through doing my own research I am certain that I have PTSD, but this has never been suggested by the doctor, and I have never mentioned that I think I might have it.

The main way that it affects me is the nightmares. I have such bad nightmares that I wake up in terror and can't get back to sleep because I'm too scared. I also sometimes just get a feeling that he is going to come here in the night and weeks or sometimes months will go by where I'm too scared to sleep until it's light, so depending on the time of year I might only get a couple of hours sleep at most.

I also feel like my nerves are completely shot now, loud noises make me really jump, which never used to happen. I'm generally more stressy and likely to lose it with the kids if they misbehave. And if things start going wrong, with the dc's schooling for example, I can't cope with it and it will send me into a massive and sudden decline, where I feel completely unable to function.
It's like all my coping reserves have been used up, if everything's ticking along ok I manage, but if not then the wheeels really come off.

Is there any point in mentioning this to the doctor? I know with all the cutbacks it's really hard to access any treatment for mental health, and I've heard it's very hard to get a diagnosis. I just think if I go I'll be wasting my breath, and I'll get another rx for happy pills and a form to apply for 6 weeks counselling, like has happened every other time I've spoken to the doctor about what's going on.

[NolongerAnxiousCarer]

Both my councellor (through work) and a CPN from DHs MH team told me they thought I had PTSD, I told my GP but she didn't look that convinced. I saw psychologist through work refered by the councellor, who didn't give me any ideas on what they thought regarding a diagnosis. I ended up seeing someone privately who treated me for PTSD.

There are questionairres available online to indicate if you may have PTSD. I would complete one, print it out to take to your GP and ask for referal to a psychologist for the actual diagnosis. ADs are often used for PTSD, however are often not especially effective for it, the only reccomended treatments are trauma specific CBT or EMDR . Councelling and other non specific talking therapies can actually make PTSD worse.

Check out the NICE guidelines

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg26

[WildBelle]

Thanks for that advice, just did the online test and I got 21 out of 22, think it may well be worth going to see the doctor after all.

[Piffpaffpoff]

Definitely go and speak to your GP. I got mine diagnosed from a consultant I was seeing for assessment via my insurance after a car accident. I knew something wasn't right with my behaviour but hadn't even thought of PTSD. The utter relief of someone putting a name to my symptoms and telling me it was normal was amazing. I had some specialist counselling, armed myself with coping strategies and things are much, much better now. I think I was quite a 'mild' case though - I was mostly all about avoiding similar situations and 'reliving' the accident over and over, with a few other surprises thrown in every now and then. I still have occasional 'relapses' but now I can see them for what they are and generally talk myself round. Best of luck with getting some help.