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Original poster

To think we devalue trauma?

35 replies

Catatedog · 03/04/2025 22:48

i appreciate that we all cope with events differently however, it concerns me that people overuse trauma. For example someone stated they had ‘mild PTSD’ because a meeting was moved. Annoyance frustration and anger alone do not PTSD make.

OP posts:
Ladamesansmerci · 03/04/2025 23:22

People can say what they like, but it's a hard pill to swallow if you live with these conditions. I have OCD, and it's a horrible illness. It is not what people think it is. I live with distressing and exceptionally intrusive thoughts. It's offensive in the same way 'everyone is a little bit autistic' is offensive. The one I can't stand is 'oh she's a bit bipolar' to describe someone with normal mood swings. Bipolar is a severe metal illness.

Mental illness is already stigmatised and people's understanding of most things other than anxiety/depression is quite poor, and the dilution of conditions through vocabulary doesn't help with this.

whippy1981 · 03/04/2025 23:21

I think it is ignored mostly and labelled as something else to excuse it away.

takealettermsjones · 03/04/2025 23:19

I understand you OP! The more these terms are used casually, the more their meaning is diluted, and the less weight they are given when actually used properly.

As an example... Say you work in a team where people bang on about having dreadful migraines all day, despite clearly still working, using computers, going on their phones, singing along to the radio, etc. Then say you get struck down with an actual migraine and need to call in sick. What's your manager's reaction going to be like?

Original poster
Catatedog · 03/04/2025 23:15

I also struggle with people using OCD flipantly. The real condition is much worse than just liking things tidy or checking if you have locked the door.

OP posts:
SallyD00lally · 03/04/2025 23:11

toomuchfaff · 03/04/2025 23:08

I bet you flip when someone says "omg, Sharon didn't XYZ it was SOOOOO embarrassing, I nearly died"

She didn't nearly die, it was a turn of phrase, don't stress so much about how people speak. It doesn't impact you, and in reality it doesn't impact people with real PTSD.

In reality, no one actually believed the person who claimed PTSD from a cancelled meeting, why does it concern you?

Or I literally died 🤣

Maitri108 · 03/04/2025 23:10

They were joking OP.

SallyD00lally · 03/04/2025 23:10

I think most of us have said we're starving at some point 🤷‍♂️

Wishyouwerehere50 · 03/04/2025 23:09

I'd say that was a joke, an exaggerated expression. They don't therefore genuinely feel they have PTSD.

Like if someone said ' I just died when that happened '.

Spiaggio · 03/04/2025 23:09

It’s ordinary conversational exaggeration, like someone who double checks they locked the door claiming to ‘be a little bit OCD’. Not a diagnostic category.

toomuchfaff · 03/04/2025 23:08

I bet you flip when someone says "omg, Sharon didn't XYZ it was SOOOOO embarrassing, I nearly died"

She didn't nearly die, it was a turn of phrase, don't stress so much about how people speak. It doesn't impact you, and in reality it doesn't impact people with real PTSD.

In reality, no one actually believed the person who claimed PTSD from a cancelled meeting, why does it concern you?