To completely disagree with this statement about PTSD?

[traumaquestion]

Would you say the following is an accurate appraisal of PTSD?

"It doesn't generally cause daily life changing symptoms that would impact life"

I disagree entirely with the person who has made this statement. Just wondering about others' thoughts...

YABU - it is a true statement

YANBU - it's an inaccurate statement

You can't generalise about PTSD (as with most health conditions). Some people will find it very debilitating, others will have bad periods but otherwise be able to manage well.

I don't see how anyone could disagree entirely as it depends on the severity.

In my experience with PTSD, YANBU.

@DiddyHeck

I don't see how anyone could disagree entirely as it depends on the severity.

By the same logic, how could someone make the statement in the first place, as it clearly depends on severity?

It depends

People can suffer from it for years/lifetime and have periods where they cope well and ones where they can't cope at all

I do think a lot of people self diagnose themselves with it when they don't actually have it and that can be damaging to people who are really suffering

I suppose it depends on context and causes, but I don’t think anyone could make such a sweeping generalisation.

Perhaps the person was referring to ptsd brought on in particular circumstances only about a certain person and those were not circumstances the person encounters daily so it doesn’t affect them daily.

Like um say someone got trampled to death by cattle and his wife moved to inner city London. No cows there hence she’s ok day to day (but if she goes on holiday to countryside it kicks in very badly when she thinks of her husbands death and is badly debilitating for her then)?

In what context did the person make the statement? For instance, a mental health professional should not be making generalisations like that to a patient.

@LizDoingTheCanCan

In what context did the person make the statement? For instance, a mental health professional should not be making generalisations like that to a patient.

It was within an occupational health assessment

I have diagnosed CPTSD. It most certainly affects my daily life. It has affected everything in my life. I have a sibling who has the other form of PTSD (war-related) I am surprised by the statement in the OP. I think it's bollocks.

That is inappropriate, have they written it in their report? If so I'd be pointing them to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

It is a generalisation - it contains the word "generally" .

It is inaccurate nonsense and I would question the expertise of the person who wrote it.

Yes I would agree with this "It doesn't generally cause daily life changing symptoms that would impact life"

mine tended to only bother me at night in bed or when someone knocked on the door, its died down a lot now, its just knocking on the door I dont like and it shocks and frightens me. but people do not knock on my door every day and I am fine if I am expecting something.

@VelvetChairGirl

Yes I would agree with this "It doesn't generally cause daily life changing symptoms that would impact life"

mine tended to only bother me at night in bed or when someone knocked on the door, its died down a lot now, its just knocking on the door I dont like and it shocks and frightens me. but people do not knock on my door every day and I am fine if I am expecting something.

You get that you are not a representative sample that can be used to generalise about the symptoms and functional impairment of everybody else with PTSD, right?

It was within an occupational health assessment

So the person shared their diagnosis with OH, who then made the comment in the opening post. The person with the condition may need to share more of their diagnosis. Do they have the psychiatrist's letter (they'll have written to GP, and such letters are usually copied to the patient)

OH should not be questioning a psychiatrist's professional opinion

Your PTSD was mild and has essentially healed.

That isn't the case for everyone. In fact it sounds quite unusual.

It depends. I was diagnosed with PTSD several years ago. At the time of diagnosis it affected every second of every day, the sleepless nights, hypervigalence, flashbacks triggered very easily, constant fight of flight state placing stress on immune system, freezing, memory issues, communication issues…, it goes on.

I don’t think PTSD can ever be cured. I generally only get triggered for flash backs in very very specific circumstances- but it still means I’ve run out of A&E whilst very ill, last week I was collapsed on the floor of the doctors screaming and shaking.

To manage this, I’ve had to adapt my life, put a lot of effort and finances into various therapies etc. most people I know would have no clue though, I manage it well.

But there is minimal understanding of PTSD, people think it’s only a veterans disease. The nhs are useless at helping.

@LizDoingTheCanCan

That is inappropriate, have they written it in their report? If so I'd be pointing them to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

I'm yet to see the report. But they have communicated that informally, yes.

@traumaquestion

Would you say the following is an accurate appraisal of PTSD?

"It doesn't generally cause daily life changing symptoms that would impact life"

I disagree entirely with the person who has made this statement. Just wondering about others' thoughts...

YABU - it is a true statement

YANBU - it's an inaccurate statement

IME YANBU.

You get that you are not a representative sample that can be used to generalise about the symptoms and functional impairment of everybody else with PTSD, right?

you get that the varies right and that if it does impact your daily life its normally referred to with the word "severe" in front right?

I think the point of ptsd is that it's a very serious mental illness and it is partly diagnosed by the impact it has on your life. If you're struggling a bit but essentially functioning and not really needing any help, you probably don't have ptsd. If you were diagnosed with ptsd, but your symptoms don't trouble you at all now, except for mildly and very occasionally, then it's possible your diagnosis would have changed to something less serious.

I had ptsd alongside depression and an anxiety disorder. After two courses of EMDR, i would say i am no longer suffering from ptsd. I do still have the anxiety disorder and depression. I can tell the difference in my symptoms and the impact each of these conditions has had on my life.

I was diagnosed with PTSD after my DD was born and I would entirely disagree with it not affecting day to day life. The fact is I am a lot better after nearly a year of therapy but it takes effort every single day to remain "better" so even if I seem okay, it's not gone away, it is always there in the back of my mind and I'm constantly using coping strategies. I never would have before it happened so I would say it has a pretty big impact on my day to day life.

However my experience isn't going to be the same as anyone else's!

@Ramalamadingdongs

I think the point of ptsd is that it's a very serious mental illness and it is partly diagnosed by the impact it has on your life. If you're struggling a bit but essentially functioning and not really needing any help, you probably don't have ptsd. If you were diagnosed with ptsd, but your symptoms don't trouble you at all now, except for mildly and very occasionally, then it's possible your diagnosis would have changed to something less serious.

I had ptsd alongside depression and an anxiety disorder. After two courses of EMDR, i would say i am no longer suffering from ptsd. I do still have the anxiety disorder and depression. I can tell the difference in my symptoms and the impact each of these conditions has had on my life.

the main feature is triggering, thats what sets it apart from other types of trauma.

is there a uncontrollable trigger, which in my case was people knocking on the door.

stems from a fire in the building, where people were banging on the doors at night screaming at everyone to get out.

For me ptsd had a massive effect on day today day life. Having now completed a long course of cbt and being on the right medication it is manageable but always there

Yanbu at all. I have ptsd and was diagnosed 7 years ago. I still take medication and probably always will. I can function day to day now but I still struggle a lot with flashbacks and triggers.