To think we devalue trauma?

[Catatedog]

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.

I would hope people would understand but i dont know if this is true.

not being able to eat or jumping at the doorbell, or not sleeping, or not waking up or shaking for hours are so diferent from crying for a bit about something sad.

I agree in general but not with your example. They were clearly joking. But when people seriously describe non-traumatic events as being trauma it does make me cringe a little.

Use the word distressing instead

@drcoconut so sorry to hear your uncles experience. It does not compare at all to some of the things you list.

I think people dont know that trauma is normal for a difficult experience. For example if you nearly get run over its fine and healthy to have strong emotions. PTSD is feeling these things years later.

@whereismyjumper i am honestly not sure they were joking they normally smile at there own jokes and normally don’t exagerate.

I have really mixed feelings on if joking makes it ok. We would not normally joke on religion or other disabilities.

Agree with this. I also think it devalues anyone who does not exagerate. Alsorts of headaches can be bad enough to need a quiet day at work or some paracetamol and a nap it does not have to be a migraine.
dont say to someone withPCOS or endo that you definately have them but its too much trouble to see a GP.
Its not IBS if your tummy is funny after 12 beers.

socially awquard is not necessarily autism

I agree with you that generally mental health disorders are thrown about too much and devalue them yes. Especially with OCD which is obviously highly debilitating for someone who lives with it day in and day out. In this example I think it was probably just a joke though. I can imagine it's hard to hear it thrown about so flippantly when you have lived experience of it however.

On a side note, you don't need to be experiencing trauma symptoms years after the traumatic experience for it to be classed as PTSD - it can be diagnosed months after.

I get what you are saying. I think your example was obviously a joke. But the common things at the moment seem to be people using 'anxiety' when they mean they are worried about or don't want to do something. Or I seem to know quite a few people who have started claiming to have ADHD. No actual diagnosis, just have seen some videos or have children going through assessment and have decided they have it too. I've watched some of the ADHD videos and honestly I think most people would relate to the things said.

They were making a joke. They weren’t actually claiming to have PTSD. It was an exaggeration for comic effect.

My friend finished reading a series of books yesterday and said to me “I can’t believe there are no more books. I think I’m having withdrawal symptoms.” She wasn’t genuinely claiming to have an addiction akin to heroin dependency, though.

I have got a bit more info on this specific circumstance. It does not seem to be a joke and I and a colleague are now quite concerned for this colleagues welbing or charicter.

was out for drinks with another colleague who heard the comment. They heard that on wednesday meeting trauma attended an event where trauma was mentioned. They got verry hung up that there is no objective definition on what is trauma and supposedly got verry hung up that there is no definition. This was to the point where the person pressenting asked them to stop.

after the event meeting trauma sent IM’s to the people involved with images related to there trauma. Think train to someone in a train crash.

they clearly need help but going to be tricky to navigate.

that is pure crazy