Don’t agree with PTSD diagnosis

[IrrelevantPeasant]

After much counselling I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD following a traumatic event a few years ago. I’ve been referred for EMDR treatment next month. However I’m not sure I actually have PTSD. I can see that what happened could have been traumatic but I don’t think I match the symptoms of PTSD and feel like I’m just wasting everyone’s time.

I wondered if anyone else has had this experience and if they found EMDR helpful? Thanks.

Which bits don't match?

Everything matches apart from the flashbacks but this seems to be the most important part?

Sorry, posted too soon... And what is it that you are struggling with?

Ah ok. There's lots of symptoms associated with PTSD and you don't have to have flashbacks to get this diagnosis.

PTSD is a group of symptoms, you don't have to meet them all.

I've not had EMDR myself but do know of others that have had it with great success.

Its hard but try not to focus on the diagnosis. You need a label to access expensive therapies ie not the 6 session counselling but the deeper therapies. Ptsd has got you emdr which will help. Doesnt mean you have some symptoms or it doesnt fit. It gets you the help you need.

A lot of people struggle to accept a diagnosis. That part is very normal.

I have been diagnosed with PTSD and I don't have flashbacks; mine mainly manifests in anxiety and problems sleeping but that doesn't mean it's any less difficult either for me or to treat. I am having CBT rather than EMDR which is helping but it's a slow process. Wishing you the best.

Thanks everyone for your replies, that helps a lot. I thought to have PTSD you needed to have flashbacks but that’s obviously not the case. I’m actually quite glad to have a diagnosis as it means it’s not just me iykwim, I just wasn’t sure it was the right one. Thanks and best wishes to you too calypso xx

I have complex-PTSD which is rather nasty, but you don't have to satisfy ALL the criteria for it, just most of it. EMDR is very helpful depending on how much trauma you are battling with, I wanted to try it but wasn't allowed due to the amount of trauma I had to handle.

EMDR UK & IRELAND

emdr didn't work enough for me .
went from the far end of severely traumatized to just the beginning of severely traumatized on the trauma scale.
and that was with an extended programme.

I was diagnosed with PTSD, and finished a course of EMDR.
I don't think I had flashbacks as such, but I did have the majority of r other symptoms. It was mainly the hyper arousal that I was suffering with.
My symptoms came out in tremendous anxiety and avoidance, and the hyper arousal.
If EMDR doesn't work, it doesn't work, but it could cure you completely. It did for me.

Thanks Wowbutter, it sounds like you have similar symptoms to me. Really hoping the EMDR works for me too. Wishing you all the best xx