Is a mother diagnosed and in therapy for PTSD a risk?

[Getinvolvedornot]

Is there any possibility the diagnosis of ptsd could then result in a referral to SS? Is it an automatic thing or not?

No.

Technically no but if your children are at risk....yes

Having PTSD itself, no. If it manifests itself in a way which is causing your child harm, yes.

My kids are under children’s services due to their father. Social worker knows I have cPTSD, that I am medicated for this (inc medical cannabis) and in therapy. Her assessments all specifically state there are no concerns about parenting and that my MH does not impact my care of the children. This is despite my exhusband (qualified MH practitioner) repeatedly telling her and everyone else involved that I am insane. Just be open and honest with them about how you are doing. Even when I have been struggling badly, she can see that the children are loved and well cared for. She has reassured me endlessly that it’s quite normal to have MH problems and just to ensure I continue to access support. Wishing you all the best

No? I was diagnosed with PTSD when I was pregnant and had EMDR when my baby was under 1 - no-one ever mentioned Social Services.

Of course not.
if she is seeking and engaging in therapy, that is a really positive sign and it is something to support her with and be proud of with her.

I'd say it would be more of a problem if it was left undiagnosed and untreated.

Thats reassuring Thankyou. So many of the questions in the weekly form (same each week) do ask about symptom severity and how they affect day to day things eg looking after children , housework etc and consistently they don’t affect these things at all despite the ptsd being quite bad. The worry was just that it might be something that has to be automatically referred ?

What risks could there be from a parent with ptsd? Are things like neglect more common if a person is struggling ? It’s not that they would refer anyway just in case ? Only if there was evidence of it affecting the children ?

Did the EMDR help ?

When my PTSD symptoms were really bad, I barely slept because I was too afraid of the nightmares, had flashbacks during the day when I was disconnected from reality, struggled to leave the house, had frequent panic attacks and was self-harming. That, fortunately, was all before I had a child but I definitely wouldn’t have been in a fit state to look after a child if I was suffering like that.

Yes, definitely. I could do with more, but it took the edge off some of the worst memories and I cope better when PTSD is triggered now.

I am diagnosed with BPD, CPTSD, agoraphobia, chronic self harm (isn't actually a diagnosis but they refuse to remove it from my "comordities" list), and a bunch of other crazy stuff. I didn't get referred to SS because I'm either managing symptoms/on meds/in therapy/very self aware of my triggers and behaviours. It's not the disorders themselves, it's how you are in the present moment.

Honestly, we can’t get social services to complete assessments or open plans for families who are genuinely struggling because they are so desperately understaffed and underfunded. The chances of them picking up a family ‘just in case’ is absolutely zilch.

What risks could there be from a parent with ptsd?

If a person with PTSD had angry/aggressive outbursts for example, or became extremely dissociative and therefore very unresponsive to their children, or were unable to leave the house so the children were not taken to school and the doctors.

But being treated for PTSD would help with all these things, if they were happening. For most people with PTSD these things wouldn't be happening.

If any of these things are happening for you or someone you know, try to access support.