PTSD’s most common causes are child abuse, sexual violence and domestic violence, not combat war.

 

 

PTSD is not a sign of weakness. Anyone who experiences the trauma type that can cause PTSD, could result in having PTSD.

 

 

PTSD is not an anxiety disorder.

 

 

PTSD is now a ‘trauma and stressor’ disorder, as per the American Psychiatric Association DSM 5 – May 2103, which is the diagnostic manual for psychiatric health, most mental health professionals worldwide refer to.

 

 

PTSD has no cure for. Unless you believe in God’s healing.

 

 

If there was a man-made cure, every psychiatrist would be using it and all the armed forces would be using it for all the combat vets who have PTSD.

 

 

There is no PTSD therapy that will be a 'cure' for every person with PTSD.

 

 

Some people can recover from PTSD, many won't.

 

 

For many, PTSD will be lifelong.

 

 

PTSD can be managed – which is the good news - but the ability to manage it, the capability to reduce the symptoms is dependent on many factors.

 

 

PTSD is a continuum, and there are some who can work, lead functioning lives, but the other end of the continuum is PTSD is disabling, debilitating and impacts a persons life severely.

 

The ability to heal, or recover from PTSD or reduce the symptoms is dependant on many factors;

 

• The severity of the PTSD.

• Is the trauma a one time trauma, or multiple trauma, or complex trauma.

• The length of time between the trauma and appropriate treatment and support.

• The support a sufferer has.

• The professional support/treatment the sufferer had access to.

• Other disorders combined with the PTSD, such as Dissociative Identity Disorder, Bi-polar.

• The persons own psychological and mental capacity to manage the symptoms.

• The persons capability to engage fully in counselling.

• The stress and environment the sufferer has in their life.

• The sufferers own attitude to their healing – do they wear their PTSD like a badge of honour, or do they genuinely want to heal.

• Is the sufferer spiritual.

 

There are many more factors, but each person is unique, in their trauma history, their personality, their support etc.

 

 

This is why I get very annoyed when I hear of another PTSD sufferer, stating they have recovered, so therefore, ‘everyone’ can. Particularly when they have a book they are trying to promote.

 

 

PTSD can affect lives in ways not often talked about, like sexual intimacy.

 

 

Complex PTSD, is known in the psychiatric world, as being the psychiatric equivalent of cancer.

 

 

PTSD can be a life threatening disorder.

 

 

Many people will not understand PTSD, no matter how many times you try to explain it. A lot of people do not have the emotional intelligence, or the capacity to understand this journey, especially for complex trauma.

 

 

Many mental health professionals, do not have appropriate training, or experience to treat PTSD, or Complex PTSD. I always advise people seek counselling with a trauma therapist who has worked with PTSD and understands trauma and complex trauma.

 

 

PTSD and Complex PTSD, require very specialized therapy.

 

 

PTSD is not a choice. No-one who has PTSD is choosing to have it, and all who have it would ‘let it go’ instantly, if they could.

 

 

PTSD is cruel. It keeps you trapped in the memories of the trauma, in re-experiencing symptoms, that are involuntary – they are not a choice.