Legal Abuse Syndrome

[Tenderheart]

I was just diagnosed with PTSD from a prolonged, 10 years, and nasty legal battle. It was my understanding that PTSD was only for vets coming back from war. I guess there are other ways to fight wars, mine was in the court room trying to fight off the onslaught of unethical attorneys and Judges. I believe I fought for a good cause, but it has taken its toll on me. My nerves are shot, I have anxiety from the minute I wake up until I go to bed. Thoughts of what they did, the power they had over me and my children is with me always. I want to have a life, but I still deal with the consequences everyday. I feel guilty for feeling this way as there are so many other people who have been through much worse. I think the feeling of being powerless, and abused by a system I had faith in has shaken my foundation. My feelings about people and the world have changed forever and my trust level is very low. A psychologist involved in the battle betrayed me and my family with lies, along with two other professionals in this field, all my attorneys, and the judges. You might discount my view point, as it seems it is overboard. It took along time to see it myself, but my investigations proved correct. Recently, I read a book called "Legal Abuse Sydrome" by Karen Huffer who describes just what happened to me. It was so reasuring to know what I had and how I developed PTSD.

[veiled]

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to hearing more about this.

[pandora]

welcome to the forum.

[Lisa]

Sheesh Tenderheart.

I feel for you. As someone who is currently going through a complicated complaint against a psychologist who also betrayed me with lies about me (in the complaint procedure) I am feeling similar affects at the moment about loss of faith in systems, justice, powerlessness etc. etc. So I cannot imagine 10 years of something similar in legal battleground... I can well see how it could be traumatising.

Sorry for talking about myself in YOUR introduction, I just wanted to demonstrate that I relate somewhat to you.

It saddens me that systems, organisations, and professionals - the very people who should be protecting us, betray and abuse their power. I hope to read more of you and then you find this forum helpful.

Lisa.

[anthony]

Hi tenderheart, welcome to the forum. I have questions though relating to what you are saying here, in that LAS itself is not definitive to be classified for giving PTSD under the current diagnostic criteria, however; I read your other post here where you where mentioning times in the depression, people killing themselves and so forth. What have you seen or witnessed in this regard? If you have seen this type of suffering, then its not LAS that gave you PTSD, but more you had it and it was just waiting to surface when you where placed under extreme stress with legal battles.

I am curious, nothing more. I am not asking you to justify yourself, nor am i dismissing your PTSD, just curious.

[cactus_jack]

Anthony, you have a good point, but as I also know of LAS first hand. I feel it's likely to be the closest and non-violent mental issue can get to PTSD.

[cookie]

welcome to the forum, tenderheart

[cactus_jack]

Let me re-write what I was saying-

Anthony, you have a good point, but as I also know of LAS first hand. I feel it's likely to be the closest a non-violent mental issue can get to PTSD.