Is PTSD a Label?

[becvan]

I have noticed that a few members have gotten extremely touchy over PTSD as a "label" as of late. For some reason this is touching a nerve in some people.

So do you feel it's a label? If it is a label to you why? If not, why? Is it detrimental to you or otherwise?

My answer to these questions is that PTSD is not a label. It isn't one to me because I've had this for so long. I don't have a "before" PTSD. PTSD is the only thing I have known. For me, being called crazy was a label. Being told I have PTSD, the disorder was a relief. It still is. I know I'm not crazy now. I know what is wrong. I know that I can work to manage it. I also don't consider PTSD to define me. I have it, I will have it till I die. I'm okay with that. To me it's just something I have to accept and work with. However it doesn't define me. It's only one of many things that define me. I am also a mother, a woman, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a college grad, a Social Service Worker, an artist.. etc.

So .. what are your answers?

bec

[upstream]

PTSD is a label, but I dont' believe it's a negative label. Is that what you're asking? Is PTSD a negative, neutral, or positive label?

I actually wanted the diagnosis of PTSD, because the world would then make sense and my bad childhood would no longer feel like my fault.

I beleive that "Mentally Ill" is an incorrect and negative label for PTSD. Other negative labels to me are "messed up" "screwed up" "****ed in the head" "damaged" "crazy" "emo" "psycho" "nuts" "schizo" ... I could probably think of a few more with time.

[becvan]

I am asking for each personal opinion on it, upstream. What ever you feel and think about it is the correct answer. There are no wrong answers in this.

bec

[upstream]

Fair enough, thanks bec

[Roo]

...PTSD is not a label. It isn't one to me because I've had this for so long. I don't have a "before" PTSD. PTSD is the only thing I have known. For me, being called crazy was a label. Being told I have PTSD, the disorder was a relief. It still is. I know I'm not crazy now. I know what is wrong. I know that I can work to manage it. I also don't consider PTSD to define me. I have it, I will have it till I die. I'm okay with that. To me it's just something I have to accept and work with. However it doesn't define me. It's only one of many things that define me. I am also a mother, a woman, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a college grad, a Social Service Worker, an artist.. etc.

Amen to every single word here, Bec. :occasion:

[spiritofnow]

PTSD for me is just intellectual terminology to highlight how my mind and body have reacted to supressed trauma.

Now I have an understading of this I am working on the route cause. PTSD is not my priority any longer.

I will not be be entering into a relationship wearing a badge that says 'hi my name is Spirit and by the way I have PTSD, just so you know'! When and if I meet someone I will divulge that I have had a traumamtic past that I have had therapy for. I may express how I was diagnosed with PTSD at the time due to my supressed emotions over the trauma. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD WEAR A HEALTH WARNING for future relationships. I guess this is how I have perceived certain information on here. I do not need to to fill out a risk assessment questionnaire on behalf of any future relationships. I will not be getting into a relationship unitl I can offer the best of me anyway!

I am in therapy to undo all of this. I am in therapy to heal my trauma and any other secondary issues. I am in therapy to learn how to live in a fucntional manner. I am in therapy to live independently of any labels. I am in therapy to heal my wounds. I am in therapy to learn all of the skills that I have not been taught due to my childhood difficulties in order to learn what are appropriate behaviour's and attitudes.

I do not intend on repeating any of the dysfunctional behaviors, coping mechanisms that have been brought about by my past. I am doing this to live as I should of always been! I can already see this happening.

I will communicate openly and honestly.

Spirit x

[spiritofnow]

I can see the positives of receiving a diagnoses of PTSD. It gives each person a point of reference concerning why they have felt and behaved in certain ways. It gives each person an understanding of how their mind and body have acted in response to their life experiences.

I feel it is negative to believe that you are never free of PTSD, even if that is described as managing it (I will always manage my life, just as anyone does). It does not feel like that for me and I have probably only been working on myself for 2 years (a year of self-therapy-starting to live in the world, asking myself pertinent questions, looking for answers, and a year of actual therapy, CBT and most recently intergrative psychotherpay, and acceptance of how I have been affected). However, I still feel that my behaviours and feelings have ultimately been directed by my traumas and neglect as a child and young adult.

Spirit x

[upstream]

I will not be be entering into a relationship wearing a badge that says 'hi my name is Spirit and by the way I have PTSD, just so you know'! When and if I meet someone I will divulge that I have had a traumamtic past that I have had therapy for. I may express how I was diagnosed with PTSD at the time due to my supressed emotions over the trauma. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD WEAR A HEALTH WARNING for future relationships.

I loved this spirit!!! :clap:

[spiritofnow]

You loved my spirit :wink:

Thanks Upstream, it is nice to have your support and apreciation.

Spirit x :occasion:

[becvan]

Spirit, I have a question or two for you. Hope you don't mind.

Why do you perceive my belief that my PTSD is lifelong as offensive? Are you somehow perceiving this to mean that I am right and you are wrong? Or that you have to conform to some one else's beliefs? I feel something is driving such a strong reaction from you. Perhaps exploring this will help you accept your own beliefs.

I hope you do realize that what you believe is your truth. If that is how you see PTSD and how you deal with it, what could be wrong with that? Your not denying it, you just deal with it in your way. What is so threatening about other peoples views on this?

bec

[spiritofnow]

No problem with the questions, expoloration is my forte :-)

I am not diminishing anyone else's perception of how PTSD affects them or feels for and to them. I was not necessarily responding to anyones elses point of view on this thread I am just asserting my beliefs. As you rightly pointed out my truths are exactly that, mine!

However, even though I am a member of a forum that underlines the concept of PTSD as being incurable and that PTSD'ers are lifers. I still find that aspect a challenge. It is not something I am afraid to have challneged in me and I have researched this and asked questions to medical professionals in terms of finding my own truths.

Why do I feel strongly?

For me it feels unhealthy to always assume the position of someone who has a reason for their behaviour. Behaviour is learned and can be altered! I guess I see it as a crutch or perhaps as a way to legitimise certain behaviours. PTSD sypmtoms do not excuse any behaviour as I am sure you are more than aware! PTSD as I said above just gives the sufferer and anyone else a point of reference in terms of how their body has reacted to supressed emotions. I feel that it is unlocking these that is key in letting go of the PTSD label and not the other way round! I don't think we shoud get so fixated on just undestanding the complexities of PTSD and accepting it! I feel we should look at they why's and how's in order to really free ourselves.

Why so strongly.......hmmmmmmm, honestly, believing that I will have a life that co-exists with PTSD is not good, for me. I am healing.......I will not be left with PTSD, it is symptomatic of my traumas.

It just makes sense to me. My behaviour is already changing and I do not feel at the mercy of the symptoms of PTSD, just the reaction to a very difficult life up until now. My reaction to that is changing and my behaviours and attittudes go hand in hand with that progress.

You said ' you are not denying it, you just deal with it in your way' yep I do. But I also know that once I have healed my traumas I will not class myself as someone with PTSD, I will be healed of my traumas and the secondary issues connected with them. I am not a PTSD lifer, I don't think anyone should readily buy into that!

I create my reality! My reality is not what I am told it will be!

I hope that has answered your queries?

Spirit x

[Grama-Herc]

I hope this is not taken the wrong way, but IMHO, PTSD is not any more of a label than cancer, diabetis, or arthritis.

This is not a label. It is an illness. Pure and simple. Where it came from or whatever form it takes, it is still just an illness. So how could it be a label.

I agree with what one response was. Hi my name is Grama Herc and by the way, I have arthritis. That is silly. No one introduces themselves that way! So why would you do it with PTSD and call it a label. It is a condition

[spiritofnow]

?

I don't have a "before" PTSD. bec But you can have an after PTSD in my opinion.

I have also lived with the symptroms of PTSD longer than I have wihtout!

Spirit x

[spiritofnow]

Good insight Grama-Herc! I guess I believe that thoughts can be altered over physical conditions. PTSD = badly broken legs (for me) that is not terminal!

Spirit x

[linasmom]

So do you feel it's a label? If it is a label to you why? If not, why? Is it detrimental to you or otherwise?

I do not see my diagnosis of PTSD as a "label". The term "label" has a very negative connotation to it. I was given a diagnosis. I'm not sure what "it" is referring to here. The label?

Well, if someone uses my diagnosis of PTSD as a means to label me, then yes, it can be detrimental if said person has some sort of control over me or someone who I look up to and respect their opinion all of a sudden offers up opinions all willy-nilly. A lot of PTSDers are sensitive and the last thing we need are people whose opinions mean a lot to us to slap the label on and refer to us as a herd.

We are still individuals. Just because we have PTSD doesn't mean we lose our individualism. Labels strip people of that, and that is detrimental, hurtful, and most of all ignorant.

Best,
Rachel

[becvan]

But you can have an after PTSD in my opinion.

I have also lived with the symptroms of PTSD longer than I have wihtout!

Spirit x


I'm not sure you understand my meaning of having no before. Let me clarify: I have no memory (of any substance) before I developed PTSD. I came into existence with PTSD. As far as can be figured, I had PTSD at the very latest at age 12. My existence starts hazily at age 14 and develops more strongly after age 16. Gotta love amnesia. So for me it's not a matter of how long I have had it, it's the fact that I didn't exist before I had it! I hope that makes some sense.

This brings into question what is after PTSD. For me, that means management. It means living with new, healthy learned behaviors while minimizing what sets off my stress responses. Certain situations, people and areas will always set those responses off. I've learned to understand and accept this. As I learn more, I will learn what I can and can not change. The stress response is why I do not believe in a cure for me. My brain is hard-wired to respond that way under certain conditions. Being incurable does not mean negative for me. I will and do have a full and beautiful life.I simply have a disorder that needs to be managed. Not the end of the world.

I also agree with Herc. Walking up to someone and introducing yourself as 'Hi, I'm Bec. I have PTSD.' is completely ridiculous. The world is not an AA meeting. However, friends and family do need to know. They need to know because they are all affected by it and they help me as I heal.

[Cindy]

I think having PTSD attached to my name in medical records is appropriate. It is a frame of reference to determine my reactions to medical procedures or shared information to me in consultation. I do not bring it up unless I feel it may be pertinent to any part of my medical or mental care.

I only look at it as a frame of reference for myself and my professional care givers!

Anyone of us with this diagnosis display it in a multitude of ways and none of us are the same in presentation of symptoms. We each respond uniquely to any given circumstance. But the list of associated concerns such as anxiety, depression, fear, etc can all affect the outcome of any treatment.

[lrs]

When I was first diagnosed with PTSD, I think I felt a bit of relief. I did not know much about it, but things started to make sense.

[spiritofnow]

I also agree with Herc. Walking up to someone and introducing yourself as 'Hi, I'm Bec. I have PTSD.' is completely ridiculous.

I don't think 'ridiculous' is a fair word! It is yours, but I do not feel it is fair! I used that as a demonstration of how a label is used in a dysfunctional manner. I read threads on here again and again about how the person with PTSD or the carer of someone with PTSD should accept that is incurable, that is paramount to being a label, clumping all PTSD'ers together. For some it may be for others it may not! I also read how those with PTSD should be upfront and straight about it with those they are intimate with-Iwas being facetious with my comment to make a very valid point!

If you have two broken legs and you are afraid to put too much pressure on them while you are rebuilding your strength because you fear them hurting or not supporting your weight. Then yes PTSD may still be a concern for you as you will not heal those legs back to an optimum level. And you may still experience the effects of those broken legs.

However, if you brace yourself and apply pressure and stand for as long as you can until you have learned to completely walk then you will have healed your broken legs.

That is my pont! I believe it can be done, perhaps not for everyone, but that is certainly the attitude I am taking.

I am signing off from this now as I don't want or need to assert my feelings on this any longer. I appreciate the feelings of those who do not see this as I do.

It was good to joust! :smile:

Spirit x

[becvan]

Hehe, I guess that is a fine example of taking something a bit too literally!:rolleyes: Thanks for explaining that.

I think you are missing why carer's are told that they need to accept that their loved one has PTSD. You weren't on the forum when that discussion took place. Many, many carers were coming here saying things like "he/she just needs to change back to how they were before the accident/trauma/deployment" or that "if they don't go back to the way they were, I'm leaving them!" We both know that is impossible. The PTSD and the event that caused it needs to be accepted because how can you move forward if you deny what you need to move forward from?

I do not know if someday there will be a cure for PTSD or not. I know that one does not exist now. I sure hope they find a cure! Wouldn't that be grand? I base my beliefs on the here and now, not what ifs. This forums information and hence advice is based on the here and now. Right now, no cure exists. In order for this forum to function it has to be based on reality not hopeful what ifs in the future. I hope this helps you see the bigger picture and gain some understanding on why we all approach the subject in this manner.

I have sure enjoyed this Spirit. I have learned a lot about myself from this thread and have seen it through your eyes. It was truly a pleasure.

bec

[spiritofnow]

Well, maybe I will just be the proof of overcoming PTSD symptoms in the here and now sometime in the future? Watch this space............

It was all my pleasure!

Spirit x

[Jim]

Well. Short answer. I believe PTSD is the medical term used to describe the illness you all suffer. And as such it is appropriate. Has to have some name or else there will be confusion. The illness itself is not a label though in my humble opinion. To suggest so is to suggest it is not a serious life long condition, which I believe it to be. I believe its incurable at this time. You will never be who you were before it either, in my humble opinion. There is a difference between unmanaged and managed PTSD. However. That is not the same as a cure. I don't believe there will be a so-called "after PTSD" until we see a cure.

Jim.

[kers]

Bec, I have the same feeling as you, the diagnosis of PTSD was a relief to me, after being labelled "crazy," "overreacting," and "hypersensitive" for many years. It is very useful to me as a diagnosis and I do use it to label not myself but my reactions to thing, in a positive sense. So for example, today I had a stress reaction to something that intimidated me, and I went to tears over it afterwards. I began to criticize myself, and then stopped and told myself, "This is PTSD. I felt threatened and pushed into a corner, and I froze. It makes sense that I'm upset."

Labeling my behaviors as reflective of PTSD has done much to calm my fears of being abnormal or irrational. I do share the idea that it is a lifelong illness, but as Jim said, I think it's a matter of management. I hope to reach a point where I live with minimal symptoms and little reactivity.

[Grama-Herc]

We as people suffer from what is called a "chronic condition". As such, the condition will not go away, but with medication and therapy we learn how to live a managable life.

One of the happiest days of my life was the day I was given a name to the insanity my life had become. I did not make the condition any better but it certainly enabled me to make sense of things

Just had to put my 2 cents in!

Just my 2 cents worth

[cactus_jack]

I don't care for the label the community places on me when they hear of my PTSD.

[anthony]

Is PTSD a label? Well, for me it was an answer, as I remember pre-PTSD me. I don't believe it was a negative label... more I took it as an answer to what the hell was wrong with me, as I just never used to be that way when uncontrolled PTSD was present within me. I can sit here and pretty much see me before, the signs during as a result of each deployment I went upon, then the breaking point, the meltdown points, the total collapse of my will to live, then the time when I had had enough of feeling that shit and went for broke.... learnt everything I could about trauma, PTSD, healing, medications, etc etc.... went for thorough experience based learning from other soldiers, counsellors, physicians, scientific studies, etc etc.... and I got the hell on top of the worst of what PTSD has to offer.

I also don't just outright tell people I have PTSD, though I also don't have an issue with telling them if I require them to know, or they require to know. It just doesn't bother me...

What bothers me more nowadays I guess, is that people have this perception of PTSD, those who have experience being around someone at the worst, then they meet me and say things like, "you don't have PTSD" or the like, because I look normal, act pretty normal, do normal things... though they don't really see the management side of myself... how I expose myself to society for a certain time, then when I hit my limits I go home to rest and chill out. I think I find that more offensive these days than someone jumping back if I say I have PTSD... ironic maybe!!!

Good topic Bec.

[Marlene]

I don't think of it as a label. It's my diagnosis. But at the same time, it's such an integral part of me now. OK...has been since childhood. Just not to the same level as the last two years.

I've gotten very sensitive, for lack of a better word, to myself and my symptoms. I can feel symptoms coming on and, for the most part, head them off. Sometimes I'm still blind-sided and have to deal with the aftermath. I guess that's the management end of this thing.

I also don't just outright tell people I have PTSD, though I also don't have an issue with telling them if I require them to know, or they require to know. It just doesn't bother me... I hadn't realized that I'm feeling the same way until I read this statement and it clicked. I recently told a friend, via email, about my PTSD. I've not heard from her since. Before I would have been very upsest and wondering if I scared her off, if I should have kept it to myself, etc. Now I figure...she asked and I answered. I have to deal with PTSD daily and manage it daily. If I can handle the heavy-lifting end (so to speak) of this equation then the light stuff of just knowing should be no problem. Should be.

I'm not sure if it's becoming used to having PTSD in my life. Or if it's finding a name for all of the 'crazy' stuff in my life or what. Or maybe it's getting used to having all sorts of family mental health issues (mom has anxiety problems, brother has PTSD and bi-polar, me with PTSD). Whatever it is, I've reached my F'it point with other people. This is my life...like it or lump it. Label me or not. I really don't care anymore.

Lisa

[cactus_jack]

Anthony if I was in better health I would write more descriptively. Right now a 'tater sack of horse manure has better communication skills/capabilities than I.

[nic]

Yes, it is a label. I don't mind the label, however, as I recognize that I do have PTSD. What does bother me is when that label is used against me to diminish my individuality.

[anthony]

We all have those moments CJ.... just work through them mate and know that the realistic outcome is that you will come out of it.

[cactus_jack]

Thank you Anthony. One thing to think about is Hollywood. This is very similar to my other impairments. The basics behind the imaging issue is see-think-feel.
They see you have an impairment.
They think they know something about it, then judge you based on those thoughts, no matter how inaccurate.
Then they express feelings based on the previous two, again no matter the inaccuracy.

Let me try to use PTSD as an example. Now before I start, I have discussed this with others in the past, and most of the time they are thankful for the enlightenment, and rarely are they more fearful.

1. Someone sees you have a problem. They find out it's PTSD.
2. They think about this, even though a mere millisecond, and unless they are professionally schooled or have first-hand experience with it, odds are they will recall the images they got from society's most vocal source of info on such ailments- Hollywood.
3. Recalling the images gained via Hollywood, violence, victimization, crime, pain, horror, they begin to "feel" fearful.
4. Odds are nothing has even happened in real life between the PTSD victim (like you or I) and the person now fearful.

Ignorance is clearly the worst issue here. And sadly enough, I found this problem exists with PTSD as much as with Traumatic Brain Injury. So Anthony, if I have misjudged PTSD by this comparison, it's not intentional. Instead only what I have gathered from my experience with both TBI and PTSD.

I know if my physical health was better than it is now I would be more capable of writing this out better.