Hi fellow Brit!

Many thanks for your message.
Great to meet you, and look forward to chatting more.

Cat!

I've been through the NHS psychiatry system for nearly two decades, and to be honest it only started to be useful three years ago. There were so many different doctors, changing all the time, all with their own pet theories, making judgements after chatting for five minutes, all the time I knew they were talking bull.

Then I had nine years out on high doses of seroxat which turned me into a brain dead zombie and ruined my life altogether. Then a fantastic new GP got me off that and I got a new diagnosis of the PTSD, which I researched and have been getting better ever since. I've had bouts of counselling and therapy, and am due to see (finally!) a psychologist specialised in trauma. Attitudes have really changed recently though. Just being taken seriously and having good support makes the difference.

Overnight support, though is crap. :cussing: And that's when my demons really come back.

Anthony suggested P.M.ing the other Brits to get to know them better. When I've got morw time I'll do that. Take care.

Just found this; don't know how I missed it! Blunt hasn't been my style, but my patience is definitely wearing thin, so it could well become so (when appropriate), especially as being gentle is often seen as being weak or able to be used, while your own pain is dismissed. Although I feel it's good to get to the point, and the world would be a far better place if everyone communicated honestly and with heart, I don't feel it's right to be blunt unnecessarily, as it's lack of sensitivity that is a part of ptsd starting in the first place and lack of sensitivity that doesn't aid in recovery.

We're all very individual anyway, so I feel that being aware of an individual and the appropriate approach has to be important. I couldn't stay somewhere where there isn't that balance, as it's too damaging when you're trying to heal! And I don't say that in any sense of avoiding cutting through BS or being in denial, as personally I'm extremely honest with myself, and far too hard on myself if anything, plus it's the lack of sensitivity from others that is so often the problem. It's a very tough reality when sensitivity is missing.

I feel it's how the BS is cut through that is important. Personally, I can't be open or feel safe if the response is always blunt, but if it's done with heart and respect of yourself as an individual, that's very different, and the same feedback is being given.

I 100% agree with you saying that being blunt could be refreshing though, and finding this message today is very timely, after an experience yesterday where I was getting frustrated outside with someone who I started to feel that I wanted to be blunt with (someone I normally just say hello to, but had a longer chat with, well, was talked AT by!). I made some points but also with consideration. Developing discrimination further and therefore being more blunt with anyone who behaves badly or selfishly is very much coming clear as being necessary, as it's too draining to keep dealing with selfishness and negativity, and ptsd requires energy in order to recover!