topic I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD in PTSD and trauma

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:07:30 GMT

Hi Im just new here and Im happy to read a lot of stories and learning new things. I thought I was completely well after 3 mons of rest after suffering with my abusive x partner for 2 and a half years together. I thought I've recovered already but when I went back to see a GP everything came back as fresh and new can't help but cry and now I'm back to being stressed and anxious and can't sleep feeling sad and lonely 😞 . I saw this website beyond blue and got interested in reading the forum until I saw what is the meaning of PTSD because I didnt know what it is I have it on my mental health care and need to see a Psychologist. Hope I can get over it 😞

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

blondguy — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:18:16 GMT

Hi Sj28

Welcome to the forums and thanks for having the courage to reach out!

You have been through a really bad period with your abusive ex partner. I went through the same with an abusive partner which did give me the same emotional anguish (and physical pain)

You are a amazing person for having consulted your GP for help. That takes great strength.

Seeing a GP or a psychologist can bring the memories back as they are only trying to get you to talk about what happened and yes.....it hurts to have it brought up again....I remember crying afterwards as well...

PTSD is a label which covers the 'big picture'...like an umbrella...the immediate issues are your symptoms...

Im not sure if its anxiety or depression or both you have now but they are the two conditions that need the help you deserve after what you have been through.

These awful feelings are temporary..., I remember and understand them all too well. They do pass!

Anxiety or depressive feelings do lessen in intensity over time with frequent counseling...and yes the counseling may be uncomfortable. The counselor is only trying to get you to 'vent' about what you have been through

you will have peace SJ.......be determined as you have done by posting here and whether its a GP or a psychologist you will have everything to gain and nothing to lose by having frequent sessions to enable you to heal more effectively 🙂

there are many caring people on the forums that can be here to support you....no worries at all

you are not alone here SJ

my kind thoughts

Paul

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

geoff — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:47:41 GMT

hello Sj, a good comment which I'm sure many people struggle with, but yes it is an enormous umbrella and will bring back so many unthoughtful memories, and that's why it still has a great impact on you and anyone else who also has PTSD, but you have to remember that it may lay quite for awhile, but just one small incident could revive those terrible thoughts once again, and by seeing your GP could be well and truly be what's happened.
It may bring back all those thoughts about your abusive husband, perhaps your doctor was the first person you contacted so that you could begin the help you needed.
There is a difference between before it started and now, and that your are now safe and will never be hurt by him again, so let your mind think about the present and not the past, and if by chance your mind goes back to the past, erase it and think of why you have been happy for these past 3 months. Geoff.

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 07:41:09 GMT

Thank you so much 😞 I will see again my Psychologist this coming Monday sometimes it makes me think if it is really helpful 😞

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 23:49:33 GMT

Thank you that's very well said. I've been to my Psychologist last Monday she didn't help me with my present situation she actually look upset when she saw me and saying what brought you here? Then I told her about seeing my doctor and my doctor referred me again to you. And then she said haven't you practice what i taught you before about the breath in and breath out I said yes I can still remember that but It's hard for me to relax. Actually I ended up getting more stressed because of her 😞

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 23:51:50 GMT

Wish Psychologist will be more emphatic and compassionate 😞

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

blondguy — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 00:23:50 GMT

Hi Sj28

Thanks for posting back 🙂

Counseling is difficult and sometimes confronting. They are trying to find your pain and do press uncomfortable buttons. They have to do this to 'rebuild' your self worth and confidence as well by dealing with the unpleasant issues.

The key to successful therapy is the frequency of visits. The more the better. They used to sit there with the poker face on and prod and poke me....ugh. It did work though after a few months of weekly therapy

you are not alone here SJ

I hope you can stick around, we are here for you 🙂

Best

Paul

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Just Sara — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 02:53:44 GMT

Hi and welcome to our caring community Sj;

It's nice you came across the site and decided to post. Well done!

Geoff and Paul have given some great advice and info on dealing with symptoms and therapists. As a long term sufferer of PTSD, I'd like to discuss what PTSD means for the individual if that's ok; my efforts are about genuinely caring and supporting you thru recovery.

It's ideal to approach your mental illness as if it were a physical injury. If you had a broken leg in 3 places, the complexity would be of concern, so asking your surgeon about treatment and recovery options would be normal. It's all about getting you back on your feet again yeah?

Unlike a broken leg, your injury took place over many yrs so the cause and treatment of PTSD is much harder to identify.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, describes the chronic after effects of one trauma like being kidnapped, or continued traumatic situations over a long period of time like domestic abuse. Your reactions (symptoms) are uncontrollable expressions of a deep fear of past events happening again, and/or memories of pain or emotions experienced during specific events.

A 'trigger' can be a situation, words or thoughts in the present moment, that reminds you of how 'you felt' when past trauma's occurred.

One of my biggest triggers is 'feeling' helpless. In the beginning, I reacted with debilitating panic, hyperventilating, body shakes, confusion, nausea, frustration/anger and in general, fearing for my well being or that of someone else.

It took me a very long time to identify helplessness as a trigger, because it took self awareness, insight, patience and huge courage to look at myself instead of the people who hurt me.

There is of course much more to it than this, but I'm hoping my description helps you understand it a little better. I'm well informed on the subject, and will do my best to answer any questions you might have.

I'm on here most days, and will endeavour to reply as best as I can. I'm not a health professional, but can give you the benefit of my experience and knowledge. There are many threads about PTSD on here, so peruse them at your leisure and use the links below to scout for specific info.

Be gentle and kind with yourself ok...one step at a time.

Sara

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 18:14:59 GMT

Thank you so much 🙂

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 18:22:58 GMT

Thank you I think people who had experienced PTSD are more likely to give better advice than Psychologist. You can see and feel that their concerns are not genuine they just listen and try to calm you down but at the end i think they are just concern about themselves can't blame. Wish I could find a good Psychologist 😞

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Just Sara — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 05:19:54 GMT

Hi again Sj;

I truly understand how hard it can be to find the right psych for you. Sometimes it takes a lot of money too.

Mostly, psych's listen intently so you can talk; that's where all the best info comes from...you.

You really need to ask for what you want from them and discuss therapy options and what they mean and; try to make some ground rules.

E.g...I like someone to challenge me with hard questions and then let me take time to respond. My psych is brilliant at this. Also, it takes time and effort from both to get to know and trust each other. By this I mean, she knows I'll be honest and open if I'm unhappy or confused about her demeanour. (I make sure I'm tactful and respectful too, she deserves that much)

I asked if I could see her notes once due to feeling she wasn't writing down exactly what I'd said and was paraphrasing. She immediately gave me her file to read; she did write my words, not hers.

It's a relationship, so it might work or it might not. If you feel uncomfortable, say so. It could just be your own hypervigilance (PTSD) that's causing issues. Without bringing it up though, you'll never know and may have problems with all psych's.

I wish you well for future visits...

Sara

I Just saw my GP's mental health care for me and didnt understand what PTSD

Sj28 — Mon, 22 May 2017 09:13:09 GMT

Thank you so much! Yeah me and my Psychologist are doing good now. i just didnt understand her before she looks like more trouble than me maybe she is undergoing to somthing before :). I have 3 more sessions with her but I told her I think I dont need to see her Im happy with the book that Im reading 🙂