First Responder with PTSD and Chronic Adjustment Disorder

[LAC08]

G'day,

I sound like a page of the DSM!

I've been a first responder for ten years and been exposed to all forms of shit during this time. However, my trauma history extends way back into my childhood - probably why I do what I do now.

I have recently linked in with support services through work and am now on WorkCover.

Yesterday, I received an official diagnosis from a psychiatrist - PTSD (kind of knew that) but also Adjustment Disorder (AjD) with chronic symptoms.

Dr. Google isn't really helping me and I don't go back to see any of my support people until after Christmas.

Can anyone shed some light on having AjD? Is it really just a case of me 'over-reacting' to stimuli?

Cheers,
Laura

[Burdy]

Hi Laura,

I can not really help you with your question sorry but I just wanted to welcome you to the forums.

I am fairly new here myself but have found it to be a wonderful safe place full of amazing caring and understanding people.

I understand your job to be one of the toughest, my sister and cousin are ambos and I know it does take its toll. I also want to thank you for what you do, you make a huge difference in other peoples lives on a daily basis. My hubby suffered a cardic arrest in a remote area a couple years back, I can never thank the ambos enough to have him still here with me and the kids today.

I hope someone will be along to answer your question soon but I just wanted to say welcome.

Burdy

[PamelaR]

Hi Laura, welcome to Beyond Blue

I'm pleased you are here and that Burdy has dropped by to welcome you. Our community is supportive, caring, friendly and non judgmental.

How frightening to receive a diagnosis of PTSD and Adjustment Disorder (AjD) with chronic symptoms? I'm amazed the psychiatrist didn't give you better understanding of what is happening.

I'm not a health professional, though I do have PTSD, anxiety and depression. My understanding of the both are:

PTSD is a group of stress reactions that can develop after we witness a traumatic event, such as death, serious injury or sexual violence to ourselves or to others. PTSD can happen after we've been through one traumatic event, after repeated exposure to trauma, develop after hearing details about devastating and traumatic events many times.

Psychology Today have info on AjD https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/conditions/adjustment-disorder I found that:

• Adjustment disorder is an abnormal and excessive reaction to an identifiable life stressor. The reaction is more severe than would normally be expected and can result in significant impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning. Symptoms must arise within three months of the onset of the stressor and last no longer than six months after the stressor has ended.
  The response may be linked to a single event (a flood or fire, marriage, divorce, starting school, a new job) or multiple events (marital problems or severe business difficulties). Stressors may be recurrent events (a child witnessing parents constantly fighting, chemotherapy, financial difficulties) or continuous (living in a crime-ridden neighborhood).

• The cause of adjustment disorder is a life stressor. In adults, adjustment disorder is commonly a result of stressors related to marital discord, finances, or work. In adolescents, common stressors include school problems, family or parents' marital problems, or issues around sexuality. Other types of stressors include the death of a loved one, life changes, unexpected catastrophes, and medical conditions such as cancer and subsequent treatments. Factors that influence how well a person reacts to stress may include economic conditions, availability of social supports, and occupational and recreational opportunities. Susceptibility to stress may include such factors as social skills, intelligence, genetics and existing coping strategies.

Hope this helps Laura

You're not alone

Kind regards

PamelaR

[PamelaR]

Hi Laura

As I said previously I'm not a health professional, though with much lived experienced I think that Adjustment Disorder is where you may experience PTSD, anxiety then depression from an event (as described in my previous post). However, the depression is not your usual severe, major or ongoing depression. It is situational. I.e. you are triggered by an event, which causes your system to go into overdrive (hypervigilance). Ultimately this leads to anxiety then depression if untreated. The depression though is not ongoing. It should be alleviated once the PTSD is looked at and addressed.

Now having said all that - it's all a layperson's viewpoint. Must say it happens to me all the time. I'm not necessarily a 'depressive' person, but I do get bouts of depression when I've been triggered. It is usually easy to recover / heal once I'm aware of what has happened.

It's learning the process of managing and coping when I've been triggered (which is often, and often unpredictable). Now, I try to get in early before I head into depression. For the past, I've had some reasonable success. My psychologist is awesome! I've retired!! I'm finding out who the 'real me' is.

Keep reaching out if and when you want to Laura. No pressure

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Jac36]

Hi

i was scrolling through forum posts for first time tonight and your heading “first responder...” made me read as my husband is an ambo and has been for 15 years.

can I ask when you say linked in with support services through work and workcover does you SO or supervisors need to know about it? How does it work??

Any advice appreciated

[PamelaR]

Hi Jac36 and warm welcome to Beyond Blue forums

You have asked a very good question -

Does your Supervising Officer or Supervisor needs to know about when you attend a support service?

I don't know about First Responders, e.g. ambos. But my experience in government is that you can access help through their Support Services, e.g. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) without your supervisor/manager knowing. The service will charge the department for the service, but they do not give out details about who attended. I'm assuming this should be the same for the ambulance service.

However, WorkCover is a different situation all together. From my own experience, WorkCover was in contact with the HR area of the department I worked for. I was allocated a Return To Work Coordinator from HR who liaised with my supervisor / manager for my return to work.

Maybe there are other people on the forums who have experience with ambo services to help you further?

Feel free to start your own thread on your topic and to share more of your story if you want. No pressure Jac36. Just suggesting this to help see if you get more responses to your query.

Hope some of this helps Jac36.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Recuperandi]

Hi Jac36, I am new to BB forums and are just going through posts regarding PTSD, trauma and first responders. Just a little background I was medically retired from the police force after 29 years of service. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, depression and anxiety. I have worked with the Workcover system during my treatment. In addition, my wife is a paramedic of 21 years. To answer your question, the short answer is no. You do not have to tell your management that you are seeking treatment for mental health conditions. There are obviously pros and cons. The ambulance service or the ambulance union should offer psychological support which is totally confidential, the only time the support service will breach confidentiality is when there is a risk to life or serious injury to any person. The cost of psychology sessions should be covered by the employer or the union up to a certain number of sessions a year. Workcover is a different beast, it requires some sort of disclosure to a manager and an application for Workcover funding through an insurer. Not a lot of information is required in the application but enough for the claim to be assessed. Workcover will send the worker to an IME (Independent Medical Examination) for an assessment. My IME was very supportive but remember IME's are paid by the insurer and they are looking for inconsistencies to justify the rejection of your claim. The pros of Workcover is that the cost of your treatment is paid for by the insurer, in my case my treatment would have cost a lot. It is not just psych sessions paid for, hospital admissions, medication, exercise programs, travel to and from appointments are also covered. It is a difficult system to work with but has some good aspects. The over riding point is that if you or your husband is suffering, seek professional help. If the condition is work related, then Workcover is a good option. I hope I have answered your question, don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything else. Good luck.