Hello, everybody.
I'm new in here and I hope you're all doing OK.
I was diagnosed with c-PTSD quite recently, about 4 months ago. My previous diagnoses were rapidly cycling Bipolar II and BPD, but nothing really seemed to make full sense until now. C-PTSD is rarely diagnosed in Eastern European countries (my psychiatrist thinks so, at least), so that might have been the reason for the delay. I'm in therapy, still trying to make sense out of everything and taking it one day at a time. I wish I could say I'm doing great, but that would be a lie.
I have a long and disturbing history of domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse. My parents, belonging to the pre-dissolution generation were hit by a wave of depression, alcoholism and existential despair. It is unfortunately a very common scenario, and even some mental health professionals have the attitude: "Your father was an abusive alcoholic? Nothing particular about that, stand in the line."
Times are changing, but trauma remains. Still, I hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel now that I have the right diagnosis.
I'm happy to be here, maybe someone will understand what what this condition really means in daily life.
Welcome Olga :heythere:
I'm glad you found us.
Lots of us were misdiagnosed, especially those of us who are older, 40+, maybe even 30+. So it can be a sort of relief to finally get the C-PTSD diagnosis. Since I've been in proper trauma-informed therapy I've been making quite a bit of progress, so I do think that having the right diagnosis is crucial. So yes, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
I would also say that lots or even most of us on here understand what this condition means in daily life. I'm sure you'll find lots of posts where you see similarities to your own symptoms and problems.
Hope to see you around the forum. :wave:
Hello Olga, welcome! Thanks for joining :D
Hi Olga, welcome! :)
I'm new here too.
I'm glad you finally got the correct diagnosis. I wish I could say it's unusual to be misdiagnosed but I'd imagine it's sadly very common. I was misdiagnosed too, and it was so harmful I didn't go to therapy again so I don't have an official diagnosis. I now finally know what I have thanks to excellent books, and these forums help a great deal, just like Blueberry said. It's very powerful for me to read what people post here and realize I'm not the crazy freak of a weirdo that I thought I was, I just have c-ptsd.
(Well... I could also still be a crazy weirdo AND have c-ptsd but that's beside the point ;) )
There's a lot of cultural trauma where I'm originally from, too. It affects generation after generation and I'm so sorry you had to go through it too.
Hi Olga and welcome :heythere:
It can be a relief to get a diagnosis, but then again, the D of disorder I find confusing. Better think of it as an injury, where you can heal from. We all are responsible for our actions and behaviour, and being too hung up on the diagnosis might keep you from holding yourself responsible.
Feeling a victim all the time is tricky. It might keep you from feeling a normal, responsible adult.
It’s interesting to look at it from a fresh point of view and think in possibilities, instead of problems.
Take care
Lingurine
Hello olga
Welcome I am glad you are here.. this site has/ is a very good support and education for me ..
I was diagnosed with complex trauma this yr in the U.K. and that was down to the support and resources I found over the internet. So as much as I gripe about technology I must show my gratitude to it as it has helped me find so many people who helped pave the way for me...
Quote ' C-PTSD is rarely diagnosed in Eastern European countries (my psychiatrist thinks so..'
I know in the U.K. it is the same - so many people get other diagnosis - which may be incorrect or indeed a feature of cptsd but not the full picture.. I have learnt that the new icd11 ( diagnostic manual) is going to include cptsd as a diagnosis in its own right. That is very exciting and I'm very interested to know how it will inform and change treatment options for people.
I have very gratefully just started long term therapy via a charity and I feel v blessed as the therapist reminds me 'you've worked hard to get here'.
Quote 'maybe someone will understand what this condition really means in daily life'. Yes that's it isn't it we learn what we have by someone helping us to see it more clearly by their research and training. Pete walker is someone you may like to look up his book 'from surviving to thriving' is spoken about a fair bit here..
At the mo in therapy we are looking at education of trauma and she showed me a spider graph of all the possible symptoms ( injuries) of trauma, my eyes were wide I had / have them all.. then I got angry remembering all the countless trips to the doctors over the past 20 yrs for tablets and talking about 'depression and anxiety' a major part of my injuries but not the whole picture..
Now I am learning the whole picture I/ we have a real chance to grow and heal .. 'post trauma growth '
Wishing you well on your recovery journey olga and receiving the warm support and understanding that our forum gives