I suspect that the answer is "Yes". I did not even begin lurking here until I was dx'd, in my case.

May I ask why you ask? If you think you have PTSD, it's probably time for a psychological or psychiatric professional to screen you for it to rule out other anxiety disorders, bipolar, etc., and help you start on a treatment regimen that addresses your issues.

I should add, you mentioned you have not been to a therapist who would give a dx, which could simply mean they don't have enough information or your smptoms are not demonstrable enough in their presence. (I tend to lock down and guard first several meetings with any new medical person, so it's hard for them to get a good read until I open up.)

I was only ever diagnosied with depression and personality disorder. I asked my psych for the diagnosis cos I sure as hell have it but he said my diagnosis of borderline personality disorder almost gave away that there is truma envovled so was reluctant to give out another diagnosis.

but I don't think u have to be diagnosied to be here. hugs. rotti.x

Rotti reminds me that a dx is not end-all be-all. Thanks, Rotti:-) I didn't mean to imply otherwise---just that I think based on my (limited) exposure, a lot of us here have the ofifical label.

Looking back, I can see I had some form or degree of PTSD all my life---just didn't get the stamp on the paperwork till 2013.

I find it useful to have the official dx if you need to deal with getting meds and so on---my HMO is a lot less picky about that kind of crapola if I have apiece of paper showing the official dx than they were *before* the official dx. Didn' tmean to be impersonal, I apologize. I was still waking up when I posted the first time!

Yes, I was referred by a therapist in 1995 to a psychiatrist who formally diagnosed me with PTSD.

I think it's important because even for top professionals there are issues with telling apart the symptoms of PTSD that overlap with other diagnoses like bipolar disorder.

There are some people here with dual diagnoses of PTSD and bipolar, too.

In day to day life there's a level where distinguishing between the 2 may not matter in daily experience. But then on a long term treatment level, it does matter when it comes to meds. Bipolar meds like lithium aren't effective for PTSD. PTSD meds are usually meds for anxiety like Xanax or for sleep and nightmares, like Seroquel.

Do you ask because you want to get a formal diagnosis?

No I'm not really worried about labels. I'm sure mine isn't a very severe case. I tend to shut down and withdrawl early on with professionals as well so I haven't had much experience with them getting far. I had a dr once tell me it was a possiblity I was borderline personality disorder. But honestly I think my issues were more related to the emotional abuse I have experienced than my personality since those indications have all disappeared since I've started to become more independent. I am just hoping to see how others handle some of the issues related to ptsd in hopes of coping. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts

Bipolar and PTSD are my most agreed upon dx'es. It has been speculated that the bipolar was a misdiagnosis. Others have been speculated on, but never pursued far enough to gain officiality.

But, my own approach remains to address the symptoms. How to stop nightmares. How to take the risk and form personal relationships. How to quiet the voices in my head. How to stop the thought loops. Etc., etc.

Having a name for it won't stop a stink from being stinky...

Lol I like that! Ok so now how do you stop the stink from being stinking?
How do you form (and actually maintain!) Relational connections? That's mybiggest obstacle I think. Feeling so disconnected from others. I don't experience nightmares because I don't really ever dream that I remember once I wake up but everything else fits pretty accurately. Do things get better as you deal with stuff? Is it just like learning to do the best with the symptoms that bother you the most? Sorry I know I'm clueless on this topic yet. Thanks for your patience.

I am bipolar as well as have PTSD. I wasn't dx for quite a while but I knew even b4 my t and p doc told me is had it. It was really simple. I lived in a "fight for your life" zone for 17 hours and that's what started it.

My psycho-coping tool box makes a NASCAR mechanic's tool set look like a tinker toy set. Been collecting them for decades. When a symptom starts rattling, I dig around in my tool box to find the right tool for the job, one ratting nut at a time.

Relationships are the toughest for me, too. The hard part of that one for me is that I only have access to one side of the hardware assembly. When I try to tighten or loosen it from only my side, the whole assembly just spins as a single unit. It takes work from both sides to get anywhere. At present, I don't see where I can do anything more than back off and find another part to work on. Sigh.

Wow arfie that actually makes a lot of sense tho. The ptsd side just withdrawls and hides but the codependent in me wants to soothe everyone and fix it. I'm constantly working against myslef. No wonder I feel like I'm spinning my wheels!

I can't even afford to see a professional who is trained in treating trauma, ptsd or dissociative disorders.

I was reluctant for a while to accept that I could possibly have ptsd of any type, but the symptoms I have and their severity all point to either ptsd or cptsd. Until I can save up enough to actually be able to see a professional who will know for sure if that's the case I'm just going with the assumption that frequent periods of dissociation and painful flashbacks (sometimes to a near debiliating level) that stem from many years of psychological/emotional abuse (all the way through childhood and into adulthood) are probably indicative of some type of ptsd.

So, what specifically do you all do to figure out when your having an episode? God knows! I have so much trauma in my past & I think what gets me the most is my guilt/shame for my part in creating that guilt/shame. Especially knowing what I've put my kids through. However out of my control my traumatic episodes where.