I'm very tired this morning, what with one thing and another, so what came to mind was:

We have Experts.

Where's the *in*-perts?

It's like we have uncouth, but not couth.

Semantic silliness, but... Maybe that's what we are? The "in-perts". In it, and know what pertains to it?

Some of my therapists have been diagnosed with PTSD themselves and I find they are the best therapists I have ever had. I think you may be on point with your "in" versus "out" theory. :)

Though myself is not the part of this group yet, but eager to put own thoughts here at ARFIE . Actually an expert is a simple human being who is possessing facets of organised learning in particular topic or discipline. Though they offer logical solutions but those have to be limited.They actually suffer from two problems. 1) Natural problem of limit in research is the first one. Standing on the finding of pure sciences like physics, mathematics etc., they do their own researches at life enriching science. So what is not known to pure science, there experts at life enriching side can't do anything. As pure science still is at very naive state to describe consciousness, so debate is ongoing ceaselessly regarding the nature of mind, feeling and their connection with chemistry of body. In other words even best of experts still are not fully sure that, whether matter(chemicals) of body affects mood or more alive mood affects chemicals or both way. Things are growing each day, but still... 2) Second reason is more structural in nature. An expert is certificated from an educational system, which follows political power circle, which follows the in-between lines of law, which follows some economic and other lobbies; which follows "popularized" biases of the society or that sovereign country. This is why when one country accepts one research, there another throws it into pseudo-science list. Now inspite of own awareness of certain things, still an expert can't do anything. Otherwise that poor one will end up in jail. Lets ponder ...

i'm with you, arf. my best counselor had walked in my shoes, I think that's why she was my best counselor - I did then too.

this thing of being understood, validated, on such a deep level is...can't find right word, will use this, important, incredibly needed in order to absorb ok enough feeling to let myself be here and then, progress and benefit. first, that understanding, acceptance - expectation of it even, is so important.

I do think that this is *most* often something we can only find here with one another - or someplace like here. who knows if there may be another place for someone else, I cannot say - for me, I haven't ever felt the understanding and acceptance, everything that I felt upon coming here that helped me to feel safe enough to begin healing.

gentle hugs

Did somebody push my Linguistic-Idiocy button?

Look up the definition of "Whelmed." Is it really possible to be "Overwhelmed?" Isn't that like being "Over-dead?"

The opposite of "Expert" is "Current-pert?"

Putting Mockery Beast back in the kennel now. . .

Yes, my most effective pro-therapy came from professionals who had walked in shoes similar to mine, but that "Patient/Therapist" dynamic requires detachment for allot of reasons, many of which I even agree with. Even with personal understanding of where I am coming from, I hire them to be professionals, not buddies.

Peers know where I live even when they don't know my name or address.

I get much needed support here for sure and I have learned a great deal from thoses who have been there done that before me. I do not feel as alone as I wander the ptsd mine field either.

Having said that the meds I am on have helped me and my current therapist has been very good at helping me learn coping skills needed to survive.

I think for me both have there place.

Yes, Arfie, that is very insightful and true. It sometimes takes the experience to really get it. Some professional's do have PTSD but it is the exception and not the rule.

I don't think the proffesijonal's get the pain that is involved with mental illness. I also think if we feel comfortable at our counselling session they only see that part of us.

My greatest comfort has come from the understanding of this PTSD DS group. It has been such a relief to be read someone else just like you...you feel less alone.