Welcome bingo..... Several people on here including me have complex ptsd due to things happening in our young lives that have caused trauma that wasn't healed and changed our lives and who we were/are

Here's some info on complex trauma by Pete Walker.... It might help you to decide if this might be affecting you.... Big hug....xo

http://www.pete-walker.com/fAQsComplexPTSD.html

Thanks! Though I'd be lying if I told you I understand all of it, I think maybe I am too proud to admit it changed me at a fundamental level. Some background: When I was 4, my mother left my father and we absconded to a nun's convent and lived there for awhile. He hit my mother and me. We had a dog and he hit him too. I remember instances from when I was 2-3 where he locked my mom in the basement over night. He threw dinner against the wall and there were peas rolling about. He would break my toys. One time my mom took me to my grandparent's house to escape and he showed up at the door and broke it down. I was locked away in the bathroom. My mom told me once he held a gun to my head when I was an infant. I don't remember that, but when I was old enough, I asked him about it and he admitted though the gun was empty. Ultimately she divorced him and he had alt weekends with me as I grew up. I never looked forward to it. The abuse turned from physical to emotional. He would use me to try to get my mom to forgive child support and many other things. I know that as a father, a strong guiding force is to NOT be like my dad. Beyond that though, I'm not sure he's the source of my depression or anxiety.

Hello again, Bingo. I'm glad to see you are still with us and still reaching out.

The peer support network is, in general, not a club which investigates potential members to hand out exclusive membership cards. Whether I **belong** in a particular group or not, I allow myself to feel free to drop in to ask questions and explore possibilities whenever I like. Ya just never can tell which tree the right nut will fall out of. Other times I find the specialized groups I clearly do *belong* in are too limited in their approach to handle all the curve balls life throws at me in the here and now. I go wherever the healing mysteries lead me.

Question and explore freely, Bingo. Listening. . .

Thanks. I am just exploring the validity of the diagnosis more than anything. The same therapist diagnosed me with bi-polar then the next said I didn't fit that profile so I'm kind of confused and concerned that the meds may not be right. I certainly don't feel any better or worse after 4 weeks.

Bipolar and PTSD get confused by some professionals, which is why I waited till I was diagnosed by three people, one of whom was a psychiatrist with a neurology board certification; a psychologist; and a plain old psychiatrist, IIRC. That helps narrow down diagnosis, and it helps clarify treatment plans.

I say that b/c one idiot said I was bipolar b/c I was freaking out and so he assumed mania. Thanks, ER idiot. ...

So... don't be afraid to get second, third, and fifth opinions.

Complex PTSD, depression as a symptom of PTSD, bipolar, etc., are all on a spectrum ----- and can overlap. So, if you've got concerns? Go get those extra opinions from experts in real life, b/c I am so glad I did. You can even see if there's someone who specializes in trauma. They're pretty good at sorting out what's what.

Peace be your journey.

I agree these diagnosis are often confused by professionals due to some of the symptoms being the same or close to the same

I 2nd, 3rd, however many it is at this point and you've heard from the brightest.

There are members here who were diagnosed and prescribed medications for what turned out to be PTSD symptoms, that looked like bipolar symptoms to the doctor.

Depending on our state of being when we see the doctor, they can jump to conclusions.

It's so helpful to see a doctor who specializes in PTSD or trauma, as someone mentioned. While we may have co-occurring bi-polar disorder or several different disorders that a PTSD triggered patient can seem to present with; it takes that special doctor to be able to figure this out - to not assume or jump to conclusions.

Let me tell you, when you find a doctor like that, whatever your diagnosis turns out to be, you gain such a higher level of ...elf-worth?? Is it? That's how it felt for me. With diagnosis from a doctor who knew what he was talking about and the way he went about finding out.

Haha
Not elf-worth :)
Self-worth

I was more able to accept something horrible happening to me as an adult caused this "?????" did not know what yet, than that childhood stuff was wreaking havoc on my nervous system.

Most of the kid stuff was in amnesia until I was forced to get help for the PTSD symptoms - even then, I didn't start remembering until I'd been in this support group for a good while. It took time.

It's ok to be here and not know xx

I started psychotherapy in 1972 and the lion's share of my early therapy came out of the Manic Depression/Bipolar camps. When the PTSD theories gained functional respect in the late 90's, I was a shoe in for the label change. The VA shrink I was working with at the time asked if I wanted to work the process to have the BP dx declared an official misdiagnosis. I couldn't see the point. I gained allot of useful insights and tools through those BP channels and, at the very least, PTSD is a malady of extremes.

My psychotherapy moved to the maintenance phases shortly after this little file shuffle. To this day I worry more about relieving specific symptoms than which file folder I find that relief in. I works with what the healing mysteries send me.

Thanks all! You guys are the best. As I re-read the article from Sunny a few things rang a bell. Definitely the all-or-nothing thing is definitely me. I am quick to anger and judge, and inner critic 110%. Maybe I will try another therapist soon. Right now there's way too much going on to even consider a change. I'm currently taking wellbutrin but it doesn't seem to be helping? I mean, I really don't feel better but I have gone 3 days without a panic attack. So maybe it is. I'm making myself do something for myself too. It's too fuckin hot to work in the shop so I spent a few days of vacation. I plan on sitting on my ass in the AC, zombify on some video games and take the kids bowling. I very much appreciate this group. I hope I can maybe help someone here from my experience as well. Cheers folks!

So glad you've already gained information that is helpful! Looking forward to seeing you more!!

I'm sure your posting will help others xx

bingofuel, my diagnosis was the other way around. For 10 years I was misdiagnosed with depression only, even though it was obvious that I'd lived through 6 years of urban combat as a missionary kid abroad. The fact that the Iraq War caused lots of vets to return to the USA in need of PTSD treatment led to my re-diagnosis.

That said, those 10 years of misdiagnosis weren't all a mistake. The treatment for depression did help with my PTSD for those 10 years. It was that I needed Prazosin for PTSD nightmares rather than lithium for depression that made the difference.

I guess the "t" in PTSD is the key that got overlooked in my case. A real event happened, my car was bombed with me and my family in it when I was 9. When in Iraq IED's became common, then my event was seen in context and I got help.

Hope what folks shared here helps you, too.

This one became a good lively discussion. I love that. So many people here really participate for the good of others.

I'd just like to add that when I was finally properly diagnosed as bipolar, it didn't make sense to me either for a little while. I did not think that I fit the list of symptoms as written in the DSM-5 at all. It took a few weeks of research and reading descriptions from other bipolar people until I came across a post from an Australian fella before the light finally came on. But I did learn a lot in the process.

I was in complete and utter denial about my ptsd for YEARS. Its only within the last year I've really started to examine my behavior and reactions to things. I kinda had a break down about a year ago where I couldn't deny symptoms anymore. But I understand being confused about the diagnosis. I was convinced they were wrong, and I was fine. But life does strange things to a person and opens doors we sometimes don't want to look in.

Not saying thats the case for you. Just relating a little about my experience.

But there really is no harm in researching and getting 2nd opinions. I wish you peace, hope, and healing on your journey.