Yeah. I get the stigma. Ninety percent of the medical personnel around here seem tot hink I just need to "calm down" and they roll their eyes. Makes it difficult when I'm trying to get treated for pain issues, b/c they decide (fill in blank)

Support to you!

Yep, lilmiss, the stigma got official for me when my community college vice president received a letter from here at Daily Strength saying I was a Community Leader here at DS PTSD. The tenure procedure required that I prove I'd done community service, and that's what a Community Leader on Daily Strength does. The vice president of my community college was a psychology professor, so I thought all was well.

I was wrong. An entire extra tenure committee meeting was called to discuss my PTSD recovery in detail, my work at Daily Strength, and to ask me questions about it for an hour. I did get tenure, but I realized the stigma was still there even with a psychology professor as a vice president, and my being a Leader on Daily Strength.

Your pain in your heart from stigma is real. That's why it's so great we have each other here to talk to. Sending you my support.

Yes, there is a stigma. I have PTSD and I feel it often. I feel it from my loved ones, doctors, and friends. I'm having a hard time with depression. She promises is a long term facility but there is no what I can get it.

I'm sorry the system sucks sometimes. It doesn't understand. Hang in there though, you are worth it.

Hi I'm shelly and yes I can absolutely understand. I have went to college for mental health I have mental illness and I am everyday trying to understand myself. What is disappointing is what you hear and that is how mental illness is so much more accepted less labeled as something to be ashamed about so many more resources and oh my September is Mental Illness month. There is nothing as far as I go that I feel great about knowing I have to swallow meds of any kind really for any reason that's just me but I do. Yet at the same time I'm jumping through loops like I am a special breed trained dog just to make sure my ptsd nightmare meds are available and every area from insurance, my docs office the pharmacy etc. and why do they make me feel like I really love anything about having to do that? I don't think there is one person who has this condition that could possibly exaggerate anything they experience when it comes to this and what happens and what they feel and how to cope when the meds don't even come near being effective in all the areas that we have to somehow suck up and find a way to get through it on our own. It's hard enough to be emotionally balanced and when you have terrible physical pain and you can't find help there I don't care how strong you are it's only a matter of time that you are not going to be balanced long in just one area that is going to keep you going. You have to find someone who is going to keep you somehow balanced on both ends of that. I am so disappointed in what I've heard what people have chalked it up to. Oh my gosh I think everyone has coping skills we can exhaust ourselves during the day and goodness gracious if they are physical coping skills like me and you are in pain like me but even your family thinks all you want is more meds so you don't even go there like me that is one heck of torture to function during the day in that kind of agony but I do it and then what type of coping skills does anyone recommend at 1 2 3 o clock in the morning when hellish nightmares wake you up with sever anxiety begging to god to help you. you can't shake the thought you have in your mind you can't relax your body. you can't go outside because you don't want to take the chance of something bad happening you don't want to be disrespectful to the one's who are sleeping so beautifully. So how do you cope in those times. So yes, I think a lot of people are empathetic to your situation. I actually had to voice my opinion with everyone I spoke with in my pharmacy by saying wow I can tell how frustrated aggarvated annoyed every person who works at this pharmacy I've made today and you guys work here now having said that I'm the patient how do you think I feel. So I'm not playing my own violin I think this is just so unacceptable in so many ways.

Jim here, newbie to DS.

I have had PTSD for a LONG time... probably from a very dysfunctional childhood... led to anger issues, hyper-sensitive to any criticism... it got MUCH worse in '97 when I combined weed, booze, ephedra and a antidepressant called Serzone... and had a major meltdown/Panic attack... almost for sure due mostly to the Serzone. Since then, till now... anxiety and depression... sometimes mild, sometimes bad... but always there...

I was this week diagnosed with a DVT/blood clot in my lower right leg. As expected, I am really stressed about it, and also about the nasty meds they are pushing me to take (Eliquis) or Warfarin. I found a really interesting alternative, which is taking Nattokinase, Serrapeptase and Lumbrokinase... problem is, there is not a lot of hard data on these,a Big Pharma can only profit from hardcore DRUGS, not un-patentable enzymes.

I have found two things that really help my PTSD... I smoke a very small amount of marijuana nightly, and during the day, I take L-Theanine... I have some Xanax if anxiety gets really bad... but usually do not need it. I might try a SSRI again, like maybe Paxil... I was on Celexa for a few years long ago, and it helped, but sort of turned me into a bit of a zombie... better than anxious and depressed... but not great.

This DVT is really having such a negative effect on my life... which was not joyful to begin with... wondering if a clot will break loose and kill me, and faced with Meds that would likely make me sick and dizzy for many months... or life...

Nattokinase, and Serrapeptase just might really help with chronic pain/fibromyalgia...

I was diagnosed with PTSD in 1995, so I can relate to having it for a long time, TucsonJJ. Prazosin helps with my nightmares, but what's helped most has not been medication, but therapy. I really recommend it as it goes to the root cause of my PTSD rather than just medicate the symptoms of it.

Wow,
You guys really do understand, & I’m truly sorry you understand as well.

For me knowing I’m not alone in these struggles is a double edged sword because, because I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

Thank you guys for all for your empathy, support & grace. I’m having a hard night so I might be writing a little funny, but I wanted to respond with gratitude.

Big hugs <3

Health problems are the very first problem in old age. The older I get, the more I worry about my health. Now it is already difficult to just do some household chores, for example, hang things. Take care of yourself.

The stigma is what has caused me to suffer in silence. Even here with protocols in place to keep a safe environment. For me, the official diagnosis and subsequent "permanent" disability has been a death sentence. I have a really good primary care doc who cares for the everyday and ventures outside of his comfort zone for the things that need specialty care because he is just as frustrated by the tainted care I receive from them. It's a life that continues to spiral out of control.. I used to be good at hiding my struggles but not anymore. People are very mean, judgmental, abusive, hurtful. Especially here in the ultra conservative central US.

Sending you more supportive vibes for today, lilmiss.

Oh I definitely feel the stigma too like when I’m told I’m my own worst enemy and I need to get out of my head ppl who don’t have this don’t know what it feels like and how hard some days are to get through especially when your own psychiatrist wants you to take meds and says what’s another bad day I have been so frustrated this past year trying to find good health care I finally think I found a good therapist psych dr so so

Lil, I feel the same way. The healthcare system is broken for people like us

Big hug for you Missy.... I sure hear you... The system is broken when it comes to mental health.... I'm sorry that you've been struggling.... xo

Sending you more support again today, lilmiss. I really had a hard day suffering chronically yesterday and posted here and got support that's making today better for me. Hoping for a better day for you asap, too.