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Would A Person Suffering From PTSD React Similarly In A Difficult Situation?
Question: Hi I was wondering if a person with PTSD was stranded, in a thunderstorm on the highway after breaking down in a vehicle, with no help, no phone, stressed, worried about losing valuable items, and broke with no way to get home or anything to eat, could have an effect on that person?
Brief Answer:
ANY person would be affected by the above mentioned scenario
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. If a perfectly normal sane and mentally stable person were to be placed in the same situation, I am guessing any person would panic and start worrying about their personal well being as well as the safety of their valuables.
For a person with diagnosed PTSD to be put in such a position, would lead to the development of quite an amount of anxiety and panic in that person.
I did not understand the part where you mentioned your neurologist thinks your symptoms are due to PTSD and not brain injury. To what was this reference made? Please do clarify so that I can better understand and provide you with my insight. I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further.
Best wishes.
ANY person would be affected by the above mentioned scenario
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. If a perfectly normal sane and mentally stable person were to be placed in the same situation, I am guessing any person would panic and start worrying about their personal well being as well as the safety of their valuables.
For a person with diagnosed PTSD to be put in such a position, would lead to the development of quite an amount of anxiety and panic in that person.
I did not understand the part where you mentioned your neurologist thinks your symptoms are due to PTSD and not brain injury. To what was this reference made? Please do clarify so that I can better understand and provide you with my insight. I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I had a forklift fall on my head, had a concusion, and I have 2 brain tumors, and multiple tumors in my back and lungs from chemical poisoning. Ive been through physical, mental, sexual, financial abuse, watched my mother die, lost my businesses, gone bankrupt, lost my mortgage, lost my job, been raped, tortured mentally for 2 years with the foreclosure issue in court, been through 5 motor vehicle accidents, got chronic pain, short term memory loss, gone deaf in one ear, lung damage, etc. I was having trouble with my brain making me want to fall asleep, but I dont have sleep apnea or narcalepse, and I have twitches on one side of my body when I am stressed, or exhausted. I have other muscle spasms when Im in pain. I was trying to see if the neurophychological test would give me some kind of an answer as to why I was having these problems that wont go away. I have gotten better with the pressure in my head that made me fight to stay awake. I also found that the less stress I have in my life seems to help as well as a nap. It just makes it impossible to be normal enough to do an 8 hour a day job without any symptoms which I would love to get rid of. I thought that the neurological test would have shown what cognitive issues I was having were, but the Doctor seemed to think that my symptoms were because of PTSD, and not from the brain injury.
When I was stranded on the highway, etc. I had to try not thinking about my situation I was in, so that I could work and cope with it. When I tried to get help, and couldnt I felt stranded, numb, and I couldnt think. It was like I was in a daydream almost just going through the motions. If it werent for other people helping me out I dont think I would have made it home. Since then, Ive had a couple of incidences that have just sent me into a panic. I watched a boy reinact an act of violence that I couldnt believe I saw, and another threaten to bring a knife and slash himself and other kids on my bus. Then have trouble sleeping, and getting over those images, shaking nervously and crying for no good reason, then jumping when I was in court trying to answer a question. I still have vivid memories that make me cry like Im living it all over again. And am able to carry on as long as I dont think about it. Im not overly depressed because I do look forward to things and can be happy. I just dont put myself in situations that make me feel scared or sad. I am trying to get some help because the neurophychologist said I should. I just needed to know how that situation on the highway would effect a person with PTSD compared to my reaction.
When I was stranded on the highway, etc. I had to try not thinking about my situation I was in, so that I could work and cope with it. When I tried to get help, and couldnt I felt stranded, numb, and I couldnt think. It was like I was in a daydream almost just going through the motions. If it werent for other people helping me out I dont think I would have made it home. Since then, Ive had a couple of incidences that have just sent me into a panic. I watched a boy reinact an act of violence that I couldnt believe I saw, and another threaten to bring a knife and slash himself and other kids on my bus. Then have trouble sleeping, and getting over those images, shaking nervously and crying for no good reason, then jumping when I was in court trying to answer a question. I still have vivid memories that make me cry like Im living it all over again. And am able to carry on as long as I dont think about it. Im not overly depressed because I do look forward to things and can be happy. I just dont put myself in situations that make me feel scared or sad. I am trying to get some help because the neurophychologist said I should. I just needed to know how that situation on the highway would effect a person with PTSD compared to my reaction.
Brief Answer:
Let me point out a few aspects of your query with a possible diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I am really sorry to hear about all your life experiences and really wish there were some way I could help you forget it all and live a happy and content life ahead.
As for your presentation, let me comment on a few things that should help you better understand what could be happening:
+Twitches on one side of your body when you are stressed or exhausted: can be associated with depression or anxiety ; or a vitamin B12 deficiency
+Brain making you want to fall asleep: symptom of depression
+Avoid putting yourselves in situations which make you feel scared or sad : can be associated with PTSD
+When you were on the highway you felt stranded, numb, and couldn't think straight: Can be related to PTSD which causes an aggravation of the feelings you felt through the difficult events you experienced; or depression/anxiety which also limit a persons actions during testing times
+Crying for no good reason: PTSD or depression
+Trouble sleeping: PTSD or depression or anxiety
Of course individuals who have depression can also feel happy, but not often or easily enough. If at all depression is the cause for your symptoms, then it is mild and not very severe, but should be treated at this point and not later.
I concur with your neuropsychologist that you should seek help ma'am. You need to be started on sessions of counselling and anti-depressants at the earliest.
The situation on the highway would affect any person with PTSD, anxiety or depression the way it affected you. Although, a mentally/psychologically normal individual would have better problem solving skills. With all due respect, this is not your fault. But if you choose not the help yourself, then it may be. I only wish for your complete recovery, and think that you have faced enough in your life. Please approach a doctor for help ma'am, it is my sincere request to you.
Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Let me point out a few aspects of your query with a possible diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I am really sorry to hear about all your life experiences and really wish there were some way I could help you forget it all and live a happy and content life ahead.
As for your presentation, let me comment on a few things that should help you better understand what could be happening:
+Twitches on one side of your body when you are stressed or exhausted: can be associated with depression or anxiety ; or a vitamin B12 deficiency
+Brain making you want to fall asleep: symptom of depression
+Avoid putting yourselves in situations which make you feel scared or sad : can be associated with PTSD
+When you were on the highway you felt stranded, numb, and couldn't think straight: Can be related to PTSD which causes an aggravation of the feelings you felt through the difficult events you experienced; or depression/anxiety which also limit a persons actions during testing times
+Crying for no good reason: PTSD or depression
+Trouble sleeping: PTSD or depression or anxiety
Of course individuals who have depression can also feel happy, but not often or easily enough. If at all depression is the cause for your symptoms, then it is mild and not very severe, but should be treated at this point and not later.
I concur with your neuropsychologist that you should seek help ma'am. You need to be started on sessions of counselling and anti-depressants at the earliest.
The situation on the highway would affect any person with PTSD, anxiety or depression the way it affected you. Although, a mentally/psychologically normal individual would have better problem solving skills. With all due respect, this is not your fault. But if you choose not the help yourself, then it may be. I only wish for your complete recovery, and think that you have faced enough in your life. Please approach a doctor for help ma'am, it is my sincere request to you.
Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer.
I did go see a physciatrist today who told me because of my brain tumors, and having a bad reaction to lyrica before, that my brain is too sensitive to any medication so I am going for talk therapy counseling instead, and finding some workbooks on cognitive brain therapy for anxiety/PTSD. He also recommended a website called Anxiety No More for a natural anxiety and panic cure. He said it should help with the disturbing thoughts I have that are covered in that subject.
He thinks that I have more anxiety disorder than just PTSD, so he didn't want me to limit myself to just PTSD help and go for a more general counselor which covers all anxieties. He doesn't think I appear to be depressed that bad either. And that because of my memory problems, paying huge amounts of money to a PTSD coach would not be worth it. Im looking forward to finally getting some kind of answers as to how to make myself better.
The ticks on the left side of my body might have to do with the location of the brain tumor on top of my head is what the neurologist said. Im hoping to get a sleep deprived test to see if that's whats causing it. If not, I guess you could be right and Ill ask if I need more B12.
Thank you again I appreciate the insight into my situation.
I did go see a physciatrist today who told me because of my brain tumors, and having a bad reaction to lyrica before, that my brain is too sensitive to any medication so I am going for talk therapy counseling instead, and finding some workbooks on cognitive brain therapy for anxiety/PTSD. He also recommended a website called Anxiety No More for a natural anxiety and panic cure. He said it should help with the disturbing thoughts I have that are covered in that subject.
He thinks that I have more anxiety disorder than just PTSD, so he didn't want me to limit myself to just PTSD help and go for a more general counselor which covers all anxieties. He doesn't think I appear to be depressed that bad either. And that because of my memory problems, paying huge amounts of money to a PTSD coach would not be worth it. Im looking forward to finally getting some kind of answers as to how to make myself better.
The ticks on the left side of my body might have to do with the location of the brain tumor on top of my head is what the neurologist said. Im hoping to get a sleep deprived test to see if that's whats causing it. If not, I guess you could be right and Ill ask if I need more B12.
Thank you again I appreciate the insight into my situation.
Brief Answer:
I concur with your doctor and feel confident about your future
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
As I put forward to you in my last response, I too concur with your doctor that there is a mix of conditions and causes for your presentation. There is some amount of anxiety involved, some influence from PTSD, a mild-moderate amount of depression, and some contribution from the brain tumor and vitamin deficiency.
Honestly speaking, I am really happy that we have a few notions on our plate and are exploring them which should provide us with enough to help you come out of this and live a physically and mentally healthier life.
Please do not thank me, I shall truly feel elated when you write to me telling me how happy and energetic and full of life you are and feel.
Best wishes ma'am.
I concur with your doctor and feel confident about your future
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
As I put forward to you in my last response, I too concur with your doctor that there is a mix of conditions and causes for your presentation. There is some amount of anxiety involved, some influence from PTSD, a mild-moderate amount of depression, and some contribution from the brain tumor and vitamin deficiency.
Honestly speaking, I am really happy that we have a few notions on our plate and are exploring them which should provide us with enough to help you come out of this and live a physically and mentally healthier life.
Please do not thank me, I shall truly feel elated when you write to me telling me how happy and energetic and full of life you are and feel.
Best wishes ma'am.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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