I Didn't Fight or Fly - I Froze

Kin blog - Trauma blog. CSA Survivor. Abuse survivor. Endeavor fans can rot. 

[neopet-a-day]

I've been thinking a lot lately....

I think Pride Month overlapping with Men's Mental Health Month (and yes, the two can coexist) is appropriate. I think the message of not allowing the state to define manhood for you is one that can resonate with a lot of queer people, considering... Well, considering a lot of stuff that I don't feel like getting into because I'm feeling lightheaded and emotionally exhausted right now...

[apolladay]

Would you say you're more thin skinned or more thick skinned?

thin skinned

thick skinned

Voting ended onMar 6, 2024

No depends button sorry 😌

And in case the terms are unfamiliar to anyone..

[unwelcome-ozian]

[spiritualseeker777]

[onehalfscarred]

I need new stuffing.

(No real teddies were harmed in the making of this art.)

[cptsdraw]

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[onehalfscarred]

I can't escape the feeling that I was never meant to be loved

[aiku]

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi

[valentineodium]

[angelicsw33t]

[lostmf]

[rabbittongues]

[culture-of-heaven]

[starfishinthedistance]

I talk to many people who say things like "oh I have trauma but I don't have PTSD", but then when I talk to them a little more I realize that they most likely do, they just can't recognize it as such due to how lacking PTSD awareness is, even beyond the whole "it's not just a veteran's disorder" thing.

The main reason they think they don't have PTSD usually has to do with flashbacks and nightmares, either they have one but not the other or have neither. But here's the thing, those are only two symptoms out of the 23-odd recognized symptoms. Flashbacks and nightmares are two of the five symptoms under Criterion B (Intrusion), which you only need one of for a diagnosis. The other three symptoms are unwanted upsetting memories, emotional distress after being reminded of trauma and physical reactivity after being reminded of trauma (i.e. shaking, sweating, heart racing, feeling sick, nauseous or faint, etc). Therefore you can have both flashbacks and nightmares, one but not the other, or neither and still have PTSD.

In fact, a lot of the reasons people give me for why they don't think they have PTSD are literally a part of the diagnostic criteria.

"Oh, I can barely remember most parts of my trauma anyway." Criterion D (Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood) includes inability to recall key features of the trauma.

"Oh but I don't get upset about my trauma that often because I avoid thinking of it or being around things that remind me of it most of the time." Criterion C (Avoidance) includes avoiding trauma-related thoughts or feelings and avoiding trauma-related external reminders, and you literally cannot get diagnosed if you don't have at least one of those two symptoms.

"Oh I just have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, but I don't have nightmares." Criterion E (Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity) includes difficulting sleeping outside of nightmares.

"But I didn't have many/any trauma symptoms until a long time after the trauma happened." There's literally an entire specification for that.

Really it just shows how despite being one of the most well-known mental illnesses, people really don't know much about PTSD. If you have trauma, I ask you to at least look at the criteria before you decide you don't have PTSD. Hell, even if you don't have trauma, look at the criteria anyway because there are so many symptoms in there that just are not talked about.

PTSD awareness is not just about flashbacks and nightmares.

[onehalfscarred]

If only it had been this simple.

[myheartwillhealoneday]

[wingful]

a kafka quote that kept me awake at night