“Opening up” to a stranger is, at best, difficult to do.

Confiding your “war zone” fears with a non-veteran can be worse, unless PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) serves as a bond between a brother and a sister.

That’s how I have come to view my own shortcomings: through the eyes and experiences of trauma “survivors” who faced similar life-altering devastations, but who are now finally able to talk about it for the benefit of all . . .

You’ll see by these comments below that there is no discrimination between man and woman when it comes to PTSD. It is an equal opportunity offender.

Finally! by onesurvivor

 I said:

Wow, 

How a therapist could hurt someone is beyond my way of thinking.

Don’t people go into that profession to actually “help” other people?

I don’t know; sometimes people with PTSD can learn more from others with the same problems. Not so much that misery likes company, but you’re able  find out that your own behavior isn’t so out of whack. The  trauma is forcing so many others like us  to seek help. Both men and women . . .  for a lot of different reasons. 

Reading about acts of healing and how to help others can, in itself, help us. But only if we face up to our condition.

I keep trying every day, having some little successes here and there, knowing I’ll probably have this devil called PTSD with me for the duration of my tour here on Planet Earth. 

Good luck,

Michael J 

* * * * * * * * 

new comment on the post ‘Finally!’.   

Author: onesurvivor

Comment:

Thanks for responding, Michael.   

“Wow” is right! I suspect this therapist is meeting a need of her own. Perhaps it is a need to be important and/or to feel needed and/or to control others.

Who knows? I just know that someone should not be a therapist if they have not dealt with their own stuff sufficiently. Not that therapists have to have it completely together…no one does. But they should have it together enough that they are not seeking to meet their needs through their clients.

Sadly, she is becoming more and more known across the internet. People are not seeing the side of her that I, and others, have seen.

Thankfully, I was never a direct client of hers. I was just a member on her “therapeutic” forum.

I have learned a lot and receive a lot of support from fellow survivors. There is definitely a benefit in that…as you have pointed out.

I, too, wonder about having PTSD for the rest of my life. I have found that it does actually get better…if things like this don’t happen to get it all going again!

(Thought this larger print would help people whose vision is as bad as mine. I hate “fine print.” Glad I don’t have to read it any more!)