Staying in tonight and catching up on lots of writing. A few days ago I talked to a crisis center supervisor about my trauma history. She's based in Hawaii, and I've always thought about possibly moving there. Right now, it's not a good idea because disability doesn't cover all the costs. Then, I talked to a oncological social worker about cancer, stress and how it could make you more susceptible to lots of illnesses.
First, labels. Is PTSD a mental illness? The DMSV (the guidebook for doctors worldwide regarding illnesses) might say so. I say it's a health problem. I have lots of health problems that I'm trying to deal with as best I can:
alcoholism
complex dissociative disorder w/psychosis symptoms
cardiomyopathy
arrhythmia
cirrhosis of the liver
and more
Now, what are YOUR problems?
Can ultra severe long term stress cause lots of illnesses? I think it can. In the past, at times the stress from untreated PTSD was so bad I blacked out. My system literally shorted out. Then, you wake up and have no idea where you are.
It took almost 30 years before my first therapist actually listened to me and helped me for a short period of time. Fortunately, I don't have other diseases like MS, cancer, fibromyalgia and others. But the concern is there.
If you don't deal with the underlying pain in a non-threatening way, what good is taking meds to mask it? If you have to take something, that's one thing. But if not, I'd rather use a holistic approach.
Your thoughts on this. Feel free to post.
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As far as I'm aware it can result in all kinds of horrible stuff, physically.
The trouble is it's not taken seriously as a long-term risk in the way that things like diet are; I don't see many equivalents, for the issue of stress, to those media/Government articles saying "spending your 20s eating junk food sets you up for problems later". If there is any reaching towards publicising the effects of it it's always about what the individual should do rather than addressing the systemic causes. In my experience, anyway. So I'd say it's a case of just doing as much as one can about it within ones limits. Anyone doing that is doing well, in my opinion.
I'm interested to hear you describe PTSD as "health problem" primarily. Mine has always affected me as much physically as mentally, which is not something I've found medical professionals have been very willing to talk about. I think of it as being as much physical as mental, if indeed the dichotomy is helpful.
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