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Dealing with Misunderstanding of Mental Illness

Cece7

682d

How do you deal with people who don’t get your mental illness and always make you explain why you can’t do certain things? I had this the other day where someone asked why I won’t go on airplanes (I’ve been terrified of this concept my whole life so unrelated to ptsd) or why I won’t drive on certain roads (been struggling to drive out due to ptsd). I’m just so tired of having to explain myself in detail and justify why I’m struggling to do things that come easily to others. Then they try to come up with arguments back to reason with me like that’s going to help. It’s like if they don’t get it then my reason is apparently invalid or something. Why doesn’t my family just go research ptsd and triggers instead of making me feel anxious and stressed discussing it? Makes me so annoyed.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Chronic Generalized pain

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    • Chrissy41

      682d

      I actually understand you especially the driving part because I start freaking out when either a semi passes me or I have to pass one. I'll start hyperventilate and grip the steering wheel really hard. It's something from my childhood.

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    • Ladydi519

      681d

      I also have the fear of flying, driving especially over bridges, and water (lakes, deep pools etc

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    • Batgirl777

      682d

      I understand that pain way too easy. I know it's apart of life to clean but due to my ex step mother always putting me down if I missed one spot. It makes it hard for me to clean now

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    • Porcelain

      682d

      Sometimes in extreme situations where people are being unreasonable, I literally say, "Well I'm a pussy, that's why." It takes the proper smile off of their face. Some people just don't understand and they won't, but it makes them pause at least. I have trouble driving certain places too so I know exactly what you mean when people start pestering me about why I don't drive certain places or for several hours somewhere.

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    • Chrissy41

      682d

      I actually understand you especially the driving part because I start freaking out when either a semi passes me or I have to pass one. I'll start hyperventilate and grip the steering wheel really hard. It's something from my childhood.

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      • Cece7

        682d

        @Chrissy41 I feel anxiety with that situation as well. I got my license later than everyone because it was just too much for me. Hopefully we heal from all of this soon it is very stressful to cope with.

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        • Chrissy41

          682d

          @Cece7 I'm not real sure mine will really ever go away. The reason why I am like that is because when I was only 11 years old my mom went to work and never came back because she was in a head on collision with a 18 wheeler and was pronounced DOA. It really fucked up my head

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    • KatiMae

      682d

      I get that all the time as well. You can't just "calm down" or stop being so "dramatic" we can't control what our brain thinks is dangerous or terrifying

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      • Ladydi519

        681d

        @KatiMae I get the same thing and it's heartbreaking

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      • Cece7

        682d

        @KatiMae exactly. And they don’t get that my panic attacks due to triggers aren’t just feeling a standard anxious feeling. It’s dissociating and feeling like my body is completely out of control and unreal with my heart rate up in the 150s and getting all those other symptoms and it’s totally horrible when in a public space and can ruin so much progress if I just pushed myself too hard. But they always expect me to just get over it and continue to heal somehow that way.

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        • Ladydi519

          681d

          @Cece7 I wish they would educate themselves just a little bit and understand that we can't "just get over it".

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