r/ptsd 7h ago

Looking for information and/or support Advice

I'm not sure how best to start this. I'm just trying to process some feelings and after seeing some other threads and their responses, I feel comfortable enough to ask for insight.

To this day I haven't been diagnosed with PTSD, to my knowledge all I have is crazy anxiety. After speaking to a friend, they suggested I reach out to others with the condition to try and see if somethings line up.

Recently I've made an appointment with my doctor to do a colonoscopy to just check up on stuff. I won't bore you with the history, but I've had failed tests happen before due to nerves. It's a real 50/50 with me. I freeze up and disassociate to the point where I can't reply or respond to anyone. I've been told that I react in a panic when the nurses or my doctor attempt to proceed.

---------TW just in case----------

I'm not sure what medical genius decided to have patients go through with this while conscious, but when I was little my appendix was close to rupture. So a drainage pouch was needed. I remember that event too clearly. I remember laying in the bed afterwards, trembling and just being quiet. My mom said she tried talking with me, but I honestly can't remember that. At some point after a week I had it removed the same way and I reacted the same way. Only in that one the stress was so great, I passed out.

I've been to a therapist and a psychiatrist and neither one have told me PTSD. More so panic attacks. I've even had medication for managing my anxiety but I'm just not sure. Anytime my doctor mentions another test I feel sick and I'm back in that moment. I feel like curling into a ball and hiding away. I hate feeling out of control. None of this is helped by the fact that while my mom believes me, my dad does not.

Even if it's not PTSD, I am open to any suggestions or advice in how to maybe calm myself better before episodes like it happen. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

1 Upvotes

1 comment sorted by

u/AutoModerator 7h ago

r/ptsd has generated this automated response that is appended to every post

Welcome to r/ptsd! We are a supportive & respectful community. If you realise that your post is in conflict with our rules (and is in risk of being removed), you are welcome to edit your post. You do not have to delete it.

As a reminder: never post or share personal contact information. Traumatized people are often distracted, desperate for a personal connection, so may be more vulnerable to lurking or past abusers, trolls, phishing, or other scams. Your safety always comes first! If you are offering help, you may also end up doing more damage by offering to support somebody privately. Reddit explains why: Do NOT exchange DMs or personal info with anyone you don't know!

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact your GP/doctor, go to A&E/hospital, or call your emergency services number. Reddit list: US and global, multilingual suicide and support hotlines. Suicide is not a forbidden word, but please do not include depictions or methods of suicide in your post.

And as a friendly reminder, PTSD is an equal opportunity disorder. PTSD does not discriminate. And neither do we. Gatekeeping is not allowed here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.