How do i know if i have PTSD?

[Ambience]

I had a pretty rough childhood? Could this have effected me?

I don't remember much of it, How can you tell>?

Thanks
Love Janey x

[nomorepanic]

You can usually get it officially diagnosed by a specialist but just cos you had a rough childhood does not mean you have PTSD.

Nicola

"Nearly all happiness comes into our lives through doors we don't even remember leaving open"

[Ambience]

Okay thankyou hun, was just curious about the symtoms.

Thanks again
Love Janey x

"There would be nothing to frighten you if you refused to be afraid." "Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it." Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." "Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared." "Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death" "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear."

[Antipodes]

Hi Ambience,

For me the biggest tell-tales were hyper-vigilence, exaggerated startle and difficulty with memory and concentration. There is plenty of info on the internet and the search keywords would be DSM-IV (diagnostic statistical manual, 4th edition). Most important is to have it diagnosed by soemone competent and experienced with PTSD (like a psychologist) and even better perhaps, confirmed by a psychiatrist.

There are several broadly similar anxiety disorders so it is unwise to self-diagnose. Importance of competent, experienced psychologist can't be stressed enough. The first one I saw missed it competely and he has since been de-registered (not because of me). It was just my bad luck and I rue the times I saw him.

Hope this helps. And I hope your situation is settled quickly and effectively - it is possible.

Antipodes