Which is more likely to cause PTSD?

Question

over two years ago....over the span of 2 years, i was in an abusive relationship(which ended 2 and a half years ago) and i found my father dead at a traffic accident...i was 17 at the time...i'm now 19 and suffer frim bi-polar disorder and PTSD and other anxiety disorders and panic disorders...i was talking with my phyciatrist about my dad and then it hit me all of a sudden-no pun intended- that i was in an abusive relationship...and no it never leaves my mind but i never connected it with anything that i suffered from... i know that's weird but which is more likely to cause ptsd?

Answer 1

Honey, both are really rough on a psyche, it doesn't matter which is worse, they both have contributed. The main thing is to go to counseling, work on your coping skills (your counselor should be helping you with that) and take care of yourself.

In time, the memories fade a bit, you learn to protect yourself from another bad relationship (that takes work, read a great book by Evans "The Verbally Abusive Relationship") and you will remember the good times with your dad.

Take care, you can overcome this. Do you have a relationship with God? Prayer helps a great deal. I will pray for you.

Answer 2

Dissociation means detaching from reality. Everything appearing to be in a fog or everything loosing all depth and appearing flat as if on a movie screen are two examples. What you described sounds more like apathy. Apathy is more closely associated to depression than PTSD.

Answer 3

Both of these events could cause PTSD. I believe the combination of both of these events close together and at such a young age has had a significant impact and it would be hard to say which in your case was "more likely" to cause PTSD, as it was probably both. Talk it over with your mental health provider he/she could probably help you shed some light on things for you. Best of luck to you.