6 Misconceptions of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) | Mental Health 101 | Kati Morton

Hey everybody today we are going to address 6 misconceptions about post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. I have been doing my best to talk more about PTSD and the effects of it because my new book Traumatized is available for preorder now and it comes out Sept 7th! It’s my hope that by talking more about trauma, we reduce the stigma associated with it, and those struggling will more quickly reach out for professional help. Because it can and will get better! Now I’m touching on these misconceptions top-level, but to understand this deeper and really find solutions, I strongly recommend doing your own research on this topic. I break trauma down a lot deeper in my new book. Okay, now let’s jump into those misconceptions.

Mental Health 101 is a new series where I talk through the specifics of mental health subject matters, everything from dissociation, social media addiction, social anxiety, depression and more. In each of these episodes, I will clearly break down questions like “What is PTSD?” or “Signs of addiction?” and more. Each video will be set up in a way that allows you to support your loved ones, or help identify subject matter symptoms, and also misconceptions surrounding mental health disorders. Stay tuned for new content so you can be the best version of self, and the best friend and family member to your loved ones.

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I'm Kati Morton, a licensed therapist making Mental Health videos!
#katimorton #PTSD #therapy

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If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.

[jellicle_kitten]

6.23
"We aren't weak. We just had some shitty things happen to us. It overwhelmed our nervous system and we need some support to work through it". Ooops I literally cried when I heard this.

[Mattytube]

I like what Dr. Gabor Matè says about trauma. It’s not what happened to you but how you perceive what happened to you. The experience was “traumatic” and now you have trauma in you.

[jacquelineh]

“So I would actually argue that those with ptsd are actually extremely strong” holy
Shit Katie I needed to hear that. I felt weak having PTSD when my peers didn’t. Gotta remember that what happened to me SUCKED.

[appalachiangirluk]

I was diagnosed with CPTSD a few years ago.
It came from sustained emotional and physical abuse as a child.

I don't get how people can't understand that sustained abuse, as in for years (for me it was for around 15 years) in your HOME that you're too young to escape is not similar to a torture scenario??

[SmoliverTwist]

I lost my Mum at 6 and I didn’t realise I was suffering from PTSD from that event until my early twenties. I couldn’t believe it at first. My therapist explained how I probably didn’t cope or fully understand with the situation at the time.
Explaining it now to people that I’ve gone through PTSD, I do get some odd looks and I do get some who even doubt that I’m telling the truth. They question the severity of the trauma, and to them I say that people cope with different things in their own ways.

[RobertWGreaves]

Excellent. One of my older sisters decided when she was 11 that she had to get out of our house as soon as possible because these parents are incompetent. I on the other hand took it all to heart and thought there was something wrong with me. She blossomed at 18 when she left home, I was still quite dysfunctional until I reached about 30.

[handkmommy]

I can’t reiterate enough how important it is to get sober when doing trauma work. Most of us with PTSD turn to drugs and alcohol to “quiet” the brain. My brain is kinda like a rollercoaster and alcohol made the tension in my body calmer. I knew I was an alcoholic and was powerless to help myself and needed support. I went to Inpatient detox and rehab. When I got home the trauma work I did started to actually work. I still have PTSD but I learned methods of coping that weren’t destructive. I went from leaving the house once a week to forcing myself to go out every day, to going back to work full time. I’d say the hardest thing to treat has been the sleep disturbances aka nightmares. With medication and lots of sleep training it’s so much more manageable. I still get them sometimes but I’m no longer afraid to go to sleep. It is hard to deal with but we are the voices for those that don’t know what to do. If you are dealing with PTSD symptoms, reach out to other survivors. You will find comfort in knowing that it’s not just a “YOU” thing. It’s a PTSD thing.

[crystalherbert]

Thanks Kati! As someone newly diagnosed with CPTSD, I really needed to hear this. Hope you are loving TX with your first hurricane scare. Stay strong. 💜

[stevenandreasen]

I have had ptsd for years and often hear people claim that they have it. They mistake anxiety attacks or hightened levels of stress for what they think is a PTSD reaaction. It makes things easier when they are able to go to a psychologist and get properly examined so that they have a better understanding of why they are experiencing those symptoms.

[lillianwilliamson]

I have non combat related PTSD from my military service. Unfortunately the VA does not like to believe that females who were not in combat can have PTSD. I'm glad your doing this video because it seems people really do have many misconception and stereotypes about who gets PTSD.

[danielaravenous]

Finally a psychologist giving the required importance to this topic! Thanks Kati 💜

[mrico]

This video resonates with me. I have struggled to balance out myself all my life. I would always shut down and isolate myself until recently my therapist has been helping me. Talking to close friends or family will help you. Develop coping mechanisms that will help you.

[cassiemadden]

Hi Katie, my sister used to tell me as an insult that I have “a lack of resilience” because of my mental health disorders (ptsd, depression etc) . She is not a health professional of any kind. And her words were so hurtful. I’d love to hear what you have to say about how to handle people that don’t understand mental health issues without crossing any boundaries I’ve put in place.
😊😊❤️ love your videos by the way!
Can’t wait to read your new book! 😍

[ntet]

I was bullied for more than a decade in school (from 1st grade to 12th grade) and I still consider myself weak. My father had a very huge real trauma when he was 16 and he had no severe consequences. I never talked to my parents about the things I experienced in school because I was so ashamed I covered my bruises if they occasionally hurt me, I learned to not cry when anyone sees me. I conditioned myself to keep things inside and showing a well-curated image of myself.

So I reached out for help over a decade when I felt my periodic but always increasing isolation despite I am surrounded by loving people and my more and more mood swings which were harder and harder to regulate. It was very hard to open up to my therapist about my experiences in school, he was the first I've ever talked about it, and about my destructive behavior after it at the university. I was also ashamed that after years of conditioning myself to control and repress my emotions, to not show myself even weaker than I already was, when I was free of my bullying situation I lost control. I also remember when at a party during my freshman year from a guy I dated that time how they bullied another boy in high school. I remember as they laughed. I remember I didn't feel anything. No empathy or sorrow, just emptiness. I even struggle today to feel empathy for the victims of bullying.

It was months, even half a year when my therapist used the word trauma to my experiences. I was triggered and yelled at him, this was not a trauma. I knew what trauma was. He calmly put down his notebook and look at me. "How would you call if you are exposed to psychological and physical harm and you cannot escape the situation?" He said even a mild car crash can be felt as trauma. He said I have C-PTSD and it is nothing to be ashamed of it. I couldn't believe him when he said he thought I am very strong and resilient that I could build up a successful life.

Sorry for the long comment, but I learn how to open up about things that happened with me, and feel my emotions and not try to repress them.

[pug_frost]

I had a very close friend walk out of my life recently bc I'm struggling with my PTSD, and it's been difficult to get help during Covid. So, it's taking me a while to get it handled. They made it clear that my PTSD was too much for them to handle, I understood that and started keeping to myself more. I was under the impression that I needed to get my PTSD manageable until they were ready to spend time together again. Meanwhile, I'd still ask how they're doing and wish them well when I'd check in. Randomly they replied to one of these check-in messages with an explanation that they couldn't wait around for me, and we couldn't be friends anymore. I understand that friendship's end, but this was so hurtful. Not only could my closest, longest friend not be there for me during this very difficult time, but they couldn't even bother to wait around for me to get better. I know this person probably felt I was toxic bc of my behavior while struggling with PTSD and MDD in the middle of a lockdown. So, my thoughts are...when can we rely on our friends and loved ones? If it's toxic to go to them in your time of need. I know people in these situations can be selfish bc we're dealing with a lot of mental health issues. I know a lot of people stopped telling me about their own life bc they didn't think I could handle it. So, I ended up losing a lot of close people in my life simply bc they assumed I couldn't handle talking to them about their issues. I know this is the case bc when I'd ask about them, they'd be short and drop it. Almost everyone I know closely has done that to me. I really needed these people as support, but they didn't want to be supportive and that's fine. But when is it not toxic to ask for support from our friends and family? It got to the point I was being told by this person that they just assumed I'd end my own life and they've already made peace with that. They'd rather me kill myself than be there for me. I'm really scared to talk to people now. I don't want to be toxic by talking about how I'm feeling. I don't want to get close enough to rely on someone just so they can walk away when I need them most. I'm really struggling with this. What do we do when people we've known most/all our lives find our mental illness toxic and can't be bothered to stick around until we get it manageable? I almost feel like this situation made my mental health a lot worse. I’m not blaming this person of course, but it was hard having to lose my closest friend and most of my family due to what happened. It would have been easier on my mental health had these people just avoided me rather than in forming me they’re done waiting for me to get better.

[allieyates]

Can PTSD last the rest of your life? When I was 21 I lost my boyfriend of 5 years in a freak accident the day after he bought an engagement ring. There were LOTS of traumatic things surrounding that one giant trauma (his death). I started therapy about a month later when I went back to school to begin senior year of undergrad. It helped a lot but July this year made 10 years since his death and the flashbacks to that day were strong and I've been back to a weird headspace for a few months.

[yopyop]

I'm so happy you mentioned psylocybin! The future of mental healthcare is so exciting with these "new" tools!

[gypsyfirestorm]

I've suffered from ptsd since 1987. In 1989 I watched my boyfriend shoot himself in the head. Immediately after, I was put into Straight Inc. Received a lovely cptsd diagnosis after that. There's more, like the love of my life dying in a car accident, but I'd just be rambling at this point. My issue is with Therapy is the cost. I just can't do it. It's been a rough road, but at least I'm still here. <3

[mrico]

Thank you for creating this video! You truly inspire me to be a better person. I've struggled with PTSD since I was a little kids. I was verbally, mentally & physically abused. I'm 23 now, and still struggle everyday. I've been seeing a therapist that's been helping me so much. The day to day can be a struggle, but developing coping mechanisms will help alot and talking to your friends and family.

[vanessasouthern]

You are simply one of the best people on YouTube. Such passion and dedication. Thank you for your videos.