PTSD is not a mental illness

I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to severe childhood abuse when I was 22 years old. Six months earlier, I had told the very first person about my childhood abuse. I have attended counseling off and on since that time. Counseling has been very beneficial and I even had the opportunity, last Spring, to attend an exceptional, 2-week long, trauma recovery program in Dallas, at the Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma. My diagnosis, from Dr. Colin A. Ross, himself, is PTSD due to severe childhood abuse. Dr. Ross is an internationally renowned clinician, researcher, author and lecturer in the field of dissociation and trauma-related disorders.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is not a mental illness. It is dealing with the aftereffects of trauma. My father posted a comment on a blog recently, that said

Tom Bishop said...
It has always amazed me how people will believe statements from someone they have never met. None of the things about sex or violence on Laura's blog ever happened. I still love my daughter as much as any of my children and forgive her for the things she has said and written. Our family has tried for the past several years and will continue to try and get Laura help, as much as she will let us. But as much as it hurts me to say this, she is mentally ill and has been for several years. As I'm sure some of you know, mental illness is a terrible time in anyone's life.
This will be my only comment on a family matter.
Tom Bishop

October 21, 2009 2:54 AM
(copied at pasted directly off of the blog posting)


http://bostonlegalsass.blogspot.com/search?q=shit+has+hit+the+fan


This statement was merely used as an attempt to discredit me as a valid witness/victim and was also as a threat to shut my mouth. My father recently told me on the phone that, if I didn't stop "all this nonsense", that I would destroy my family and lose my nurse practitioner license, in the process. If I continued to post the truth, he will convince everyone that I am crazy and a liar. He would twist the very damage he caused with yet another set of lies and abuses. I do have PTSD due to severe childhood abuse, but I am not mentally ill or a "nut job" (quoting another posting by my father). I am telling the truth. My intent is not to harm, but to prevent harm.