Question:
Matilds writes a bunch of things, to which I respond: (I wrote): Oh, come off it. Surrendering a child in NO WAY compares to rape or domestic violence. No way whatsoever. (Matilda wrote): It compares in many, many ways. I mentioned a few of them. Well, no, actually, you didn’t as far as I can tell. I will requote my initial statement and you can show us whether you are or are not able to address it. "We are like women who have been at the receiving end of violence against women in the past — domestic violence and rape. If it happened, it was her fault, she wanted it, she deserved it. We have an existing stereotype of her kind, thank you, we’ve got some things riding on it, and we do not want them disturbed by stories that do not fit our stereotype."
As to stereotypes, I won’t argue or disagree about the stereotypes bparents have encountered. They’re real and painful. But I disagree that the traumas women who have surrendered children experience are the same as the experiences of women who have been victimized by rape or abuse. They simply aren’t the same, and I base that on 1) my own training and experiences 2) my interviews with plenty of women who have been raped or abused 3) my discussions with bmothers I know (I know several personally) and 4) my reading of the appropriate medical and psychiatric literature. Matilda then questions my training. As to that, I’m a licensed, board-certified physician. I have had training and experience in the treatment of spousal abuse and rape as part of my medical school and residency experiences. I’m qualified to see and help patients who have experienced these traumas as part of my practice in internal medicine. I also refer such patients as necessary for psychiatric evaluation and counseling. To be able to refer appropriately, you have to be able to recognize. It’s strange, Matilda, that you apparently hold yourself up as a licensing or certification board of some kind. It’s also funny — you demand that I not discuss PTSS since I’m not a psychiatrist, whilst you yourself proceed to use PTSS in a very sweeping, general way. What are YOUR qualifications, Matilda? steve
Response:
I think most birthmothers suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome. We are like women who have been at the receiving end of violence against women in the past — domestic violence and rape.
Oh, come off it. Surrendering a child in NO WAY compares to rape or domestic violence. No way whatsoever.
It compares in many, many ways. I mentioned a few of them. I notice you failed to quote the comparisons I mentioned, and you failed to address them. Perhaps you could explain to us why you feel entitled to make sweeping generalizations about the experience of other members of the triad without justification or substantiation. Your behavior is offensive and insensitive. I will requote my initial statement and you can show us whether you are or are not able to address it. "We are like women who have been at the receiving end of violence against women in the past — domestic violence and rape. If it happened, it was her fault, she wanted it, she deserved it. We have an existing stereotype of her kind, thank you, we’ve got some things riding on it, and we do not want them disturbed by stories that do not fit our stereotype." And post-traumatic stress syndrome is a medical diagnosis, not a catch- all of convenience for people looking to explain bad feelings or an inability to cope with a situation.
Yes, post traumatic stress syndrome (ptss) is a medical diagnosis, and unless you are a licensed psychiatrist or a therapist you are not qualified to make or withold a diagnosis. The symptoms of ptss are listed below: If you reply to this message, your message WILL be *automatically* anonymized and you are allocated an anon id. Read the help file to prevent this.
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