Can my symptoms be emotional?

[friedzucchini]

Hello. I am a 34 year old male that fell victim to a criminal IV drugging assault/battery last year. I was forced to experience the effects of very powerful drugs of which I remember partly, remembering mostly being drugged repeatedly, and effects later as they wore off I then became aware again.

But did they wear off? My heart had a rapid beat that lasted weeks, told that was from the drugs. It went away. Confusion, distracted, problems doing things, forgetting things, always being mentally tired, things are a mess in my home. When I think about what happened to me (every day, dream about it every night) it emotionally destroys me.

I did was go to the police to report it. But they have done nothing about it so far just pushed away in paper work. I on it all the time pushing for my case to move forward.

But I'm not here to discuss the police. Are these symptoms part of being forced in to drugs? Do other people have these problems too? Every time I have problems functioning mentally I am reminded that I was drugged and thinking I am functioning badly because it was the drugs caused brain damage if I stopped breathing or heart was beating too fast when drugged. But I heard about PTSD and wondering if this is causing my problems and remembering the attack just keeps it going?

I'm forgetting things, sometimes confused, can't perform my job, can't work. everything stopped after I was drugged. The first 6 months I was a disaster but nothing has improved mentally since then now another 6 months later. I've had MRIs for brain damage/stroke and they were fine. Other brain scans, normal. I don't know just looking at other options if this is part of the experience or effects of the drugs.

I'm told by medical professionals this would be very rare for effects to last more than 6 months. Could this be PTSD? My whole outlook on the world changed. I lost interest in most of the things I used to do or find them mentally too difficult now.

Can anyone share with me if they have problems like this after an attack or sorts? Thank you for your kind help.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Yeah this sounds like you triggered PTSD or at least some mental illness especially with how you said it keeps coming back to haunt you and your life sort of came to a halt.  Perhaps you should take to a psychiatrist?

[ncamnesia]

I am not a doctor, but it does sound like you have PTSD.  People don't realize how a traumatic experience like yours can definitely result in PTSD.  There may be small incidents that happen in your life such as sounds that might trigger a remembrance of your forced drug experience.  Try visiting a psychiatrist or a psychologist because a regular doctor probably won't pick up the PTSD symptoms.  I have experienced PTSD myself because I am a 9-11 survivor.  However, my doctors have never called it PTSD.  My PTSD has resulted in some amnesia.  So it is important that you try to get treated for the PTSD.

[margypops]

I am sorry this happened to you, only an expert in the field can ascertain if you do have PTSD certainly after a Trauma the symptoms you describe occur,it could be that you are allowing your thoughts to dwell on it, you are revisiting the Trauma, it is a fact our thoughts make us feel bad,I would say you do have some anxiety and it would be a good idea to visit a Doctor/expert for further advise,some counselling can be a great benefit ,,good luck