PTSD Super Powers - Reading People & Assessing Risk

[onebravegirl]

I have a confession. PTSD has given me super powers. I'm not kidding.
I can read people on a dime. I can predict any movie out there.(They are all kinda predictable aren't they?) But seriously, I think that having grown up with Trauma I learned very early on to Figure people out. What there motives are, if they are sincere, if they are after something, or trying to manipulate or lie. I am fascinated with Psychology, body language etc. I learned early on that if I could figure a person out quickly I would be safer, and to this day I am very very rarely wrong. Any one else relate?
O

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

I have a "creepy meter". I can instantly tell you if a man is "creepy". When my husband and I first met - he would laugh at me and tell me I was just being judgemental - until gradually he started seeing that every guy I told him made me uncomfortable from the beginning - ended up showing their true colors and definately fell into that category (some were his friends). Now he listens to me instantly if I tell him I'm not comfortable with someone.

My T says skills like this that you develop - help us not be re-victimized and she considers it an asset.

I also grew up with trauma and have had the "meter" as long as I can remember.

 

[CafeAulait]

I call it intuition. After years of not giving it the credit it deserves, I have learned it is never wrong.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I call it *listening to your gut* and it's usually right on.....

 

[Grama-Herc]

I call it that little voice in my head. If I had listened to it more often I could have avoided a lot of the heartache in my life.

I think that some times we are so torn up inside with our traumas, we don't trust our own judgement.

 

[Healing Survivor]

Yeah. But I always second guess myself and talk myself out of my feelings.

 

[onebravegirl]

There is an excellent book called The Gift Of Fear, by Gavin DeBecker
It teaches readers to listen and trust their initial "Gut" feelings. It begins with an interview of a woman who was raped. She goes through the event and what led up to it in an effort to learn if there were things she could have done differently to have avoided the situation and also to be more aware of her surroundings in the future. Very insightful. The book also explains how human behavior is very predictable. It teaches you when to believe threats and even how to deal death threats or stalkers. Glad to hear that there are many us us with "Powers"!
O

 

[Nicky31]

O

You are spot on here. It's a well developed coping skill for sure and yes I have it too. It's not about judging but I'm incredible at spotting risk small or large and getting a sense of someones intention very early on.

I now pay a lot more attention to the alarm bells that ring in my head.

 

[tryintobreathe]

I'm with you here on this one! I am so aware of so many things I think most people aren't. It's almost like we have an extra sense.

Jen
Superwoman

 

[a3a2]

Yep, I too, have this super power. It also helps me to identify others who have been terribly victimized.

Incidentally, I also have supper power....I want to eat all the time :)

 

[This Ends Now]

This is a super power indeed! It is also a form of intellect that often goes overlooked in our society. Our trauma has forced to develop this part of our brain to protect us. If only I would listen to it more.

 

[helena]

I hope you don't mind me joining your thread, but this is a really interesting subject.

A close friend of mine went through a horrific illness and was also being badly bullied by a team of managers where she worked.

Following a long period of hospitalization when she came home she started to develop psychic ability.

At first, people thought the stress had driven her crazy but she is actually now working as a medium/clairvoyant.

Uncanny in light of what you have all just said.