do other people know you have ptsd before you even tell them?

[hope4us]

I have complex ptsd. I've had 2 or 3 people tell me that i had it, before i told them that i had it. they could tell just by the way i acted and the things i said i guess. I feel like other people know i have it but just haven't said anything. can people usually see it in someone when a person has it? or do i just have an extreme case of it which makes it obvious to people?

 

[somerandomguy]

I've had 2 or 3 people tell me that i had it, before i told them that i had it.

I sincerely doubt they were telling the truth. Quite some nerve of them to make assumptions about you in any case.

No, I don't think people can tell someone has PTSD. There are many other conditions that have the same outward manifestations and symptoms that PTSD might also have. And not everyone with PTSD has any outward signs of PTSD whatsoever. So I call bullshit.

 

[Sideways]

Sometimes people's can absolutely tell that I've got something going on mental health wise.

But if someone suggests you have ptsd specifically and that is uncomfortable for you? Maybe review your boundaries with that person, and how much you share about yourself.

Context is also often important. Sometimes a person might decide to confront someone they care about about that person's mental health. In some situations it is a reflection of their concern for you.

 

[Mee]

Nah. Sometimes I act odd. But could be anything.


Here is the thing- people are mainly interested in themselves I think. People saying that maybe we’re trying to sell you on their ‘empathy’ or ‘compassion’. It’s inappropriate and if they were empathetic they would have kept their views to themselves as it’s not made you feel more secure!

I had a major and very public breakdown at the beginning of my ptsd and people’s reactions varied from ‘she was fake nice before’ to ‘she needs help’ in an unkind way through to - ‘this is not normal for you, how can I help? What’s going on?’

Only the latter had any idea ... which is that something wasn’t right for me . For people that did not know me before or only saw the breakdown it could have been anything from the reaction it was to any other health disorder to just someone behaving badly.

We don’t know what’s going on in other people’s minds. They don’t know ours either.

I hope you don’t feel too ‘judged’

 

[siniang]

It's hard to say whether they were just being nosy/making assumption or were legit concerned.

Many years ago I had a friend I started getting really worried about when she noticeably started loosing weight. So much so that even one of our teachers approach another friend and me and asked us about her and if we knew something and whether he (the teacher) should be concerned/approach that friend.

At that point I had previous experience with eating disorders and become more sensitive to the topic and associated signs.

Similarly, I currently have a friend who's withdrawing herself. She's obviously changed her behavior and while she doesn't want to talk about it and at this point denies help, I see very obvious red flags from previous encounters with friends with depression as well as my own mental health struggles.

Someone can just make an educated guess. But people who have had some previous experience with specific mental health conditions in one way or another, either through friends/family or personally, are usually fine-tuned and very good at picking up even sutble signs.

Some persons are just overinterpeting normal odd behaviors. And others are really sensitive at picking up even subtle signs and changes in a persons behavior, particularly if you've known said person for a long time. Now add in personal experience and/or previous encounters with specific disorders and I actually wouldn't be surprised if their assessment is spot on without you actually having shared really much.

 

[Chris-duck]

I tend to notice signs of mental illness in people before they say. I wouldn't pin a definite diagnosis on someone most of the time (even if I play diagnostics in my head). But if someone later tells me about their diagnosis I'm rarely surprised. But also wouldn't mention if I'd worked it out, cos it'd make people paranoid they're outed.

For me, I'm relatively open about MH stuff, people can easily tell I've had issues at some point cos of faded SH scars on my forearms from early teens. People don't tend to guess PTSD for me though, I'm pretty happy for people to assume I was depressed in the past because it invites way less questions than a current PTSD diagnosis IME.

 

[Friday]

It annoys me when people catch me out, because it means my crazy is showing.

It’s ALSO only a small percentage of what people have called me, over the years. Most of that? Is wrong. So I just laugh it off. And generally forget about it. What sticks are the things people are right, about, or that I’m afraid they’re right, about.

It’s no different than gaydar, or bumming a smoke off of someone. Most of the time? People can spot what they’re familiar with. But sometimes? They’re wrong. They’re seeing 1+1=2, instead of 2+2=4. Or are adding 1+1=64 :confused: How accurate anyone else’s assessment of anyone else is, varies person by person.

Aaaaaand anything popular? Is going to be wildly overused. Like the recent trend of calling anyone and everyone they don’t like a narcissist. Or all energetic kids have ADHD. Or anyone jumpy or over reactive PTSD.

Some people? Recognize. Others misread. Others it’s a shot in the dark, a damn miracle if they happen to be right.

 

[Lionheart]

Sometimes people recognize that I am anxious but they generally have no idea that I struggle with PTSD unless I tell them. I haven't had anyone try to diagnose me or to pinpoint my challenges beyond noting that I am often anxious.