Meadow - thank you for those words. As you see by the post date, I sort of poofed. As for the mindgames, with you there - you'd think I'd know better after 14 years of community ownership. For one thing, I get horribly triggered there. This is a major, major issue: it's =MY= joint and I'm still barely able to post there.
Spider - my real name is very well known - needs to be, because of the nature of that community. Certain folks need to be able to find me when need be. It's never been an issue until this PTSD mess!
As for Diamonds, me, I felt a lot of pain in that post of theirs. A =lot= of bitterness and pain. I haven't been around, but it was my issues: certainly not that post.
Meadow, oh lord I feel you. I have a grand total of nobody taking care of/even visiting these days - short of those I pay. That small matter of abuse? That individual did what abusers do so very well: got rid of my friends, as well. Predator 101: Isolate. And since I posted here, I did the unthinkable - I posted the truth on my own community. Only to find that literally hordes of others had been or were currently in the same situation. But there were also those who accused me of using the abuse or my PTSD as - I don't know, a cry for attention? Christ almighty. That's way beyond belief, IYKWIM. You finally get the balls to say listen, know I ain't been around for X years. It wasn't because I didn't care - it was because I had a wee situation, etc etc. And that's one of the responses? I think my favorite response was "Oh good! If Y kills Cat, can we get all the banned folks back?"
I think everyone needs to exercise a lot more caution when dealing with people who have been abused, who have PTSD, who live with someone who has PTSD. You never know what is going to trigger people, nor what form that trigger will take - IMHO of course.
Diamonds, knew I recognized the pain in your post. Many years ago, I had several relationships with Nam vets. OH do I have that tee shirt. When I was diagnosed with PTSD in fact - I told my therapist "nuh uh. I do NOT. That's for vets!"
Sun - there is a load of difference in 'support' and 'trying to fix.' (Right now I'd give my left boob for either one.)
Friday - you so very right about "Public Lives." I only wish I had my "public balls" back - although I managed to do my (VERY FIRST IN 2 YEARS!) radio interview 2 weeks ago.
Thank you all for the kind words... I wasn't in a place to come back and read them then. I'm not 100 percent sure I am now - giving it a shot.