"coming Out" With Your Ptsd

[anthony]

I will never fully recover.

Don't be hard on yourself. Nobody, and I mean that literally, ever fully recovers from catastrophic traumatic events. They shape us in one way or another, once experienced.

 

[Gs172003]

Truthfully im afraid of people using it to see what happens. As in "what happens if she has a reaction? Let's find out". Not worth the risk. Or being ridiculed. My mom told me once about my reactions to my husband when we are intimate " you're lucky he's still with you". Yeah. I don't need that crap.

 

[LLMertens]

Thanks for your kind and long response. It made me think!

Like in the rest of my life, I have to know my...

Try asking them "Why do you ask?" If they ask a question that is too personal.

 

[Hopeful3x]

For me I have noticed that normal people do not know how to respond to hearing about traumatic events or grief. If I mention it they get really quiet or give you this sad look. I don't want people to take pity on me I want people to acknowledge my pain what I have been through and accept it as I am forced to. I'm always afraid that people are going to judge me and I have a fear that people will use this vulnerability against me and harm me. So ya I very rarely speak about it unless I sense the other person has had their own traumatic experiences.

 

[Pakadlangitok]

I like to ask myself how much I know about the other people I am with. If nothing, then they need to know nothing about my situation. Chances are they DO have their own stuff and are not talking. I always end up telling more than I want because of that pull to be honest and "be myself". I AM stressed when people form their own wrong opinions of me. But it is better than my dumping, I think, and I am working toward that.

Example. I had an accident in Jan. There were head injuries which I sure did not need on top of PTSD. Anyway, I told no one. I wore a hat a lot and thought people knew. One day, a person who I thought knew was talking to me. This person was a support and kind person, so I did not mind if they knew and I was talking about the accident as if they knew. They looked puzzled and said, "You had an accident?" I was floored and explained it all to them because I thought they knew and they had already been such a support without even knowing!

So, I realized that those who care will not pry and will still support you even if they do not know. Later on, like a year late, if it comes up, tell.

I have never felt good about telling early. Ever. But never regretted telling after a year has passed. Just my take. And Hugs to us all. This is such a hard call!!!

 

[Tinyflame]

I was floored and explained it all to them because I thought they knew and they had already been such a support without even knowing!

So, I realized that those who care will not pry and will still support you even if they do not know.

I think this is true. Except for behaviours & reactions they can't understand or are harmful/ hurtful. :(

With rarest exception I'd keep it to myself. Necessary I believe, though exhausting & isolating.