I think PTSD can greatly affect your self concept and sense of confidence in your individuality. I suspect this is particularly the case for early onset trauma, and that which greatly disrupted the development of your identity and individuality, but due to the significant impact it can have on interpersonal relationships and other social dynamics, I imagine it's the same to an extent with many sufferers of other forms of PTSD.
The whole issue of conformity versus nonconformity is closely linked to your sense of independence and confidence in your self concept, and so it seems logical to me that this would be something many of us struggle with.
Personally, I sometimes feel I need to conform in order to feel any assurance that what I'm doing is ok and acceptable. I often have difficulty believing in my right to assert my own views and behaviours and hence to take a nonconformist path, because fundamentally I am still coming to terms with whether or not I have a right to do so, or whether or not I believe in who I'm trying to be or what I'm trying to do.
Not articulating myself well I fear, but all that to say that I think I do relate, and suspect that in varying ways and to varying extents, many of us do. I think that establishing a stable sense of autonomy with which you can be at peace is the ultimate key to resolving your conformity struggle, and in doing so, I suspect that parts of your behaviour will tend to follow the so-called normal patterns, while other aspects will set you apart and signify your individuality.
Hard, troubling stuff to deal with, but all part of the journey.
Maddog
