Do We Have A Common Look?

[Justmehere]

This is completely anecdotal, but in my very limited experience, there are some things that seem to stand out. Some people look worn beyond their years. Others sound younger than they are, as if their voice got stuck at an earlier age. Neither of those things means a person has PTSD -- I have simply noticed that a higher than average number of people with PTSD look older but sound younger.

 

[ladee]

Not in my case @Justmehere , I look old, and I have a voice like Barry White, tho I am female, from smoking to keep the demons away.... which also adds years to my face.... I call those wrinkles 'Character Lines'.... ya, it's been a dark ride !!:meh: :playful:

 

[Changing4Best]

This is completely anecdotal, but in my very limited experience, there are some things that seem to stand out. Some people look worn beyond their years. Others sound younger than they are, as if their voice got stuck at an earlier age. Neither of those things means a person has PTSD -- I have simply noticed that a higher than average number of people with PTSD look older but sound younger.

I have a very deep voice and have often been mistaken for a man on the phone. So I think my voice has always sounded older, not younger. And again, I looker younger than I am.

 

[The Albatross]

*raising her hand* - it is a comment, @Justmehere that I too have heard. Childs voice and at times even my posture and the way I move (the women in water aerobics classes would remark on that when I was lifeguarding and teaching classes). A man at a convenience store/gas station here lately remarked to me about it. He was smiling but it struck him odd the difference between my voice at that time and my apparent age.

 

[Iamsensative]

Here is a thought, maybe not how we look. But i have always been a target for bullies. Childhood and as an adult. Its almost like they know i wont fight back, i will comply. Its made me, i hate to say this but a victim of abuse, time and time again. I have learned to walk into meetinh rooms and scan the room for hostile people and i avoid them like the plague..

 

[Changing4Best]

Yup. There must be a sign on my forehead that reads, "Bullies, start here." And I am in my mid-60s now and they STILL go after me!

 

[Friday]

There are some pretty damn cool photography / photojournalism / art projects looking at this (and related) questions. There's one I couldn't find that is of parents seeing their children for the 1st (or 2nd, in moms' cases, as a lot of moms either had medical leave to give birth, or their deployment was delayed until after they'd given birth) time after returning from deployment. I hate that I can't find it online, but I saw it as an installation >.< Both posed and candid it's a really gripping series, but it also pissed me the hell off. For a few reasons. Anyhow... Here are a couple that are online.


This Jarring Photo Series Captures What PTSD Really Looks Like

Mesmerizing Photographs Of Soldiers' Faces Before And After A War

 

[jaccat]

Those photo's are really interesting.

 

[Recovery4Me]

I do not believe PTSD has a look that is shadowed or cast upon a person. Many of the Vets, and those of C-PTSD did however, appear to exhibit many similiar symptoms during some of my classes. I would approach them later or they came to me to talk.

Insofar as feelings (such as anger) being exhibited on one's face and/or body language, that is pretty much universally shown within art photo displays- such as smiles. I guess what I am offering is that there is not a big "P" on my forehead with extra wrinkles.:clown:

 

[NoWhereKnowWhere]

I've always been told I look young. Everyone in my family looks younger too. I still get asked for ID. I do however have permanent bags under my eyes. I have since I was a teenager. I kinda look like a younger person who's been up too late partying or playing video games. Since all my trauma happened before I was 17 who knows how young I'd have looked without all the shit.

 

[Tinyflame]

I've got the dark circles, nothing works to cover them, tried even my aunt's stuff & she had Hodgkins. Think I look pretty yucky.

I do however get big smles, like today, from disabled Vets, funny they don't smile to others (at those moments).

 

[claroscuro]

I've been told I look and sound younger than I am, but then I'm also well on my way to going grey, and have cargo ships under my eyes, never mind bags. Color me confused.

Someone recently interpreted my look of confusion as a death stare. Yikes!

Maybe, maybe not PTSD. Interesting topic.