Do You Hide It?

[IWIK]

Do any of you hide your ptsd diagnosis or are you open about it? I have been diagnosed for years now, and just last year my husband of 14 years learned of it by accident and none of my friends or family know. It's just not something I want anybody to know and I don't want anybody to look at me in a different way.

 

[desiderata310]

I have very few people who know. I am very selective about who gets to know. For instance, my sons know but I refuse to tell my daughter.
I have a couple of close friends who know and that's it.

 

[Bookoffee]

I am just coming out of the closet with my PTSD and I had for decades. My wife knew before we were married. I think she figured it out before I even told her. I just told one of my sisters and niece. I have a huge family, 8 sisters and 5 brothers. Only one sister knows.

 

[Mojo]

The only time I mention the diagnosis is when I was applying for disability. Other than that, no one knows. I'm kind of embarrassed by it

 

[Friday]

Hide it as in do not disclose, or hide it as in faking normal?

 

[IWIK]

Hide it as in do not disclose, or hide it as in faking normal?

Both I suppose. I don't tell anybody I have it.

 

[Mojo]

Hide it as in do not disclose, or hide it as in faking normal?

I do both. Gotten pretty good at being "normal"

 

[livefree]

For me it's hide it as if I'm normal. I was told of the diagnosis for 5 yrs before I could agree. When I started to learn how my thoughts process differently I realize I'm probably not too successful in hiding it. I've hid it the best I can for so long it's now my normal.

 

[IWIK]

Hide it as in do not disclose, or hide it as in faking normal?

Like my Dr's obviously know, but nobody outside of my own medical world aside from now my husband. And that was purely by accident last year after I had been in an accident and he was in the Dr office with me when it came out in a discussion.

The only time I mention the diagnosis is when I was applying for disability. Other than that, no one knows. I'm kind of embarrassed by it

I won't apply for that.

 

[bell]

Yes and no. If it comes up naturally in the conversation, like someone says something about how all people with PTSD are crazy or discloses their own mental health struggle then yes. But I don't tend to offer it up without a reason. As what happened to me was not my fault, I see zero shame in it. But I also write about it publicly, so anyone who cares to Google me knows outright.

I haven't always been this open and had a literal meltdown (on here no less!) when I realized that PTSD comes up beside my name in the search box suggestions, along with other things I've done!

It makes dating a bit of a bear, but it's a bear anyway. If someone chooses not to get to know me because of it, that's their loss. Coming out with it has brought me closer to many friends who have since come to me and disclosed their own struggles.

To me, not telling my loved ones only hurts me more, and doesn't give them the opportunity to fully know me, which is also a big loss.

 

[risingsun]

I don't want anybody to look at me in a different way.

I do hide it from my university, from my academic chair. But i do it more so because she doesn't ask me anything about myself. She doesn't get personal so I don't either. I would think, though, that anyone who would look at you differently isn't worth even having around. It is not anything to feel shame over. You are a survivor. Warmest to you, Rising Sun.

 

[obsidian]

I have not been diagnosed with PTSD I am told there are reason's not too. The diagnoses is Bi polar disorder, the symptoms though are mirror image to PTSD.
I don't tell anyone about the Bi polar so if Diagnosed with PTSD I would not tell about that either.