Post-trauma Quirks

[Beachlife09]

Okay, so I'm wondering tonight if anyone else got any new ("new" as in after Your trauma ended) post-trauma "quirks" so to say.

Like for example:

I now cannot stand the sight of discarded pants, so i always have to fold them up neatly even if i'm only taking them off for a minute.

So what are your new "quirks"? Be as detailed or vague as you feel comfortable saying, no judgement here :happy:

 

[Fadeaway]

Excellent idea for a thread, I know I have a ton, but my mind ids drawing a blank. The only one I can think of ATM of checking locks a dozen times before I go to bed, and then waking up in a panic thinking "Did I lock the door?"

 

[holdenmonty]

I can't stand unorganized chaos. Like if I wash the dishes and the sink is full I have to separate them into big plates, small plates, glasses, and silver ware before I can wash anything, same goes with folding laundry I have to separate out my shirts to go on hangers my wife's cloths to go on hangers, our boys shirts and pants then the rest goes into a separate basket

 

[Chava]

Smell of hot plastic. :wtf:

 

[sun seeker]

My trauma began before I was even born, so there is no before and after. It's hard to tell between trauma-related quirks and quirks that are "just because". All I have to go by is the feeling in my body.

One thing I can think of that I'm pretty sure is not "just because": I can't be in an enclosed space with other people blocking my access to the door. When it's really bad, as it has been lately, I panic even sitting on the window side of the seat on a bus with someone beside me. Crawling under a house where it's damp and cramped? No problem. Crawling into the same space with someone else behind me so there's no way out until they get out of there first? Aaaaaack. Suffocating. Don't want to think about it.

 

[Neverthesame]

Interesting topic. Here's a few of mine.
-If don't have to wear a seat belt, I won't.
-I absolutely detest automatic door locks on cars.
-I make full use of the invisible brake pedal in a cars passenger seat.
-If I detect the smell of alcohol on the driver of a car I am about to get into, God help them. (Getting better with this one. I no longer insist on giving the driver a field sobriety test. Or a swift kick in the bollocks)
-I can immediately differentiate between the sound of the local police, military and air ambulance helicopters.
-Every year I confuse the hell out of the nice man sets up a table where I now work. Once a year to solicit donations for the local air ambulance. Last year I tried to sneak past him, didn't work. As he attempted to corner me, I literally sprinted for the warehouse I work in, yelling "Jesus Christ, get the hell away from me!" I then had someone else go out to give him my donation, as well as my apologies. (It is a good cause after all).

There are probably more, but that's all I could think of right now.

 

[MT Johnny]

Music virtually 24/7 through in-ear bluetooth, except when I am alone in the car or work when I can put it on speaker.

It calms me down.

 

[Ronin]

I shifted the way I smoke, and while we're at it hand preference for hand I'll use first for defending myself. Which is kind of funny because I lean more to right handedness than left handedness with most things, but part of my brain still didn't get I'm having both just fine.

 

[Beachlife09]

Another one of mine is that I can't stand still air so whatever room I walk into in my house i immediately turn the fan on without even thinking now :rolleyes:

 

[Friday]

Ditto @holdenmonty ! Ha. My systems have systems.

Lights on, 24/7 (except the room I'm sleeping in) unless there is perceived threat. Then it's lights out (I've had kill switches installed in various places in my house, so they all go out at once :P). On the on-factor? I seriously spent a couple hundred bucks on looooooooong last, super duper low watt bulbs (like 4 watts = 75, 10watts = 150). Leaving every light on the house on 24/7 means I pay $30 more a month in electricity. Totally worth it. Other people go around turning lights off before leaving the house. I go around flipping them on (especially bright sunny days, where I might not notice them being off... Just to make sure when I come home? If it's dark I've got silhouettes (at 2nd best), and unobstructed views no matter what.

I use music to set the mood. And I'm not just talking sex ;) Bust it out, study, play, happy-happy, rage up, clean; dozens of moods. And they all have their own playlists.

My mirrors in my car are all angled "weird". What it actually means is they're at the right angle to see 360 regardless of what orientation my car is in. Not just forward/back.

I have to take a shower to wake up. Until I've taken a shower I don't fully come awake / half set in cold/hard (few if any emotions, although I can fake 'em, amongst other things) & verrrrrry 'conserve energy' /wait. I'm super functional without a shower, just not super human. Worse when camping. My first task every morning is skinnydippin (or suit, whatever). But without the plunge? I'm edgy as f*ck. Put that to damn good use; when my son was an infant came awake & uber calm / ready for action, and again when he was sick.

- I'm loud when I'm happy & safe.

LOL... There are others. These are just what I can think of at the moment. I don't notice how quirky I am until there's someone new in my life, usually.

 

[Neverthesame]

I just thought of something else I do. Ha, I must be off in the head to not think this was strange earlier. I have to have lights on always, and noise. I have a rather extensive youtube playlist for the ipad I have on my nightstand.

The other thing I thought of which even I find a little odd. Years ago I picked up an old flak jacket, old to the point that I seriously doubt it would even be able to stop a .22 (not that I have any intention of finding out). I just missed the weight of a vest. When I am feeling really wound up, I throw it on and wear it round the house. Ha, weird huh? Sort of a very quirky security blanket. Oh but wait, it gets better. I was browsing through this old surplus shop one day, came across something I have never seen over here. I was feeling a bit down, and thought I should get myself a stupid present. I am now the eccentric owner of a British Mk6 helmet. Ha. Looks good on my coffee table. I actually found a bit of a use for it, couple of times every summer. The neighbours get to see me tearing about the yard during a hailstorm, donning a flak jacket and helmet trying to get the potted plants inside before the hail knocks them all bald.

 

[Beachlife09]

@Neverthesame Haha I love your "security blanket", great idea :laugh:

But I'm the opposite to you and @FridayJones on the constant lights. I need to have them OFF. Natural lighting is the only kind of lighting i'm comfortable with. No soft lamps or bright lights. (Funny combo huh?) Once the sun goes down, it's TV screens or device lighting for me.