General Question: Ptsd And Social Media

[medley29]

I have a question: do your PTSD sufferers seem to do fine with social media, but not with talking to you? I've heard that social media serves as a distraction for them, but I'm just wondering if anyone else experiences this..

 

[Fadeaway]

You really can't compare the two in my opinion. Someones ability to be on social media has nothing to do with their ability to communicate in person.

 

[Purplemunchkin]

Social media allows us all to be whomever we wish, without body language or eye contact.

I know hubby likes 'chatting' to people who knew him before, and who don't know about his PTSD.

 

[anonymous]

Social media is not real human connection. It is a distraction. It can also feel like a "safer" replacement to real human connection.

Trauma generally doesn't happen on social media. My life is never in danger on Facebook or Twitter. It has been in danger when connected to humans in real life, offline.

So yeah, I use social media as a distraction and to numb the loneliness I feel while also struggling to connect with humans offline.

 

[Pretty Hurts]

i feel my boyfriend does the same. it's hard when he shuts me out and won't talk to me. he'll just tell me to leave him alone, but then i see he posts something on social media and interacting with his friends/relatives there. i this it is a distraction from reality and a way for him to be social without anyone having to observe his true behavior, what it's like to share space with him. it's hurtful when the post is a sarcastic meme or a vague post that i know is about me....or a negative feeling about something between us. i cringe a little because i wonder if the audience knows it's about me/us and what they must think. i probably shouldn't care, but right now i do. it's embarrassing at times because i don't express negative feelings about him/us. i respect his privacy and would never bash him. relationship ups and downs and home life challenges are not for social media.

 

[Wastinglight]

Social media is a good way of interacting with people "safely" - you can make contact with people whilst still keeping them at arm's length, and you can pick up and put down conversations with them whenever you like. I guess it's an easy option if you don't feel like you're up to face-to-face contact with people.

 

[Gadgie]

It's easier to have a discussion and express your feelings on line. than it is in real life, at least that's what I have found, as I'm not much good at mixing with people.

 

[Sweetpea76]

You can also just log off if the conversation gets too tedious or tiring. You can't really do that in person.

 

[mycrazytrain]

Well reading lets me know that I am not the only one who experiences this, I understand the feeling safer part , my sufferer (wish there was a better term) will get up in the morning start on social media wont want to talk wants to wake up gets upset if I try to have a conversation puts on headphones posts, reads posts, chats with friends through various social media, listens to music and will be on line all day most times till late at night. Really makes me feel like why am I here makes their isolation feel like it is just directed towards me. I have had a hard time dealing with this part as it has been months now, and when ever I express how I feel about the distance I feel this creates it will degrade into an argument. Hoping wishing I could have better patience as this can really make me feel somewhat alone. For now this has been the most difficult part for me to cope with.

 

[medley29]

Well reading lets me know that I am not the only one who experiences this, I understand the feeling...

No, it's not just you. First contact in two weeks tonight and I got my ass chewed. If you love your sufferer, buckle up because it's a bumpy ride (understatement of the century). I must love mine or I wouldn't stick around. Feeling pretty low right now. And it does feel VERY personal. All I can say is to try your best to remember that it's not, and it's the PTSD taking over. I'm not doing a good job at remembering that myself at the moment.

 

[mycrazytrain]

This is why I am here a sounding board and the support and others with similar experiences who can help to keep me grounded that it is the PTSD taking over.Just human nature to only see what is right in front of you. I know after 17 years I am still here for the long haul. We have had a series fairly big events of external stress the last 4 years that have precipitated this space they are in so we are trying to decompress from that as well. Everything from family death to a 3 year court fight etc. etc. so everything seams magnified for both of us.

 

[medley29]

That makes it extra tough. I am struggling wit feeling like I did something wrong, even though I know I didn't. The way he talked to me just hurt. I haven't known the right amount of space to give him. Obviously I was doing it wrong.