You Know You Have PTSD When...

[BlackbirdSinging]

When you get frustrated because your internet goes down before you go to bed which means you can't fall asleep streaming tv shows to give your brain something to listen to as you fall asleep like you usually do.

When you get anxious and scared to go to sleep because your nightlight light bulb burned out and you can't find the replacement bulb.

 

[jaccat]

When lying on the floor beside the bed is the only way you can get to sleep.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

When you awake from a coma years after surviving a horrible crash only to discover you can see people's futures if you -- no, wait, that was Christopher Walken in that Stephen King movie.

When you feel like the million pieces of the jigsaw puzzle can sort of be reassembled, but life is like a kaleidoscope, and "normal" has lost all meaning. When you love simple things and basic stuff because... it's real? When separating fact from fiction is challenging.

 

[Ronin]

When you really need that part of your head that processes fiction back. Because it's your problem solver brain having a way out of everything, coming with eighty choices to every 'can't do this' fart.

 

[Bastion]

...When you wear a heavy coat in the summer because the weight is calming, and have to insist to everyone that you "would not be more comfortable taking it off"

...When you are at dinner with friends and can't remember what anyone said, but know EXACTLY how many grains of salt are in the shakers.

 

[Anrish]

When you can relate to most of the posts in this thread and smile or even laugh about them - because they describe your life. :hilarious:

When you are afraid of your T's questions "How are you?" and "What do you bring this time?" and think about it all the time between the sessions....:banghead:

 

[Ronin]

When you answer 'How are you' with 'still alive, to my surprise' or something equally expressing 'Could you ask a stupider question'.

 

[oasis2003]

When you totally supress and avoid any thing to do with your trauma and feeling ok , expecting one day to be totally kicked in the ass when it all kicks in .

 

[Ocean5]

'How are you' with 'still alive

I don't like that question, and tired of lying saying I am "fine" to be polite. Then I went to "I'm ok." Now I just say "I'm here."

People can take it, or leave it.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

When you are having a panic attack in the middle of the night, and can't find you meds, and then go and wake someone up just to tell you they are on your shelf...

 

[Ronin]

It's not even the main parts of your trauma that get you.

It's all the many details you were only peripherally aware of or not aware at the time.

Yep, fine difference between stressor and a trigger. All that big deal? Stressor. All that nasty little shit sending you to pieces so fast? Trigger. The other crap that should just cut the crap? Stressor. Or something else.

 

[Marie E.]

You know you have ptsd when the court and your ex's lawyer don't believe you have ptsd but the military does.