You Know You Have PTSD When...

[Ronin]

When you buy a pack of smokes because you soo have to only to stare at it half an hour later.

I'm not smoking. Not a D.I.D. issue, headspace know we're not smoking. Why am I grabbing this?

More spaced out staring.

Right. Survivor's guilt coping mechanism. If I'm having smokes I'm planning & analyzing & looking ahead instead of back, & ahead lies the bright future, all of them bright futures.

& When you keep being so surprised you weren't banned yet. I'm talking. I'm talking about trauma, even. That's what comes with talking, punishment. What the f*ck with none coming. Confusion.

 

[Anrish]

When you feel like a lot is your fault - even if you're not responsible for it.

 

[Gs172003]

When you feel like a lot is your fault - even if you're not responsible for it.

Yes!!!

 

[Ronin]

When you need other people to reframe for you. You don't see victories in things you do, you see the responsibility, failures and close-calls.

 

[Forgetful]

When it feels like a huge accomplishment that you made it through your daughters wedding and reception.

 

[Ronin]

^ It is, congratulations @Snafu :D

 

[Ronin]

When...

I'm not talking about PTSD, my brain's not braining West and not braining white, except for money.

Let's talk rivers & recovery & rightness. :D

Or: When stress dumps your cultural filters, but you're happy, as that simplifies life, and eliminates stress :D

 

[jaccat]

When someone accuses you of always having a problem with them and your first thought is 'well, that's a distorted cognition!':whistling:

 

[Ronin]

Half of your problems is your panic doesn't look like one.

If I'm looking panicked? Something is shit with my organs, not mind.

If I'm panicking? I'm calm. Cannot think, don't know half of the things I'm supposed to know for the situation, but calm.

& People treating your non-mental health issues as mental health really piss you off.

But of course, if someone's pissed off, then they don't need help, right? :rolleyes:

 

[Anrish]

When you're sick of being asked for "What's the reason?" because you cannot tell a clear one.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

When you're sick with a chest cold and you have to run to the store and you're walking through the store trying not to cough. You don't want to startle or disturb anyone with all of your noise.

When someone cooks and offers you food and asks what you want and instead of picking what you want you immediately answer their question with a question. And you ask them what they want before you take what you want. In case you take what they would have picked. Even though they asked you first and there's more than one.

When the car driving behind you is probably following you and you should probably just drive directly to the police station.

When you hear a noise outside at night like usual and you're convinced it's an animal and it's going to come through the wall and eat you.

When you want earplugs to block out the moments when the dog is barking your mom has the tv turned up to 47 your dad is talking on the phone and the air conditioner is blowing all at the same time.

 

[Anrish]

When you are in your first leading position and have to attend a seminar about dealing with coworkers with mental illnesses - and you feel so triggered that you have to leave early. :(