You Know You Have PTSD When...

[Anrish]

When little reminders are enough to bring you down to the lowest ground.

When talking about "healing" is like talking about ...something shameful.

 

[DharmaGirl]

When you have a personality for every occasion, and just realized it. Who am I when I am alone? I don't know.

 

[FragileGlass]

You're ready to call Code White (violent patient) on the 3 year old in the family living room who is ramping up for an aggressive tantrum.

Your friend tells you there is a cold one in the fridge and you respond by asking name, date of birth and funeral home.

You start talking to everyone like they have dementia or in mental health crisis.

You scan everyone you meet to visualize potential weapons or threats. This works fantastic at the bar or night club when people are confused as to what your orientation might be from the intense up and down glance I just performed.

You physically tire everyone in your life out because you take stairs and not elevators.

People find blue medical gloves everywhere you've been.

Having to explain to people why you're counting with occasional deep breaths as the song Staying Alive plays.

 

[DharmaGirl]

That also falls under You Know You're a Nurse When... Lol, I was a nurse and I remember those days. I still assess everyone for any emergencies when I enter a room.

 

[ladee]

That also falls under You know you are a caregiver for Alzheimer's.... you are scanning crowded stores for someone to have a meltdown because they are out of their comfort zone... or, it could be one of us about to have a melt down. ...

 

[Anrish]

When you feel uncomfortable as soon as people ask you why you go on a spa holiday...and if it could be mental?

 

[Ronin]

When forcing yourself to be smug about painful things is an actual therapy.

When things that help aren't what your therapist supposes would. (In the middle of snarking states, I found we burned the right bridges, after all.)

 

[Kopykat]

When people start asking if you’re going to be ok around certain triggers, holidays, or events before it even crosses your mind

 

[ladee]

When you have knocked the ashtray to the floor every single day this week, and it has never occurred to you to MOVE the ashtray.

When you put your sock on twisted, and you go half a day with it being somewhat painful, and it doesn't occur to you to set down, take off your shoe, and adjust the damned sock...

When you have not been doing self care on your dry skin since it has gotten colder, and people stare at your scaly arms in the store, and you reply, I am OLD.... and have a tiny little snarl starting to form at the corner of your mouth.... getting ready to snap and bite, that is, if you still have teeth...

 

[TiqueyB]

Thank you so much! So happy to not feel alone and to laugh.

Also you know you have PTSD when this is your new favorite online place.

 

[Anrish]

When you look forward to an event but the tiniest trigger can ruin it.

 

[mumstheword]

When getting out of the house becomes impossibly hard after getting triggered attending your child's school fete.

When your aussie-slum houso unit resembles the homeless bag ladies trolley, only larger.

When one of your own children is now an stranger to you, after siding with the narc abuser parent, even though you love them more than your own life.

When yourself, and your same gen, middle age (also sufferer) guy friend carry on like middle school children, on a regular basis.