What I wish you knew about…

PTSD: it is not at all what media portrays it to be. Flashbacks come in so many different forms. And PTSD can occur because of so many different things, not just SA and war. Natural disasters, abuse, witnessing abuse, being in any life or death situation, or seeing a parent (at a young age) be in a life or death situation and much more can cause PTSD. Some people have panic attacks and their PTSD is much more anxiety prone. But just as many people have trouble with dissociation (feelings of disconnection from yourself and the world). Which is what I experience. And often my symptoms make me come off as aloof or rude. When really I am just numbed out. But I can’t just tell people “hey sorry if I seem rude, I’m just dissociated because of my PTSD”. Also I am not sensitive and someone you need to “tread carefully” around at risk you might trigger me. I wish it was more socially acceptable to talk about it without me seeming like I’m “playing the victim”. I feel that people can talk about some physical disabilities much easier in certain settings (like academic and professional environments). The few times I have told people about my diagnosis, I get prying questions or people seeming to pity me or treat me with “kid gloves”. Also It’s much harder to explain to my boss/professor why I need a mental health day, than it is to just say I am sick. I hate lying, but I often feel I have to so my days off are respected.