Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.

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onlyup 04/25/2011

My Birthday is this weekend and some of my family are coming. I am excited but afraid that they wont be able to handle i my PTSD. They have always known me as "the one that can handle anything" Therefore hardly any phone calls to see how I am doing. What are they going to say when I put frozen items in the cubbards, forget what they just said,burn a pot because I am distracted,lose everything that is right in front of my face. This is the first time anyone that is a friend or family will see me since 8 months ago when this all started.. i Am SCARED. I was excited and now I am completely nervous. Can they except me as i AM.

deleted_user 04/25/2011

Having your family seems about the worse thing you can do at this point. Why put pressure on yourself like that? If I were you, I would make up an excuse. You don't have to tell the truth if you don't think they or you can handle it. Say you have something and that your doctor doesn't know exactly what it is, but she thinks it is contagious. That way, you wouldn't exactly be telling a lie. Sometimes misery is contagious. Tell them all you are doing is staying in bed which may be partly true.
It sounds like you love your family, but you need to love yourself more right now and be oh so good to yourself.

deleted_user 04/25/2011

Do the relatives who are coming know what happened to you? If they haven't called in the past months while you have been going through hell, I wonder how clued in they really are. You want to tell them? Will they believe you if you do tell them what you are going through? If you were hoping to just maintain the status quo with them, but not explain the truth to them, then this could be a disaster coming your way.

My brothers care about me a lot and let me know that on a regular basis, they also bail me out of on going financial problems. But they don't understand at all. I only once tried telling them that I had PTSD and they rejected the idea outright. That's their shortcomings coming to bare. But they try. It's awkward. But I know in their own way they care very much. So that is my reference of what it would be like to have relatives come to visit. In my case I'm really happy to have them long distance, it's much better that way.

Before your relatives get there you should decide what kind of visit it is going to be. Something that is productive and helpful to you, if you can tell them what your going through and they can help and support you then this could be a good thing. If your going to white knuckle your way through trying to maintain a lie, I would ask you why? Why would you put yourself through that?

Let us know what happens. We're with you.

nelliefay 04/26/2011

good luck, onlyup. I hope your family is supportive and understanding. All the very best.

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