I also go through that. The issue is not you, it's other people. In today's day and age (even before) people find it hard to find empathy for people w/PTSD /or mental illness per se. The type of people we would like to interact /connect w/need to be kind & helpful and we can give our 100% as well. The thing is that's not very common as some people seem to think. Having said that let that not be a block in reaching out and connecting even if it's just a talk or just a walk. Take your time, build your trust. Its very hard but don't give up. Most of the time when people hear our stories they do not know how to react. I can understand.

yeah, i guess it's pretty likely he doesn't know how exactly to react. i think in the future i need to be more careful with who i tell these things to, but that doesn't mean i still can't connect to others and just have a nice time.

I think you have been given good advice here. This site is also likely to be a good place to meet people who will be able to empathize.
I'm sorry to hear of your abuse and wish you luck and love. You deserve that.

Hi Code. Welcome to the forum.

Yes, my PTSD gets in the way of making new contacts. It gets in the way of maintaining old relationships, too. It gets in the way of just about everything in more ways than I care to count.

The good news is that I have found lots and lots of things I can do about that unwelcome interference. I found allot of those tricks from tips I picked up right here in this forum and from my live support groups, as well.

One body of tricks I picked up from my live support groups is making amends. In the case of telling a person more information than they can handle, my amends might take the form of simple apology and a lighter social event, if they will permit it. Perhaps some extra compassionate listening to how I put their knickers in a twist? Maybe. It definitely varies from one person to the next.

But that is me. . .

Gentle support while you figure out what works for you, Code. Welcome to the group.

Thank you to all for the support. I'm feeling better now and just spent a nice evening with another person that has been through similar. It's definitely true that PTSD gets in the way of just about everything but I feel a little better about slowly learning ways to work with it rather than be stopped by it. I hope we all can keep moving forward in a positive light.

My personal experience is that I can't leave my home. So yeah it hinders friendships. I have found I can't even talk about my abuse with a Dr. without them withdrawing from me. People just don't want to get involved. Hugz

I've learned that others are not my therapist, and I'm not theirs.

As a trauma survivor myself, I was quite put off and disturbed when a neighbor I hardly know began sharing intimate personal details about being sexually abused just completely out of the blue.

I'm not equipped to deal with the issues of others, and frankly I now want nothing to do with her.

I usually am not even on this board out of fear of being triggered.

Over sharing is never a good thing in mixed company or with strangers as it's off putting to some and could be used to exploit and revictimize you by others.

as i've said a few times here already, i don't know if i have ptsd or not. i've been given 3 different diagnoses by psychiatrists, none of which mention ptsd or self harm. self harm is what i know all too well about. that i don't need a doctor for. but this has been my issue all my life and all my life i have been unable to make friends. i don't feel the feelings a sibling should have for other siblings. when my mother died i went up to my room and cried for no more than 15 minutes. once done the feeling was gone. i don't remember any more than having done that. i had friends in school, but i always felt that i had to keep after them to maintain the friendships and once school was done, so were the friendships. there has been no lifelong friend. no many years friend. not even casual short term friendships. everyone i know is merely an accuaintance. as for love, i'm married, but here to i never made a 'feeling' connection. i only faked it and hoped it would somehow develop into love. my wife says strong people don't need friends. she is wrong of course. i managed to live for 65 years without friends so that means i must be superhumanly strong and i know without a doubt i need friends. it was some severe self harm that put me in a hospital a few years ago that highlighted this fact and that was after 62 years of lonly suffering. i' have been in therapy for 3 + years now. i've made a huge connection with my therapist. i know without a doubt that i love her and that she lives in my brain. ironic isn't it that the one i did touch and was touched by i can't be a friend with. I am close with no one at my job. i meet new people and don't connect with them or they with me. but in the past several days - i thank my therapist here - i've seen changes coming in me. as if the grip my torment has had on me is letting go. i have to cling to that. i know i can't and never could kill myself and living without friendship and love and closeness and connection is not acceptable. i will try to be your friend if you'd like. i am certainly not proficient in friendship but do have the desire to try. i'd also like to say that age and gender does not make a difference to me, since i don't think i saw your age/gender. i'm 65 and male and i will give support as a friend as much as i can get my brain to do it. i think that is why we are here - for mutual support and friendship, so please feel invited to stay in touch. i think that if i can get a glimmer of hope, so can you.