I don't know about that official designation, because people use that word a lot. But do I think you could have increased anxiety, fear and depression because you were there when your boyfriend passed and you had to deal with everything that happened? Absolutely. My daughter and I were talking about that last night. We were with him in the house, in the house we still live in today. The flashes of that prey on me totally separate from the loss I am suffering. My daughter brought it up too. She said it took time to get past remembering that last morning every time she thought of her dad. And she said she is more anxious more often than ever before.

I think you should talk to your therapist about this. I personally believe it is a separate thing from dealing with the loss. And if that was your first experience with that, it is probably even worse.

Yes, It was the first time I have had anything like that happen before. I had never called 911, never seen someone just after they passed (I've been to 1 funeral with an open casket and it is completely different) The odd thing about me finding him is that no more than 2 weeks before he passed he and I had a conversation where seeing someone just after they passed, or finding someone, came up. He was shocked that I never had. He had come up on car accidents and such before. So it's kind of ironic that this was my first experience. It's been almost 5 months and that night plays through my head in great detail at least 5 times a day. Thank you for your post!

Yes - absolutely. Please discuss it with your therapist. It is not uncommon at all for those of us with sudden losses, and some not so sudden losses, to have PTSD or at least symptoms of it. You will need help with that. I know I did, and that was part of why counseling helped me. It also helped my kids, too.

There is also a PTSD board here at DS. That may be helpful for you, too, at some point.

Love and Hugs,
Martha

I also think I have PTSD. Several years I worked in a bank and we were robbed at gun point, I was put on xanax at that time. Panic attacks started again when Roby died.
Events in our lives accumulate on us.

Good luck
Diane

Absolutely. In addition to everything else, let's add anxiety disorder into my pile. Watching my husband waste away from lung cancer definitely did something to me. After discussing it with my specialist, it was determined that I could have a case of PTSD. When experiencing a traumatic event of any kind, I would not expect a person not to. That's just human nature.

Wow. I never considered these things, I am so thankful you brought this up. I have no health insurance, I can't go to a therapist or a doctor, the children have insurance but I don't. Obamacare doesn't apply to those who have non-taxable income. Oh my goodness I have thought so many times I was losing my ever loving mind. I have gotten up to change a diaper in the middle of the night and found myself in a complete panic, absolute panic. Jake wet the bed and I had to change the sheets and the clean ones were in the dryer, I was screaming "I'm coming I'm coming!"...it was 2:30 in the morning, Jake was calm and playing with a toy on my bed. I was a maniac, running through the house crying rushing, trying to get his diaper changed and bed changed as quickly as I could I realized that I felt exactly like I did when Frank would wet the bed and I knew it would take me 45 minutes to change the bed, change his diaper, wash him off and I knew he was lying there sometimes wondering where I had gone. I was absolutely crazed, it happened more than once after Frank died. I never acted like that when I was up in the night with my Frankie, I would rush, yes, I felt all the feelings of panic, but I would sing to him and talk to him. I never let him hear what was going on in my head. Suddenly I couldn't get up in the night and change a diaper without feeling like a combat veteran who had heard a car backfire. It would take an hour or more to go away. My memory is gone for some reason and I have a sharp mind usually. I can call someone and not remember seconds after I dial who I'm calling, why I'm walking into a room, why I am grabbing my phone, to surf the net or call someone? Who was I going to call? I slept like a rock all the nights that followed after Frank died, like I hadn't slept in years, and to be honest I hadn't. I have aches and pains and pain in my body that is inexplicable. I check the doors and locks and oven a million times before I can go to bed, never did that before. I get up in a panic waiting for something bad to happen in the middle of the night, like fight or flight syndrome, like I'm waiting for some terrible awful even to take place. Then I realize it's quiet and the children are alright after I check them a gazillion times, Is that normal?

Cindy,

All normal. Since my husband passed in March, I recheck the doors every night to see if they are locked. When I leave the house, I double check to see that I have my cell phone in case of car problems. Counselor in support group said all that is normal. We need to take care of our safety since we are now living alone. I surround you with hugs for all you are going through with those small children. You are one strong lady.

Hugs to you my friend Rainbow...you give me credit I don't deserve but please know it encourages me and has often brought me to tears.
thank you for weighing in I needed to know if I was alone in those things..?
You're a sweetheart and I hope you are doing well. Think of you often
Love,
Cindy

Yes, it is possible to have PTSD from any traumatic event.

I play Tetris which is a computer game that research said helps prevent PTSD. I think you have to play right away, but I find that it helped.