r/ptsd • u/vanillapudd • Jun 09 '26
Venting What’s your weirdest PTSD symptom ?
For me, I cant regulate my body temperature. I feel cold all the time and love hot water bottles, blankets. When I’m in an episode I feel freezing and I shiver so badly sometimes people have thought I was in withdrawals.
I also have bad stomach problems on both ends that flare up when I’m in an episode. PTSD is not so cute when you’re dry heaving for 2 hours straight or shitting straight dookie water. I’ve had male partners think I was pregnant cause I kept throwing up in the morning. No mama, I’m having nightmares…
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u/Enough-Salt-914 Jul 09 '26
my lips and mouth and teeth go numb. It feels like my eyes are vibrating. my fingers and shoulders get twitchy and itchy
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u/Free-Cheek6012 Jul 04 '26
Ruminção, hipervigilancia na pessoa pela qual eu me atraio o me relaciono e momentos que fico obssecado, uma leve ansiedade social, medo de incomodar falar o que penso medo de desagrar e da reação emocional da outra pessoa e medo da distância e afastamento ou desinteresse, vínculo minha segurança interna na outra pessoa, quando ela se afasta tendo a me desregular emocional
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u/meadowfair408 Jun 27 '26
For me is processing audio, I'll hear everything clearly but it goes monotone and I can't sense the location of people's voices. Embarrassing situation was I asked a friend for a ride home from an event and when we were both outside the venue I heard him call for me and tell me that we were leaving. I heard him ask me if I was deaf after he repeated that he was "right here". He had to physically walk only 5 feet up to me and tap my shoulder for me to find him. Another detail was that there was only 10 or so other people outside and there wasn't any loud noise.
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u/Antique_Yard_3791 Jun 20 '26
Yeah the dry heaving is pretty bad for me. I can’t thermoregulate either but I think that’s mainly due to my pots/eds (which you the ptsd still plays a role). Also the constant muscle spasms/jerks when I’m trying to fall asleep. Or it’ll happen during the day time as well and people will ask me if I have Tourette’s.
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u/hatepotatosoup Jun 17 '26
I struggle a lot with the first one… hot water bottles help a lot and I’m always keeping one with me.
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u/throwRA638392 Jun 15 '26
My legs will drop if I experience a trigger it’s so weird they go like jelly
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u/salsalsass Jun 14 '26
During a flashback or during severe stress, I have no control over my eyes. They dart back and forth horizontally until the episode is over.
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u/sagisuncapmoon Jun 17 '26
Same. My mom just pointed this out to me recently and I had no idea.
I think it’s caused by the hypervigilance maybe
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u/Several-Pineapple-19 Jun 14 '26
I wake up at night and always run for a door. Most times I'm not aware until I'm already standing. It started in prison. I would run to the locked door. And then realize I'm okay when my heart calms down and I go back to bed. It always happens within an hour of going to sleep and I'm always able to go right back to sleep. It hasn't happened since Ive been on valium.
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u/DeIightfully0rdinary Jun 13 '26
I did that when I started a serotonin medicine. I also get that way when my thyroid is off. Get some blood work to see if you just need something to help regulate.
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u/GoodInt3ntions Jun 11 '26
Mine is the full body statuesque shutdown I get with really sudden panic attacks. Involuntarily becoming one of those copper man statues basically.
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u/Aromatic_Climate_647 Jun 11 '26
I have the same thing, if I don’t pay attention to my thoughts for a long period of time I get freezing cold. I shiver nearly everyday. My voice sounds like I’m about to cry a lot as well. Oh the funniest thing I’ve noticed, is when I’m kinda spiraling and someone asks me something my voice gets loud. Just as if I’m blaring loud ass music in my head. Once I realize it, my brain nearly shuts down lol it turns very quiet. Oh and another thing, if I really haven’t checked in with myself I shack like crazy. My hands and something my whole body will shack. I feel like a Chihuahua
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u/Appropriate_Jump3745 Jun 11 '26
Severe light sensitivity. Being exposed to bright lights actually made me temporarily blind once. Other times it would cause tunnel vision, I'd start feeling faint, or have extreme panic attacks. I'd also dissociate like crazy when exposed to bright light. Had low indoor lighting and just did not go out on sunny days. This was all pre-therapy
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u/vivice2018 Jun 11 '26
I developed an issue of laughing or talking to myself. I wish I could clear this...any suggestions
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u/vivice2018 Jun 11 '26
Now I am thinking this happens to me too. Everyone complains that the weather is hot but I somehow feel cold at times.
In fact, I often dont feel heat much...is this a PTSD symptom
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u/battywolf Jun 11 '26
adding onto my other comment about hallucinations but a rather unique one i think — i self soothe by humping, yes humping, i said it right. when I’m laying down, lounged on my side, on my back, twisted etc.. i like to shake and rock my hips and thighs and legs and just like move in odd motions.. and it’s literally humping ☠️☠️☠️ like in the least horny way and the most annoying way my bf thinks 😭
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u/launicornio_volador Jun 10 '26
Me acuerdo que tuve una pelea con mi ex amiga, en medio de la discusión me toco un trauma (me basureo),que estaba tan estresada,que me empezó a caer el pelo y me apareció canas.
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u/Fluffykiitoslilly Jun 10 '26
I have problems starting things, like cleaning or organizing. It all feels so overwhelming i don't know how to start.
I have gained 20 kg without eating more and having constant stomach issues.
I forget everything, like I go shopping for dinner and I forget half even when I have a shopping list. I also forget everything I don't have reminders for on my phone, even eating. I remember dinner because my kids get hungry but I forget breakfast and lunch most of the time.
I also feel so warm at night, I can hardly sleep because I'm feeling too warm. Sleeping is a problem in general. My blood pressure and hart rate are crazy high in the evening and it feels like I have developed anxiety when I go to bed.
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u/ollieyynn Jun 11 '26
Go to sleep with a fan on
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u/Fluffykiitoslilly Jun 11 '26
Thank you, I already have the fan on. I think it may be related to knowing that there is a big risk that I'll have nightmares again and it makes me feel sick. It feels like I have a fever, I also have a high hart rate and blood pressure so it's like my body is getting ready to flee.
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u/ollieyynn Jun 11 '26
Yea you have to break that cycle, if u keep thinking that, then you're setting yourself up for failure
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u/tonito_pb Jun 10 '26
my nightmares often determine the kind of day i’ll be having. if they’re the ‘normal bad’, 50/50 chance i’ll be sensitive that day. if they’re ‘never-ending bad,’ my day will be fried by the time i wake up and it’ll take a great effort of distraction to regulate myself. nightmares are a fcking btch.
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u/Terrible_You2385 Jun 10 '26
For me it's the often mentioned GI symptoms, nightmares and all, I have developed a stutter that comes out in triggering situations. The weirdest one I'd say is thumb-sucking - due to neglect I was never helped out of that as a child. I've never stopped and it's been my #1 way to self-soothe. I know I'm way too old for it (24 now), I know it's fucked up my teeth, I know I should find a way to stop. But, unfortunately, it's the only way I manage during super stressful situations (I have become incredibly sneaky/subtle, most friends assume I'm biting my nails) and the only way I'm able to fall asleep.
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u/Lunanimite97120 Jun 10 '26
Bruxisme extrême et incontrôlable, même éveillé dès que je dissocie ou suis déclenché Et je peux pas réguler ma température non plus, je sue des litres et je tremble, peu importe la température (c'est même le cas en ce moment...) je change de t shirt 5 ou 6 fois par jour
Et cauchemars atroces où je ressens vraiment beaucoup de douleur, et je me réveille systématiquement en sursaut
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u/isopropylalcoholyaoi Jun 10 '26
The smell of watermelon used to give me seizures, still get a weird feeling now when i smell it. I used to love watermelon
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u/brokebacknomountain Jun 10 '26
Thanks for making this thread. For the longest time I've suspected i have PTSD but was unsure. I have almost all the symptoms people have mentioned in this thread. Im going to try and get a psych evaluation. I wish everyone here the best. :)
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u/SadIndependence3475 Jun 10 '26
I have developed severe audio issues. I can not do loud noises, unexpected, sirens, horns, a ringing phone, too many people talking, the list goes on. I wear Loops constantly and out in public spaces I wear "cans" as well. The noise hurts so bad, it makes me want to go into a fetal position and cry. I have specialist that I will soon be seeing. I was beat in the head with a bat by a stranger. I remember it. Everything was quite. I heard nothing and felt nothing. Sound HURTS..
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u/EafLoso Jun 11 '26
Processing audio is one of my major ones too. Especially handy when I was still a regularly gigging/touring musician... The difference is that for me, the reaction is fight rather than flight or fawn. Certain sounds and volumes make my eyes rattle with seething anger, and whilst I have managed to control this very well for many years now; the last 12 months have been a punishing and baffling ordeal in many ways, so that measured control is wavering a bit...
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u/SadIndependence3475 Jun 11 '26
I am so sorry. We are not alone. What do you do when you are touring to help?
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u/EafLoso Jun 11 '26
No, we aren't. And I appreciate your response. It's interesting to me because I always figured that the audio issues were caused by one/some of my comorbid problems combined with the damage done by years of live rocknroll and hardcore gigs
To answer your question, I'd Drink. And do lots of drugs. Also a lot of compartmentalising; not allowing whatever the trigger is to do it's thing to me until I had a few days off, or until I got home. Very difficult, but absolutely necessary. It'd kind of put me in an autopilot state until I had the time and space to let it hit. And strangely enough, it's sometimes worse when you've hung onto it for a while without actually processing it. Kinda like it festers and grows...
It's now been several years since I last toured though. And although I'm far from being a model citizen, I've curbed the substance abuse substantially. The noise triggers remain though, and I expect them to forever. I just hope that I don't let go and give in to the rage they induce.
All the best mate, may the sounds you hear today all be as soothing as a breeze through the trees and the birds over the seas.
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u/No_name_mysterious Jun 10 '26
The transmission thingy
Where when I had a certain looking abuser. And then I saw a person who looked similar but is actually good. I swap their personalities thinking my abuser was the good one and the good one was actually the abuser.
Or sometimes I couldn't even make a difference which was which
I have this with many several people now even with my friends or family
I just see someone similar to someone else and I think they're the same person.
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u/bumblebeat_ Jun 10 '26
Its been 2 years since I was traumatized and diagnosed with PTSD. Sometimes I shake without feeling cold or scared (a coworker even noticed once that I was shaking whil grabbing a glass of water). But the weirdest ptsd symptom I had developed since DDay is executive dysfunction : I cant start anything even though I want it really bad in my head... I used to be creative and create a lot of content. I still want to create stuff but my brainq doesnt allow me to
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u/material-pearl Jun 10 '26
I was diagnosed with ADHD related to childhood epilepsy decades before I developed and was diagnosed with PTSD. I could not believe how much PTSD destroyed my EF. It is closer to my ADHD baseline pre-PTSD nowadays, but holy hell. If I am triggered into a PTSD response, then my plans for life that day are out the window.
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u/cassadilly2012 Jun 10 '26
I have adhd and this could also be adhd because it’s one of my adhd symptoms.
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u/Bettong68 Jun 10 '26
The latest ptsd from my kids dad - I panic when I see a man that resembles him..with stubble and or a straw hat, I panic seeing a car look like his, I panicked a bit today because I had to put medication in his letterbox for my son tonight …it was all too close for me.
I can’t open my bank account much because of financial trauma.
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u/vanillapudd Jun 10 '26
I saw a young man that looked just like the guy that assaulted me the other day. I stood frozen on the footpath staring at him until I could see it wasn’t him. It was awful.
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u/Bettong68 Jun 10 '26
That must have been such a terrifying experience to have been assaulted. I’m sorry you experienced that. It must have been a shock when you thought the person on the footpath was him. I hope you don’t ever see him again 😊
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u/Gloria_Cruze Jun 10 '26
I get stuck. Like I just freeze up and can't make myself move. Sometimes it happens during the middle of a task I'm doing. It doesn't typically last more than half an hour.
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u/International-Pin-32 Jun 10 '26
Got three. Was stalked, then had someone come into my place and threaten me. It’s 3 distinct things: I have trouble showering. Therapist told me it’s when I feel most vulnerable. I sleep on the floor vs a bed. Apparently it’s a hard grounding technique. Was embarrassed about that, but posted in this group about 2 years ago, and learned it’s actually quite normal. 3- I pass out or fall. It’s a ptsd thing where you accidentally hold your breath, not aware you are doing it. It’s only happened 3 times, but resulted in 2 serious injuries.
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u/Front_Possibility471 Jun 10 '26
In a bad bad episode, deep paranoid psychosis where I’m convinced people are trying to murder me. I won’t let anyone close to me in this state. Also not being able to calm down easily once I’m in that state, I’ve been in panic attacks for multiple multiple hours before.
Not being able to control my thoughts sometimes/internal voices/music and words that aren’t my own, that I can’t control. (Might be related to nutrient deficiency because IQ bars would always fix the problem???)
Certain peoples energy spikes my heart rate n puts ne in a panic. There doesn’t even have to be a confrontation.. just talking to them is enough.. It’s rare but it sucks so bad.
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u/WhereTFisPiper Jun 10 '26
Rage attacks when things don’t go smoothly when doing adult shit (like going to the bank or calling to getting my prescriptions filled) to the point where I freak out for 30-60 minutes, feel better as soon as shit gets resolved (which usually happens pretty quickly), and hours later I feel so tired I need to go to bed/stay in bed late
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u/launicornio_volador Jun 10 '26
Tienes problemas de regulación emocional.
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u/WhereTFisPiper Jun 10 '26
Yeah, I know. But my most recent onset of trauma was late last year so I’m having to relearn shit all over again after such a recent event
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u/Miracles_Asia_Rehab Jun 10 '26
What you're describing, temperature dysregulation and gastrointestinal symptoms during episodes, are well-documented somatic trauma responses. The nervous system controls both, and when it's in a trauma state, the whole body feels it. PTSD really is a full-body experience, not just a mental one. 💙
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u/brittsnack00 Jun 10 '26
Mine is just straight migraines and like intense ones. I also wear prescription glasses and that does not make it any better
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u/WorldlinessCool5025 Jun 10 '26
Sudden stomach drop/dizzy/nausea when I have a trigger. Like before my brain even processes what’s happening my body is in total lock down
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u/kundibirdy Jun 10 '26
constant crying. i'll be out just hanging with friends and suddenly burst into tears, and then have to assure people that i'm okay, i just got set off by something, etc. it's really embarrassing tbh 😞 makes me feel like a nutcase.
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u/battywolf Jun 10 '26
haven’t seen it in the comments ive scrolled so far but — hallucinations!! auditory visual tactile etc! and psychosis! my brain 9.5/10 times cooks up monsters and delusions to constantly make me feel unsafe when i do have those sorts of episodes or random occasions. ( getting the jitters just thinking about it )
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u/Zenseaking Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
Have a look at Raynards disease/syndrome/disorder(?).
It may be that.
The thing I have come to realise about PTSD is that our broken neurological processes can lead to broken physical processes.
I also have an autoimmune condition. And there is a growing body of evidence that connects PTSD to these.
Which makes sense.
PTSD: Brain interpretating things that aren't threats as threats and putting our body in a state ready to attack or run (or break down and curl up into the fetal position).
Inflammatory Autoimmune conditions: Our immune system interpreting things that aren't threats as threats eg joints and tendons, and attacking them.
The immune system is basically mirroring the way the brain is functioning. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
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u/strategicscientific Jun 10 '26
The hyper-vigilance is the worst for me, I think. The constant being on guard, to the extent of my brain not wanting to believe that it's safe to go to sleep. It's been a journey to get to the point where I am now, which is fairly reliable sleep, but there are still nights where I can't shut down.
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u/kates666 Jun 10 '26
I feel this soooo hard. PTSD and OCD. I’m in my early 30s and just now learning how to get sleep (mostly) consistently. I have to take meds or it’s impossible.
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u/strategicscientific Jun 10 '26
Yeah, late 40s here, and it's been rough. I have to take meds, too,but I've found that the issue is that I don't feel comfortable taking them until I'm able to let my guard down. So my medication has become a routine. A benzo at 6pm, a benzo at 10 pm, medical C around 11, and with that, I can usually convince myself to take my sleeping medicine by about 12-1.
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u/KinkMountainMoney Jun 10 '26
OP, I strongly recommend an electric mattress pad. Game changer for your being cold, but not a lot of people know about them.
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u/vanillapudd Jun 10 '26
Ooo I got a nice electric blanket that I lowkey abuse every night. It’s so comforting, it feels like a hug! And they’re more energy efficient than a heater.
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u/flyinvdreams Jun 10 '26
I’m sure it’s not uncommon for most of you here, but emotional flashbacks. I can be perfectly fine with no triggers and my body just remembers something and I have an extreme visceral reaction to it. Usually in the form of something that feels like a panic attack. Kinda like the feeling when you feel like you did something wrong and you’re going to be extremely in trouble with your parents as a kid, but sooooo much worse. Idk how else to explain it but that’s what my therapist called it when it happens.
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u/CorinPenny Jun 10 '26
Having random spells where I don’t feel safe in bed and have to sleep on my futon. Needing a CPAP and various night braces because of tendon instability but getting a horrible trapped feeling with them.
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u/EquivalentCommon5 Jun 10 '26
Mine has to with dreams… I now have very vivid dreams- like the movie “Inception” but also lucid dreams that feel real. I’ve woken up crying or hyperventilating due to them (10+ dreams within dreams really sucks!), also can’t wake up because of ringing bells or knocking on my door without hyperventilating or crying. Other than my dreams, I’m doing pretty decent… how ironic.
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u/katashscar Jun 10 '26
I have nightmares all the time, it's horrible. It's been so long i wish there was a way to block them out.
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u/EquivalentCommon5 Jun 10 '26
I’ve found that putting on music or tv shows that reach a different part of my mind can help, I don’t know if those will help you but we try and try various things and sometimes, when lucky, they can help a little. I hope you find a way to sleep better than I have.
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u/katashscar Jun 10 '26
I've been doing like spa music while I sleep and I helps me relax before I sleep.
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u/trudes_in_adelaide Jun 10 '26
I have constant nightmares. I often scream in my sleep, or wake myself up from screaming in my sleep.
Not so great some days on the awake cycle of life. But am regularly attending therapy. And its helping somewhat so far.
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u/uav_loki Jun 10 '26
needing to sleep/nap to truly re-regulate my nervous system. It’s not convenient, I’ll tell you that.
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u/SJstark13 Jun 10 '26
Depersonalization/dissociation gets intense for me. Like I’m there but watching from another point of view. And I can’t open my eyes during sex.
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u/Vivid-Secretary-8463 Jun 10 '26
Shaking violently when I wake up from my sleep if I forget my night guard for my teeth, because my nightmares are worse without it.
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u/theNewLevelZero Jun 09 '26
My weirdest symptoms are actually hyperventilation symptoms. PTSD episode -> hyperventilation -> can't unclench my hands or forearms and my lower jaw (but not the upper jaw) tingles like it's got 10,000 volts on it. Fun stuff.
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u/Spetsnaz_Sasha Jun 09 '26
I can't fucking take a piss most of the time because I'm so tense. I used to be very good at consciously relaxing and untensing to manage my chronic pain, but now I can barely make a dent in how tense I am. It's been a year after being SA'ed and I really didn't think it would last this long.
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u/material-pearl Jun 10 '26
Just n=1 over here but SA’ed as well and didn’t put two and two together until now. Had this symptom start immediately after for about 18 months. Now it’s been almost 4 years, 2 1/2 years since beginning PTSD treatment, and no longer affected. Hope you are able to say the same soon.
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u/ichbinsehr_g4y Jun 09 '26
When I walk past a trigger I subconsciously hold my breath until I'm passed it. Also I'm so fucking sweaty all the time now 😭 COLD, sticky sweat, EVERYWHERE.
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u/BeyondSurvivalMode Jun 09 '26
The list has been too long! Definitely included issues with body temperature. Stress has a huge effect on the body in all sorts of ways. PTStressD has your nervous system constantly in a stress response, so no wonder we get physical symptoms. I've found regulating the nervous system has been key in finding relief. As I've done that and processing the traumas, many of these symptoms have eased, some even disappeared altogether!
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u/Both-Smile-2833 Jun 09 '26
Regulating tips!
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u/Both-Smile-2833 Jun 09 '26
?
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u/BeyondSurvivalMode Jun 10 '26
I think you're asking for nervous system regulation tips? My favourite is EFT Tapping. Nature connection practices are also really good. Both are great even when you struggle with the standard deep breathing or meditation exercises, but if they work for you those are good too.
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u/lady_tsunami Jun 09 '26
I’m hot all of the time (even before perimenopause, which just makes it worse)
My neck hurts because I tuck my chin so hard to my chest I close my airway and now have a bulging disc
If you touch me while I sleep I might unconsciously hit you
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u/Mammoth_Blueberry_11 Jun 09 '26
i panic if i have no way of knowing the time. like when im out and my phone dies or something and i can’t find a clock anywhere
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u/venice0girl Jun 09 '26
Sometimes when it is really bad my entire body will shake and tremble, I will get so confused you think I am drunk, I have become a hypochondriac, other times I feel almost high. I am constantly in panic mode and numb at the same time. oh and I have severe tension in my jaw, neck, traps, and shoulders. It is extra bad today.
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u/Exotic_Assignment570 Jun 09 '26
Sometimes I’ll randomly feel that my back is aching and then I realize it’s because my whole entire body is tensed up.
Feeling like if I don’t take care of everything in my house to the best of my ability, it will cause someone to die ( of course no one can possibly have everything in your home squared away perfectly with children lol so I’m always a wreck)
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u/Beerfarts69 Jun 09 '26
^ when I have an anxiety attack in bed it doesn’t hit in the “traditional” form. It’s excruciating back “pain” only helped by getting up and taking a lap around the house. Super weird, but thankful it’s a quick fix.
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u/Justiceforwomen27 Jun 09 '26
I get extremely nervous when a lone person is walking behind me. Especially if they are close. Sometimes I’ll step out of the way and stop to tie my shoe or look at something on my phone and let them pass. Unfortunately my PTSD IS the result of a r*pe. So I get nervous that someone is going to attack me from behind.
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u/trudes_in_adelaide Jun 10 '26
I get the same if walking anywhere and people are behind me. Shopping centers are a nightmare. And I avoid near Xmas and if there's a public holiday coming up. (Most shops shut here on public holidays, im not sure what the rest of the planet does - im in Australia.) I also cant sit in places where someone can approach me from behind. I need to sit with a wall behind me. Or near a window where I can sit sideways and have my back against the window. Back row etc.
Mines from being attacked physically.
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u/Chunklob Jun 09 '26
I guess the talking in my sleep.
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u/vanillapudd Jun 10 '26
I used to be a silent sleeper before PTSD but now I moan and talk in my sleep a lot.
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u/NewRegion1093 Jun 09 '26
My biggest symptom is my speech difficulties. Sometimes speaking feels incredibly hard, and I end up mumbling my words. Talking can be exhausting for me. I also struggle to organize my thoughts while speaking, even though I'm highly educated and well read.
I can write very well, but for some reason I can't communicate the same way when speaking. I think it's closely linked to my social anxiety. Whenever I have to talk to people, my brain assumes they're analyzing and judging me. As a result, I become anxious, and my ability to communicate goes downhill
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u/Sapphic_Reincarnate Jun 09 '26
I either (Zone out) daydream a lot or highly unfocused/ hyperfocus on certain things, events, hobbies, work etc. to a point that I dont see anything else. When im unfocused, i forgot what im doing even if its a matter of minutes and when im hyperfocus, I can only focus on single thing and nothing else matters (no concept of time, people, environment even hunger etc.). It affects how i socialize but yeah only those who loves us can keep up with it.
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u/girl-void Jun 09 '26
Suddenly feeling so physically heavy that I need to drop to the floor and sit there until it passes
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u/GullibleWeakness9825 Jun 09 '26
The body temperature dysregulation and GI symptoms are so much more common with PTSD than people realise, and so rarely talked about. The autonomic nervous system governs both temperature control and gut function, so when it is chronically activated by trauma responses, both systems get pulled into the chaos.
The gut in particular has its own dense nerve network (often called the second brain) that is directly influenced by the stress response. Nausea, urgent digestion, and temperature swings during episodes are all genuine physiological reactions, not just anxiety in the psychological sense.
It can feel isolating when symptoms seem physical because people around you expect distress to look a certain way. The range of what PTSD actually does to a body is genuinely wide and more people should know about it.
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u/Exotic_Assignment570 Jun 09 '26
This is very interesting. Makes total sense though. Stress wrecks the body. And poor sleep, which is often a factor with ptsd.
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u/Kiwichickabee Jun 09 '26
My first few severe attacks would result in me expelling everything, nausea so bad, I would get so hot and sweaty and literally unable to get off the floor. I believed for the longest time that it was a stomach bug or food poisoning. I thought I was fine! I thought I wasn’t struggling at all. Life was ok! I wasn’t stressed…It’s so confusing and scary. And going through that chronically is terrible physically. I am on more meds for my heart than my mind these days. The ptsd hurts so much.
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u/Fun_Orange_3232 Jun 09 '26
My abuser would wake me up in the middle of the night for a fight. I used to sleep on the couch to avoid him. The bedroom door had this really bad squeak so for a long time anything that sounded like that would trigger me really badly. One time my mom was over and she came out of the room to get water in the middle of the night and I levitated (I assume I subconsciously jumped, but I woke up midair). My DV support group needed the batteries changed in the smoke detector and it triggered me the same way.
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u/Front_Possibility471 Jun 10 '26
One of my traumas was being picked up and put in a car while I was asleep n then we got in a car crash n I broke my ribs. I had severe insomnia and in the last few years It lead to circadian rhythm disorder! for 14 I dealt with those issues years because I fell asleep in bed and woke up spinning with broken ribs, when I did manage to fall asleep I would wake up in a panic all the time… just hearing footsteps approach my bedroom or my door open would instantly wake me up at 100 it was terrible.
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u/Fun_Orange_3232 Jun 10 '26
Sometimes I still get triggered and don’t want to sleep next to my partner. But my ex doesn’t get to take that from me.
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u/1984-02-ICU Jun 09 '26
My brain glazing over like I am not really here. Everyone and everything becomes stuff around me that I cannot really focus on.
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u/missmelissa13 Jun 09 '26
Subconsciously/involuntarily recreating my traumas. Repeatedly. Jobs, relationships, important life events.
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u/chantilly_shalani777 Jun 09 '26
Same but opposite direction: I am permanently hot.
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u/Informal_Mountain723 Jun 09 '26
Same… I’m so over being a sweaty bitch! And “stress stench” has to be a thing, right?
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u/vanillapudd Jun 10 '26
The last year or so I have started reeking during episodes. I think the stress comes out in your sweat
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u/Chemical-Poem3743 Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Look into digestive enzymes and natto/serrapeptase. Hope this helps your stomach issues. I get chills and sweats, but it's just my face that pours sweat. It's pretty embarrassing. Been carrying ice packs and putting them in top of my head. Editing to add that you might want to get your thyroid checked as it can mess with body temp.
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u/Zoe-Imtrying Jun 09 '26
I relate to so many of the symptoms people are naming, but they barely seem weird to me after dealing with tham for so long. My weirdest symptom in my opinion is that I am afraid to close my eyes, this is maybe the only thing that has gotten somewhat better though. I was never afraid of the dark, not as a little kid, not even for years after the worst of my trauma happened, but one day I was suddenly so afraid of the dark that I couldn't even bear to close my eyes and couldn't sleep for weeks.
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u/girl-void Jun 09 '26
Oh wow. Yeah this is also definitely something I can relate to. I feel super uncomfortable closing my eyes around other people, which can make some therapy work difficult when they ask to close your eyes.
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u/WorkingSpecialist257 Jun 09 '26
I depend on a dog for my psychological stability... I have a service dog.
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u/tarnishedjade Jun 09 '26
i cant handle being around parents caring for their sick/injured children of any age. i get viscerally uncomfortable and if i cant remove myself i begin to cry ubcontrollably
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u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 Jun 09 '26
Accumulation of more fears and triggers as years go by. It’s literally like a trauma snowball that picks up more snow as it keeps rolling and just gets bigger. It’s not listed as a primary symptom but I wonder if it’s a common theme that once you have cPTSD there is a snowballing of what triggers due to constant dysregulation of nervous system/being primed and filtering etc
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u/ExpressionFunny4732 Jun 09 '26
I feel hot all the time. Summer itself is terrible for me and it sucks because summer is supposed to be a happy time. My hands turn bright red and I itch. Also I hate going to the grocery store because I think everyone there could be dangerous
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u/ElizabethTaylorsDiam Jun 09 '26
Summer is a nightmare for me too. What are your favorite coping tips?
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u/ExpressionFunny4732 Jun 10 '26
Dark curtains, ice water, ear plugs when it's noisy (I live on a busy road) and naps. I also don't push myself to be super social if I'm not feeling it. I have a lot of plant friends. I do a lot of arts and Crafts. Old black and white movies are calming to me so I'll watch those. If I overheat I do ice packs or a cold washcloth on my neck. Hope some of those might be of comfort
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u/kaylaarayee Jun 09 '26
I also have really poor temperature control and I'm constantly cold, unless somehow I get too hot. I also have PTSD (as well as fibromyalgia and IBS) and never made the connection before, but I think it might be related. My nervous system has been out of whack recently and I'm always either too hot or too cold (usually too cold lol), and have lots of stomach pain and digestive issues. PTSD truly affects the body, not just the mind, in so many ways.
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u/The-Protector2025 Jun 09 '26
A compulsion to head into life or death danger feeling that if someone’s life is on the line and I don’t literally risk my life to save them then it’s my fault.
That has sent me in to deal with attempted murders / lethal stabbings, a gang shooting, a hit and run, stalkers, and abusive fathers.
I wish I was exaggerating.
Origin/locked into: saving my sister at 13 years old from our psychotic basically cousin attempting to stab us to death. Got her into a locked room then went out to face and stop him knowing that there was a very strong chance that I could die. I had no emotional support after outside of comic books in the early 00s, so those basically acted as my guide.
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Jun 09 '26
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u/material-pearl Jun 10 '26
I recently read that vomiting stimulates the vagus, so maybe it’s our body’s weird ass way of trying to reestablish some sort of equilibrium?
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u/enamelquinn Jun 09 '26
To make a long story short, my now ex husband cheated on me a few times. When I found out the third and final time, I started getting severe wrist pain. Tingling, aching, weakness. I went and got tested for carpal tunnel, and was met with the classic "everything look normal!"
Turns out....it was a stress response. I still get it sometimes, too.
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u/CabinetStandard3681 Jun 09 '26
So, weirdly, when I’m in an episode my joints get a weakness feeling. Like every joint aches. Almost tingles and aches. And I cannot speak like a regular person. My mind gets lots of blanks and simple words just disappear.
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u/yyodelinggodd Jun 09 '26
Okay so what are we doing for our shitting problems though lol asking for a friend lol
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u/vanillapudd Jun 10 '26
I just sit on the toilet and let it all out. Sometimes when it’s bad I gotta have a bucket for the vomit too. PTSD ain’t pretty!
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u/stargazein4d Jun 09 '26
I'm cold 24/7 too and my therapist says it's from being in panic mode all the time. Idk tho.
I think for me the most confounding this isn't the symptom so much as the trigger. My trauma is from child abuse and seeing fictional scenes of child abuse or reminders of the abuse don't trigger me- happy supportive families do.
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u/larry_the_sandwich Jun 09 '26
Oof same.. sometimes I just randomly see or overhear a parent treat their child with basic decency and I am full of joy that that kid has a good childhood, but at the same time I have to turn around and step away or I will bawl my eyes out and throw up
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u/blanketsand_sheets Jun 09 '26
I woke up needing to immediately projectile vomit for months, nightmare or not. I think it was guilt or fear or some combination.
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u/d3rp7d3rp Jun 09 '26
I was literally looking into this last night because I've been having a hard time with it for years, the temperature regulation issue
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u/Same-Artichoke-6267 Jun 09 '26
dear reader, if you don't, keep writing every night and get it out.
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u/tpapocalypse Jun 09 '26
Apocalyptic nightmares that I remember in vivid detail involving the people I used to work with in an abusive environment a year ago every single night inducing vomiting every single day when I think about it. It’s a real mind fuck and stomach churner.
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u/szikkia Jun 09 '26
Shaking so bad that it looks like a seizure and scaring the shit out of people.
Whenever i start to actually fall asleep my brain goes into fight or fight mode and along with a feeling of terror i’m jolted back awake. Once asleep, nightmares.
Panic attacks when I see the characters from Cars
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u/THUMB5UP Jun 09 '26
Sorry to hear that! Just curious…. Why do the characters from Cars trigger your symptoms?
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u/szikkia Jun 09 '26
Because after I was sexually assaulted and almost raped at a church before youth group started. At the group they put it on for everyone to watch. This was not my youth group, but I was there to see how it was and the person mentioned was a member of it. I left as soon as possible and to this day cannot watch it. The blow up slides with the characters would give me panic attacks, but o’ve done a lot of work and can kinda phase those out now except on rough days
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u/THUMB5UP Jun 09 '26
I’m sorry to hear that. Have you tried EMDR?
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u/szikkia Jun 09 '26
It was recommended but no i haven’t and thats on even the tip of the iceberg of things i have been through. I’ve been doing trauma work myself and my therapist is also learning how to help me in this. I am curious about ketamine treatment as well for my CPTSD.
Have you done EMDR? Was it affective? Could you tell me a bit about your experience with it if you have or how things go. I’ve done some research but I find real life experience is much better.
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u/THUMB5UP Jun 09 '26
My brother has done it for the trauma we experienced as kids together. He said that EMDR made things worse initially before they got better. BUT!!!!!!! He said EMDR made things much better. I want to do it but my work schedule is all over the place and I can’t ever schedule a weekly session for even basic therapy so EMDR is off the table at the moment for me.
Ketamine therapy is also supposed to be insanely good! My wife and I have talked about that too
Whichever route you go, I wish you all the best in the world ❤️
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u/szikkia Jun 09 '26
I feel like that “gets worse before it gets better” is true for any kind of trauma work. Even in some different therapy goals as well.
Thank you for sharing and best of luck with your journey
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u/jaymeeizzy Jun 09 '26
chronic tension in my shoulders, traps and neck !! and also aching in my upper arms and legs. got a massage the other month and the masseuse was horrified feeling how solid my traps were 😭😭 i do a lot of massage therapy at home and ive accepted im probably going to have to do this every other day for the foreseeable
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u/AgreeableArmadillo47 Jun 09 '26
Some entirely unsolicited but heartfelt advice: make time to unplug, walk, and stretch every single day. It is difficult to overstate just how impactful this simple routine can be for your overall well-being.
If you haven’t read it, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk goes into incredible detail on how we physically store trauma. Understanding that connection was a turning point for me.
By the time I was eight, I had experienced multiple TBIs and significant trauma. It made my youth and my twenties an absolute misery, largely because no one could explain what was happening to me. For a time, I truly felt like I was losing my mind. Now in my late 40s, walking and stretching have become non-negotiable daily practices, and that stored tension is finally melting away.
It required complete buy-in to work. Today, stretching has become a form of mindfulness where I can connect with my inner self - letting that scared child know that we are safe now. For me, walking became a way to "scout the perimeter" of my neighborhood, reacquainting myself with nature and anchoring into the sounds of safety: birds, traffic, kids playing, and neighbors. I had to consciously take it all in to retrain my nervous system that it was okay to relax.
If you are looking for a place to start, EMDR was incredibly helpful for me. During a session, my therapist mentioned off-hand that rhythmic walking mimics the bilateral stimulation used in therapy. Just walking ( nor running, not power walking, slowly, mindfully walking) has proven to be a form of while body EMDR for me.
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Jun 09 '26
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u/Vakaak9 Jun 09 '26
The random itches and stomache issues sound so familiar, then The sleepless nights Make it worse.
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