THANK YOU for this post. As someone else who grew up in a household that was extremely abusive on multiple levels it’s like there’s a whole different energy in the air. And that shit lasts with you. I’ve been out of my abusive situation for 8 years now (PT school to take care of myself has kept me in school longer) and even just yesterday my friend had a slightly different cadence to her walk and I was convinced she was pissed off at me. Hyper vigilance is a totally a symptom of PTSD

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For further context, I have been diagnosed with PTSD, and I was abused as a child including but not limited to physically. I can tell who out of my family members is approaching me, and if it is one of my parents I can also tell how they are feeling. I swear to god my dad walks so different when he’s mad! This was important information to have, growing up the way I did. Both of my parents’ angry walking does trigger a trauma response for me.

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But also that being said as someone with CPTSD I do get MASSIVELY annoyed with people acting like their more normal childhood traumas equate to ours is the same. Like yes, apples and oranges it fucked you up I understand but your mom being bitchy to you and you associating burnt toast to her is NOT the same thing as being afraid of what might come to you after hearing slamming cabinet doors or breaking dishes.

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Like I respect the trauma. I understand your perspective. I had a “friend” of mine the other day try telling me that his mother body shaming him was worse than my experience with a physically and sexually abusive father with ASPD. Like yes. Horrible. I wish she didn’t do that to you no one deserves that. But also read a damn room especially if you know what the other person has been through.

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I feel like it's true even if it's not inherently "linked" to a specific trauma, paying that much attention to your surroundings is just a sign of hyper vigilance in general.

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