RockMaterial,

I think you should look up PTSD and read through the symptoms to see if these symptoms describe "you".

Yes, many people who struggle with PTSD think that a "trauma" needs to be more severe then their challenges. However, what people do "not" understand is that PTSD can happen due to someone being under a long period of "stress, uncertainty, abandonment, and instability in their home environment growing up".

What are your "night terrors about"? Night terrors are usually connected to a "period of fear and stress and uncertainty". Feeling on "edge and rattling from the inside out" also comes from some "deep fear, sense of abandonment and lack of control" too.

If we grow up with a "positive" mentor that shows us how to react in spite of how other people have "issues" and express "dysfunction" we gain a sense of stability and permission to "thrive" better. When we don't have that positive element, we often "struggle" with the "how to's" we need to thrive better in life.

It is known that people struggle from childhood bullying too, same thing basically where they are met with others who "invalidate them" in some way so that they question their self worth and life itself too.

So, PTSD is not just about Veterans or facing "big traumas" it can also come from a long period of challenges and lack of support as you are describing too.

It is good to know you are working with a therapist. You need to spend time talking about how you were "really affected" and work through it all until you can overcome these night terrors and slowly resolve the "fear and challenges of your past".

(((Hugs)))
OE