I was diagnosed with PTSD in November, 2013. I finally found a good therapist with whom I started working one month ago. Despite their good intentions, my family triggers me. I literally flee when I see or talk to them. I know a bear isn't chasing me. The last time I saw my mom at my son's baseball game I ran to our car and had my husband drive me home and I hid in my room. My family doesn't "get" it and they just try to cheer me up. They are actually in denial about the whole thing because it is too painful for them to try and be with me in my pain and depression.

My sister called today (she lives near SF) and announced that she, her husband and my parents were planning a long visit with me and my family this summer. I can't be with my mom longer than 20 minutes without wanting to hide. How can I possibly cope with all my family? Spend the whole visit hiding in my room with my heart pounding. My kid's have seen me suffer enough. I'm angry that my sister didn't ask me if a visit was in order. They know how much pain I'm in.

I'm in unbearable pain about this. Has anyone had something like this happen? I sent my sister an email and asked her if she could arrange with my parent's a time to meet my husband and kid's in some other town. I told her it was too painful to see her and the gang would trigger me. Was this too impulsive? They don't sooth me. I hate seeing my kid's go away without me, but my mental health is so frail now I'm afraid a visit would add even more catastrophic stress.: