In 2009 I had a psychotic break (the only one I have ever experienced). When I remember that period, I get shaky and upset and I feel like I want to curl up in a ball and cry.

I know that people normally have PTSD in response to real-life traumatic experiences. During the time when I was psychotic, I experienced so many weird and terrifying things, but I was like a machine - I was sometimes startled and annoyed by the hallucinations, but I trudged forward through the flames. I never missed a day of work even though sometimes I had only been able to get an hour of sleep. I tried to act like nothing was happening, and mostly I don't think anybody else was aware of what I was experiencing (except for a few people that I talked to).

That was five years ago, but when I remember I still feel shaky and broken. I'm getting better gradually. I don't know if that is PTSD or what.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far.