Hi Rpierfelice, welcome to PC and the PTSD forum. Well, none of us can diagnose you here, but I can say that what you experienced could have been enough to result with post traumatic stress. PTS can happen with anyone who experiences a traumatic event where they either feel their life is endanger or the life of someone else.

I think it is good that you are talking about it, explaining how it has affected you and that you are concerned about this challenge. You may not have PTSD, however, you may be sensitive to anything that might remind you of that event that clearly frightened and deeply disturbed you and you felt you had no control over it.

It could have been the drugs that contributed to this individual's behavior, he may have been experiencing a psychotic episode. It's not good to mix drugs like that because it can throw off the chemicals in the brain that can produce some troubling behaviors. Even marijuana can be a batch that contains high levels of THC that can have a really bad affect on the brain too. Some people get involved with drugs and that can lead to them becoming unpredictable so it's better to stay away from people that are involved with drug using. There are people who already have problems that use drugs to escape and it sounds like this individual is already unstable and should be getting help.

I had to move away from a group of people that were into drugs and my husband was a binge alcoholic and I hated when he was around this group of friends because they always talked him into getting wasted. My husband has been sober for 25 years now and we stay away from individuals that get involved with drugs. Your wife may need to distance from this friend because it sounds like this friend may be codependent if she is still with this unpredictable individual. Unless he gets help with this challenge he can remain "a risk" for her.

I think you should seek out a therapist, preferably a therapist that works with individuals who have been traumatized so you can talk more about this, how it has affected you and slowly get the support you need to work through it so you don't struggle alone with it.

(((Welcoming Supportive Hugs))))
OE