My father died of cancer when I was 12.

I told the psychiatrist that I have not been able to go back to the town where we lived because just the thought of going there produced extreme anxiety. I have had bad, spooky dreams all my life about our house. I have eerie memories of him sitting in the darkened house if ever I'd wake up and go to the kitchen. He's just sit in the dark and I only knew he was there because I'd see the butt of his cigarette while he smoked.

It wasn't just that he died of cancer, he smoked four packs a day and had major depression and psychosis (but that might have been from negligent drug treatment by a doctor).

Of course it all spooked me.

The doctor diagnosed me with PTSD.

Also, my mother is totally traumatized and never recovered.

And when do I think trauma crosses the line to PTSD is a measure of one's reaction to the trauma. If you get extreme anxiety reaction, it is that reaction that is PTSD.