Can emotonal ab*se create PTSD?

I read a post in the survivers of ab*se fourm. i was just wondering, now that I think of it, seeing this board, if emotina;l/ verble/ phycological ab*se, can create PTSD, and if so, what are some things people could get triggered about?

ShadowsinTheDay

Yes, those things can cause PTSD. Triggers are different for everyone but it's usually reminders of the trauma. I would suppose loud voices might trigger someoone who has been verbally abused, or maybe certain words the abuser used. Things like that.

I agree with Pet.....I have extreme anxiety attacks when I see/hear anyone working on a car who starts yelling/swearing/throwing things because of how my ex used to be when he was working on our vehicles. I have to turn heel and get the heck away from anyone like that otherwise I'll be reduced to a crying babbling person.....and that would not be good!

You bet it can!! My first husband was very verbally and emotionally abusive to me. One of his greatest weapons was to convince me that I was crazy and I didn't know what I had said, didn't know what I was saying in the present and accused me of saying things when I wasn't even talking!!

I didn't know this had left scars bad enough to cause PTSD, but it had. Someone, not too long ago, suggested that I was so stressed out that I didn't know what I was saying. YIKES!!! Did that ever trigger me!!! I couldn't talk to that person for months!!

I wasn't stressed out and I certainly DID know what I was saying... much like when I was married to that first excuse for a husband.

Oh, by the way... it's okay to spell out "abuse."

Hells yes it can.

He never hit me, but I spent a few years looking over my shoulder. Just because there were no bruises doesn't mean you didn't get hurt, and just because you can't see scars doesn't mean they aren't there.

My triggers were engines gunning (because he used to drive around the place I was hiding trying to get me to come out), certain songs, people who looked similar to him, places that looked similar to where we lived... I still don't like his name and won't use it or even think it if I can help it. I got rid of almost every belonging that reminded me of that time, including dishes and clothes. I have a hard time visiting my old workplace in case he is there. I don't talk to old mutual friends any more, and when I bump into them I don't discuss him at all, even if they offer information about him.

Five years later, I'm still working on some of this stuff, but mostly I'm over it, and so very glad. Still wouldn't want to run into him if I could help it, but I wouldn't fall to pieces if we ended up in the same place at the same time either. Not afraid of him any more

Oh, FRAK yes, abuse of any kind can cause PTSD. My first therapist diagnosed me, then because I was forced to move, I had to get a new one and a PDOC. I shared the diagnosis I'd been given and my PDOC tried to argue with me. I said look Doc, I didn't come up with this my therapist did, before you go assuming, why don't you find out? So we talked for about an hour.

Seems I have several primary causes, and some secondary causes. Shut him right up in a big hurry, not that it's what I wanted.

It's now four years since my husband left me, and one since he died. I'm still finding triggers. Life is very much like living in the middle of a minefield and the slightest move sets one off. The wrong tone of voice, words used, look on someones face, certain songs on the radio, something I don't even fully see, you know something out of the corner of your eye kind of thing. These are all triggers. People wanting more from me than I can do, not taking NO for an answer, complete disregard for MY FEELINS, MY NEEDS, so many, many things can set me off, and when it happens, my day is gone. Over, finis, kaput! Sometimes (though thankfully not in a while) dreams can be triggers. Nightmares so bad I wake up and wanted to die not to ever have to have another dream like that, an of course the dream being fresh in my head, set me off. . . Hate it.

I could go on, but even thinking about it hurts some . . . I hate this . . .

Sorry to say, but yeah, emotional abuse can and does cause PTSD. . .

So, you Pdoc... He/she wa fighting with you BECAUSE the PTSD came from Emotonal ab*se?

Thanks all who replyed, and everyone whos ever going to reply. . Ya, feel free to still make comments and stuff. .

ShadowsinTheDay