[MtnTime2896]

Will I ever be okay? I mean, I've met so many people with PTSD and I've never seen one who's better and no longer dealing with flashbacks and nightmares on a daily basis. Will I ever be off of this fight or flight mode? The littlest things make me jump out of my skin and the people around me (even if I know them through and through) keep me on edge. I know it's not them that I'm uncomfortable with but it doesn't help that they're all pretty loud and sometimes touchy. I can't be around people. I don't know how I'm going to go back to work seeing as how I'm a cashier at a supercenter so being around people is all I do, in a loud *** environment, no less. How am I suppose to do anything at this point?
Am I always going to be this messed up?

[Open Eyes]

Try to go back to work, take it one day at a time, the most important thing to slowly learn is that you can actually be ok around people, often it is better with people you don't know because they are not expecting you to be anything more then what you are doing behind that counter as a cashier. You also may find that you slowly develop a resistance to the noise in the place where you work too. Sometimes consistent noise is better than having it quiet and then sudden noises. I found that I sleep better with the TV on for example, because it is constant noise and I think that has been better then too much quiet.

[Skeezyks]

Hello So leigheas: The Skeezyks has pretty-much the same situation you do... except that I've now aged into my retirement years. I've never been diagnosed as having PRSD. (Actually I've never been given a diagnosis, period.) But I think I pretty-much have all the symptoms whether one wants to call it PTSD or something else.

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news here. But if my experience is any indication (maybe it is... maybe it isn't) I would have to say the likelihood is you'll be dealing with your PTSD in one way or another for your entire lifetime. At least this has been the case for me. My symptoms have waxed-&-waned over time, depending on what else was going on in my life. But they've always been there to one extent or another.

I never understood what was going on with me & how much of an impact it would have on my life. I kept trying to force myself to do things I simply wasn't psychologically capable of. This was particularly the case with regard to employment. I pursed employment situations that required a lot of public contact, when I HATED public contact & absolutely lacked the ability to handle it. I thought that if I just kept pounding away at it, eventually I'd adjust. I never did. Consequently, I was miserable most of the time & I seldom produced quality results.

So my advice for what it's worth (perhaps not much) is to take an honest look at what you are & aren't able to handle & try to organize your life (vocational & otherwise) to suit the person you are. Do not, as I did, try to ignore your limitations, pretend they don't exist & just keep slogging on. I sincerely believe you can have a great life even with your PTSD! But you need to work within the limitations PTSD puts on you not struggle against it. I wish you well...