How do I better deal with people interrupting me?

So an issue that I have that almost got me into trouble a moment ago is I have a problem with getting angry at people when I'm in the middle of doing something and they interrupt me.

Here's an example: I've been busy most of the day aside from the brief period where I was posting on PC earlier. I've been working and studying most of the day since I got up at 8 AM and I just got home about 20 minutes ago.

Not even 5 minutes before I could even enjoy a cup of coffee or eat the maintenence man comes banging on my door which anytime somebody bangs on my door loudly like that it triggers my PTSD which causes me to go into pure survival mode where I'm ready to fight somebody.

So anyways, the maintenence man wants to spray again for bed bugs at the very last minute after I just bug bombed myself today when I didn't even put a freaking order again so I run to my door after his loud banging and start yelling saying things like who the **** is there and leave me the **** alone and stuff like that which happens when I am triggered by somebody making loud banging noises or acting aggressively towards me. If the guy didn't identify himself I was ready to pull a knife on him in fact. The guy looked rather terrified of me because he was all like "I just wanted to spray for bed bugs I will mark it as done" and what not while looking like he wanted to get away from me as fast as possible.

Even if I did put an order in, it still makes me angry when they won't give me a freaking heads up before coming over to spray or perform any task that would require me to leave for more than 2 hours especially considering the fact that I don't drive so coming over expecting me to leave for up to 4 hours at almost 4PM out of the blue without ample time to prepare is asking too much out of me and since most of the bus routes where I live close down at 7PM if I went out to do something I would have to find my own way home.

How dare they.

While I'm usually not this bad, this is just one extreme example of how I can get when somebody interrupts me when I'm in the middle of doing something. It doesn't typically happen when I'm doing some kind of work on a team with other people and I'm generally not violent or a threat to people but when I'm off the clock you better leave me the hell alone because if I'm playing my game or studying or something and I have to drop what I'm doing when I'm having my "me" time to deal with you, you are not going to like me.

How can I tone this down a bit?

This can be one of the symptoms of PTSD, I have struggled with this myself. It's from how a trauma or even several traumas interrupted your life so now you are very sensitive.

I struggle a lot because of how my husband who has both ADHD and Dyslexia is one that constantly interrupts me and talks over me which is something some individuals with ADHD do. Sorry, it sounds like your normal has a lot of hypervigilance in it.

Thanks.

I don't want to be such a nasty person to others who I know from a logical standpoint that they only want to help me but I've always had this problem to some degree even though I've improved in recent years.

Back when I was a teen/young adult and I was living with relatives, I used to get so angry when they came in my room without knocking and I was deep in thought doing something that I would outright start yelling and cussing for no apparent reasoning all because they dare intruded into the one place where I felt safe and interrupted what I was doing.

When people do stuff like that it feels like that they are barging into my safe zone and I feel threatened when that happens.

Yes, I can understand the PTSD and how anxious the situation would be.

The bed bug thing though is a serious issue and must be dealt with in a timely and scheduled manner. You can't incidentally do it yourself with a do-it-yourself bug bomb. Let him in to do it professionally.

It was taken care of professionally weeks ago though and they JUST sprayed again last week.

I added the bug bomb in for good measure.

I don't have a problem with them spraying by any means but I would like at least a 24 hour heads up so I can plan my next day around them. I can't deal with them coming by out of the blue expecting me to drop what I'm doing and leave my place for 2-4 hours especially when it's already late in the afternoon and I have trouble as it is getting around since I don't have a car.

Hello my friend ❤,

First, let me say - I applaud you for recognizing and taking responsibility for the negative behavior you SOMETIMES display. (When we speak I find you rather delightful, intriguing, and intelligent.) PTSD does often times cause unwanted behaviors when triggered - but anytime you are triggered (be it PTSD, depression, anxiety, DID, or anything else) your behaviors are likely to be those you regret later. I really do not know a way to insure a good way to control "triggered behavior" after you are triggered. The best method is preventative. Tell those who will be around you routinely things they should not do so you do not become triggered - be willing to give a brief explanation as to why if asked, and with things like the knocking ... hang a note on the door with something like "don't wake the monster inside. knock softly please" Those are some suggestions, but maybe you will be able to think of better.

❤

I hope you are doing well now!

Hmm... how about placing a "Do Not Disturb/Knock!" outside your door or another sign with similar context?

Thanks. I don't like the idea of telling ever person that I deal with or that comes to my place that I have PTSD.

I, however, will be having a nice little talk with management soon about them sending people here out of the blue without giving me ample time to prepare.

I would be cool with them just calling me to let me know that they are sending pest control or somebody to complete a work order that I filled ahead of time. Last couple of times they have been good about it when I went to the management office to talk to them but since I didn't fill any orders and the landlady specifically said she didn't want to use the spray anymore because she doesn't think it helps so him coming by caught me off guard.

I like Obsidian's idea though. I am going to go find a really cool do not disturb sign that I can take down when I don't mind having company.

I never meant to tell them you have PTSD ❤
But for instance with people who will be around you a lot ... Simply say something like "loud noises bother me, so please keep it quiet", as an example in that one area.

My PTSD has to do with thunderstorms - its not as bad as it once was. Back at the beginning, if the slightest thunder rumble or faintest lightning flare - my face would go white, I would turn cold and motionless. The only way I could prevent SOME of it from happening was by keeping window blinds closed and curtains up all the time so I never even noticed the sky. Never could prevent the noise though. Only people that ever were aware of my PTSD though were those I lived with. My co-workers just thought I had it as one of my sensitivities as did everyone else. So I got picked on (in fun ...) at times, but never was I "outted". It was more like - picking on someone in jest.

(and when i said do not wake the monster inside... I was not meaning inside of you - but inside your home ... I was keeping it light hearted)

You do have a point, however, I think that would make me look like a bit of a hypocrite considering the fact that I'm an avid video gamer who has a bad habit of yelling and using profanity towards teammates either through voice chat or just yelling at my game when people are being idiots or cheering really loudly when I win a hard game match lolol

If not a hypocrite, it might make me look a bit weak in front of people and I don't like showing weakness to people.

I'm just going to grab a removable do not disturb sign and I will take it down when I'm feeling better or expecting company and keep it up when I'm not; if somebody has the nerve to come banging on my door when the sign is up then it's their fault for getting yelled at.

Okie dokes ❤