Evelyn:

Wow, you have some questions to think about. When I think of shock I think of feeling immobilized, paralyzed, numb and really "spaced out." I don't know for sure if this is shock, but I have experienced these things after traumatic events, times. And I know I have experienced these things during a recollection, memory flashblack. I don't know if it was gradual or sudden. I know when I was raped I felt "far away" from everything, and emotionally numb. That was years ago though. The 5 years of therapy with the ____ therapist, I couldn't tell you if or when I felt shock. And I didn't know I had PTSD. I guess whenever there has been something traumatic my usual reaction was to go numb, space out . . . I guess someone looking at me would see me staring off in the distance, not really "with it", and possibly not responsive for a few seconds???

I don't believe one can be in constant shock; I would think that one could be in shock intermittently. But I believe PTSD is constant. For me, it seems I'm always tense/stiff; I'm always on the move, especially at work, only to come home and "crash." Be nonfunctional. Then slowly move back into the same thing again. I tend to "over-do-it", am an over-achiever; go, go, go. PTSD and shock are definitely two different things.

I can't really speak about the intensity of shock. I am not really sure I know "exactly" what shock is. I would think that everyone experiences it differently. I have had training on physical shock

If you or another therapist were to tell me that body responses were a sign of shock I believe I would be relieved to find out. When I experience things I don't have control over, I definitely want to know what is happening to me.

I have memory loss for different periods in my life. And my short term memory now stinks. And it seems to be getting worse. I could tell you more about my childhood, teens than I could about the last six months of my life.

I hope I was somewhat helpful in answering your questions. If you have any others, just let me know.