Hey nugget, that is the hardest thing to answer. How will family and friends handle it or will they run off, or change how they act? Those are what goes through my head. If I hear oh poor thing it is likly to make me snap.

But really they should know things in a time frame most comfortable to you as shit does and will slip out. I mean we know these things and opps before you know it something pops out of our mouth pertaining to it. They deal with shock, especially if they do not know the truth and imagination can run wild tying to figure it out. So I am sure they want to know, and partial curiosity but do not expect them to go Oh yeah, man that sucks, wanna beer? Which would be a typical reaction from one of us.

Thing is I just don't know at what speed or how much to tell at once(my issue). Like let out all of it and rip a band aid off or bits and pieces over time yet making it a slow process and them thinking what next?

The way I prefer if you are going to spill it let as much of it as you can stomache out in one swoop. They are going to be shocked, hurt (because someone they love endured so much), may seem a bit distant as they try to digest it. And I am sure the damn, or poor thing... Just make sure that you know they will all have their own reactions and try to come to terms their own way and do not view it as you scared them off. They will be there once they swallow it. It will hurt them but in no way traumaize them as it has you!

My immediate family knows, immediate as in who lives with me, my teen son being nosey knows most (and he still acts like a teen just a bit protective of me when his dad came around busting out his baseball bats).

I have composed a letter to my in-laws since I am moving there so they actually know what is wrong to the full extent and they can get over being upset about their beloved son picking such a piece of work LOL before I get there! But I won't be there for the inital shock and by the time I get back at Christmas and they see how I act they will know why. Hell, main reason for me going is so they can help us, they may as well know why. It was hard to tell them I even had PTSD and now to tell them the list of reasons why??? Hell, I don't even want to do it face to face. And hubs is not tickled with me doing it. But shit I am so fed up with hiding it. It isn't like I am in grade school and have cooties... Hubs can get over it.

Sometimes I need to vent about it and what if they over hear? They are going to minutes away from our new home and my son going to their HS, they are going to catch on. What if I have a flash back in front of them and panic? So I am thinking honesty is best, but add to it you do not want or need sympathy, just this is to let them know what is wrong with you and what you are working through to put it behind you as best you can.

Like I said he did not want me to tell them, but he went and fixed my typos (%$#@&*)... So apparently he expects me to send it.

Good luck with your choice this is just what I am doing with those I am going to have to deal with daily.