Yes, Marlene!

I too have the delayed emotional responses just as you described. I've only fleetingly identified it as such in my past. Had forgotton all about it, even though I currently and have for as far back as I can remember, dealt with these late emotional responses. Typically, I'm chronically one big stuffer'. Generally, my immediate response is to either pretend something doesn't bother me or neglect to acknowledge that something does bother me. I continue to stuff my emotions and have done this for years for numerous reasons that I mustn't go into.

Marlene, as you said it is an issue. Personally it robs me. People form wrong impressions of me due to it. They begin to expect a reaction/response from me that simply is not true to who and what I am. They never get to know the real me. And, as a result I'm apt to feel feelings of isolation, disconnection from myself, untrue to myself (depression), general irritability, or in more deeply rooted scenario's I'm apt to feel victimized, vent or act upon displaced anger or just fall into a depression of which I no longer can identify what's what.

Marlene, I do hope you find out what's causing your emotional delays now that you've identified it as such and once at its roots find a solution to it.

I'm sorry I can't help now anymore than to identify with you, as I don't feel safe sharing my personal numerous reasons, in which I'm aware of, as to why I do it. For all I know there's some additional reason, possibly common to PTSD sufferers, that I've overlooked.

Well for now, you've made it halfway in identifying that you feel you have this issue and that it bothers you, and the other parts is to find out personally why and what you may or may not be able to do about it.

Really, I do wish I could help. Marlene, I have faith in you, I've seen and read tremendous work of yours, and your support and help of others, throughout the forum and am trusting that you'll get to the bottom of this too and move past it, and all in time.

(((Hugs)))

......sincerely goingonhope