For the longest time, I had such a hard time saying 'no' to anyone asking me for damn near anything. I wanted to please everyone. Nothing like some good childhood training for that! I eventually learned to say 'no' to a lot of requests. I did a lot of volunteer work at that point and they just love people who don't know how to say 'no'.

Now with PTSD, I've gone backwards to where when I feel confronted or uncomfortable or like I'm being backed into a corner, I can't speak at all. I either leave as soon as I feel that things aren't going to go well. And if I can't leave I do that old fall back of blending into the background by not speaking or even moving much. I'm with Bec in that the only way for me to say no is to get angry...and that's not a place I want to have to keep going back to to be able to stand up for myself.

The funny part of this, for me, is that I'm at that black and white point with this issue. I either completely avoid situations or shut down when I have no choice but to be in them. More work to try and find my middle ground.

Good post. Until I read (and asked myself) the question and then read the responses, I hadn't even realized that I felt like this.

Lisa