I've heard a lot of the same words listed here from friends and associates when I revealed my PTSD.

I think a lot of times people get scared and running their mouth is a way to distance themselves from a problem. You put the word 'mental' in front of anything and people freak. Mental health, mental illness, mental issues, etc. It's almost like they're afraid that something will rub off from us onto them. Also, since most of us are really, really good at putting on that 'normal' mask, when they find out that we have any sort of mental issue, it stops them in their tracks. Almost like 'OMG...if it could happen to him/her (and s/he's so normal!)...it could happen to me'. With PTSD-yeah it could, sunshine.

Human beings have a tendency to try and destroy what they don't understand. And since we're so civilized now, they try and do their destroying in subtle, civilized ways.

Lisa