Do i have to be actually diagnosed with PTSD to be a part of this group? I suspect that i have it as i have been STUCK my whole life. I went thru 19 years of abuse and i have been out of it for 19 years but my life is STUCK. I am bright but i dont work and have never started a career as i dont seem to be able to sustain anything and instead prefer to do little projects or work that is seasonal in some way. I desperately want to be normal but my thoughts seem to wander alot and i spend my entire life on the internet..researching and sometimes chattin ..e.t.c. I have had different types of therapy over the years but to no avail...all they seem to offer is anti depressants ultimately. It was only last year that i realised that i am traumatised and that it could be the reason i am unable to live a properly functional life. I spend most of my time at home alone and dont come out for days on end and am quite happy doing this. I fear that if i go to the doctors and ask them about PTSD that i will be fobbed off as i appear together and articulate and they just say...why dont you get a job. I am in a catch 22 situation...i look and act reasonably normally but inside my head the real me is unable to GET OUT. I even thought i had Aspergers syndrome as i have many of the traits but when they heard bout my childhood they just said that i am withdrawn/insular...but as far as i am concerned they did not treat me that seriously. A year or so later i asked for a second opinion after finding an Aspergers specialist but they refused to refer me...so here i am trying to manage my life...and realising that NOTHING IS CHANGING.....i still struggle to get out of my apt...i dont play my piano...i dont compose...i DONT go for the walk every day and these are things i WANT to do but something is keeping me from doing them. Can ANYONE shed any help or light here please???