Evie, its simply not how PTSD works, hence why you will see very little of choice one selected. Yes, you have to account for where people lay within their PTSD journey though, ie. got PTSD and got help immediately, so someone may only get trauma related hallucinations, which is generally viewed under flashbacks, and flashbacks "are not" restricted to trauma alone, but can include anything the mind see's fit to strike upon oneself.

The longer a person has had PTSD untreated, the chances are quite high they would have endured hallucinations of various kinds, though simply do not admit too it suspecting they could be locked up and the key thrown away. People still just don't get how much stress plays upon our mind...

For those that forgot where it is, must read Stress on Your Body which I now made sticky in the PTSD news forum for ease of finding as its a popular thread. PTSD is extreme stress, and when you read, learn and understand that thread, you will understand the issues and dysfunctions associated to ourselves that stress is the major attributable factor. It lowers our immune system, it shuts us down, it burns us out, it makes us see things that don't actually exist, it gives heart attacks, liver and kidney failure, and the list goes on and on. PTSD is the extreme end of any stress related action basically speaking. Your mind and body is under extreme stress when uncontrolled, high stress when your moderating your life, and a little above what would be classed as normal stress when managed.

I have gotten some off the wall shit that I chalked up to lack of sleep aside from "flash backs". You would be amazed what you can see, feel, and hear when worn out. Once I saw a huge Oak tree spring up in the middle of the hi-way, I pulled over to nap. That was when I was driving from Houston to Minnesota. I was told this won't end (something like that) when in total anguish of PTSD. I was losing sleep. Feel people touch you... Luckily it is rare for me now. My body says to hell with it and passes out where ever and when I have attacks if it is cold enough temperatures.

Oh thanks veiled I never even thought of lack of sleep as a cause! That's a good point to consider as well. I still can't believe how many people here have this... but it's a relief for me. I know there's been the odd thread on it but I guess people are afraid to say anything.

Thanks Anthony, I don't think I've ever read the "Stress On Your Body" thread, I'm not sure I knew it existed. Thanks for making it a sticky, I found it printed out on paper at my place at the breakfast table this morning lol. I guess someone thought I should read it. Anyways it's very good. We have several books about PTSD here at the house but none of them talk much about this sort of thing. Actually many things seem to be lacking from the books, even the really good ones. I'm really grateful this forum exists!

Thats pretty funny really.... subtle? Not!

OMG, I just caught on! :rofl: That is priceless!

bec

(thank the printer person for a great chuckle for me!)

Oh haha you guys thought that was funny? I never thought about it... stuff like that happens around here all the time to be honest. Subtle and not so subtle hints lol... kind of used to it now.

Let's see:

• Smells that no one else can smell. I hate it when it's that stale, musty smell.
• Bugs...seeing them and feeling them crawl on me (especially when I'm really, really tired).
• Seeing 'things' move out of the corner of my eye.

I used to get really freaked out by these. Now I use them to judge my levels of stress and anxiety.

Judas priest it's amazing what you can get used to!!

Lisa

Well, I have experienced both, actually. Most I think are related to my experiences, but a few lately don't seem to be. Most of these recent ones are just auditory...hearing a man saying, hello or hi in our house. My husband's heard it, too, so maybe it doesn't count, because he doesn't have any mental illness. The source of that may be the previous owner of our house who died here. Isshy.

However, I've also had visual hallucinations in the past, before being with my husband. I would see partners' faces morph into either the faces of past abusers or just general monsters.

As a small child, I also had "visions" of really weird things in the dark while trying to go to sleep. I don't know if that means anything, but just thought I'd mention it.

Wow thanks everyone for sharing. I'm really happy other people have this. Hodge, I'm not sure if it means anything either, but I used to see things as a kid too. I remember once seeing a giant ant (the size of a dog) and running to get my mum because I wanted to show it to her, but when we went back to the spot it was gone. I was so convinced I'd seen it that I was watching the television for a couple of days thinking they were going to mention my ant on there. ;)

I echo my Evie's words. I am incredibly grateful to you all for sharing, it has most decidedly put my husband and I at ease, and Evie too it appears, which is wonderful. I see in spite of all my reading, research and living with a sufferer, I still have much to learn about PTSD.