Can this happen? Right now it's my biggest fear... my last boss thought he could change me by harassing me and tearing me down like they did to him in OCS... as well as by messing with my head and telling me who I am, though in hindsight my previous 24 years prove that he's either lying or an idiot.

Granted I'm not going to feel the same as a result of the Trauma, and some of my beliefs have changed... but can I actually become a worse person? I'm not as open and compassionate as I used to be, and I have thoughts that are foreign to me. I'm afraid to discover that I've turned into an inconsiderate asshole as a result of this... or boring and uninteresting. My friend says there's less energy to my character.

Has anyone had friends or family tell them that they changed due to trauma?

Upstream...Yep
I dont think trauma makes you a "worse Person"...I do believe that it sometimes makes numb to certain things and situations....if anything I believe it makes us stronger...so yes it changes us.
They can kill ya but they cant eat ya!!

My personality has changed drastically since my last few traumas. I'm not nearly as funny as I used to be for example. Life has just been far too tragic for me and it has affected my sense of humor.
So I would say yes, this can happen.

Take care, Morgan

Upstream,

When my symptoms hit the fan in mid-summer of 06, I felt the same way. Like I had lost a big part of myself to the PTSD. PTSD and all of the associated symptoms are great for covering up parts of yourself. And it's usually the parts you like best. So that leaves the parts you like least uncovered.

I did find through dealing with my traumas and learning how to live with PTSD in my life that most of 'me' has returned. There's still some parts that are gone or changed (i.e. trusting people like I used to, being able to do new things spontaneously, etc.). I don't know if this is permanent. The parts that did come back to me came slowly. It wasn't like one day I woke up and felt like the old me again. With every bit of work and every step forward a little came back. It was like a trade off-I get a little better...I get a little of myself back.

One thing you have to remember is that the symptoms of PTSD are energy drainers. Physical and emotional energy are burned at a tremendous rate when symptoms are high. It doesn't leave a whole lot of room for anything else in your life. And since there's not cure and the only treatment is managing of symptoms...we're left with doing what we can and having a life in spite of the shit that PTSD throws our way. Friends and family have to come to the realization that while, yes in some ways we have changed for good, we're still the same people we always were. And we have to realize it for ourselves, too.

Lisa

Hi upstream,

I agree with everything said so far. I became an asshole( actually a bigger one than I am now) LOL!!!!! I was really out of control and was a bitch. Dealing with the trauma/PTSD I am calmer, more in control of my emotions, able to articulate myself better, and just a nicer person. Not perfect, actually far from it, but I am learning. Life is a lesson, and I am still reading the book.....

Yes, many friends have told me this.

After my trauma I changed for the worse. I was very nice and easy going prior to. Then I started drinking to cope, which lead to physical fighting. I was mean to people who didn't deserve it.

I felt I was the same person but I knew that something was wrong when I heard about people talking behind my back as being a trouble maker. This bothered me because I never seen myself this way. After taking a hard look at myself and what I had become I went to therapy and stopped drinking and fighting.

I still feel mean and irritable at times, but I have more control over it now. I think I'm still the same easy going, compassionate person I was prior to the trauma, but my symptoms bring out the shadow part of me at times.

Tammy

my boyfriend says i have an evil twin called TAMZINe

Upstream, unfortunately your character will change from PTSD. I know from my experience and that of many others personally around my life, PTSD changes your ability to socialise. You tend to be withdrawn or excessive. The idea though is to refind that middle ground for you....

This thread is causing me some difficulty. I think ptsd hit me before my personality was fully developed. I don't know how it changed me or what might have been. Perhaps that's why I'm struggling to figure just what I want to accomplish in therapy. I don't have a base line.

I agree with Morgan. I use to be funny and clowned around alot, had people around me constantly. However, I drank alot and did drugs to cover the pain and it didn't seem to affect me as much with the P.T.S.D symptoms. Eight years ago when I stopped this habit, I now had to face myself. I am not to funny anymore, I cannot hadle stress or negativity even though I portray it myself. I am not happy with myself and have a don't care attitude. The only things, I have to hold on hope to is a good husband, dog and grandson. I am short tempered and rarely see positive of myself. Thank goodness there is help. I quit meds for 2 years and did not admit for awhile that I needed them. I have accepted the fact that most likely, I will be on them the rest of my life if I want to remain alive. I truly hope everyone gets the help so desperately needed.
sunnydaze