Am I experiencing PTSD?

[Npr123]

Hello there,

About 5 months ago I was woken up to what I thought was an aggressive break in next door right outside my bedroom window. There was lots of crying, screaming, banging on the garage door and glass smashing from the house next door. A person had died so the cries were gut wrenching screams (I wasn't aware of this until the next day). As I called the police I remember feeling so terrified as I listened to the events unfold and felt helpless. I remember begging the person on the phone to get the police out faster because the people next door sounded terrified. It was really traumatic for me as my biggest fear is to be broken into while I'm at home and I guess not being in control of the situation and not being certain that myself and the people around me are going to be okay. It makes me feel sick thinking about it. It didn't end up being randoms that broke in, so I should feel better knowing it wasn't a random attack but there is more to the story. I now have mini panic attacks before falling asleep at any sort of noise that I can hear outside, which happens most nights. My heart races and I struggle to breath. I constantly am checking my house cameras, especially late at night. I constantly check my community pages on social media and when I hear of a break in around my suburb I Google to see how far away it is. There are break ins quite frequently in the area that I'm in, which doesn't help my stress. However, I feel I would be like this where ever I live as I live out of home and now it's not my parents who would take the brunt of it, it would be myself and my partner if something happens...and this scares me. I don't know how to get over this and forget about it. I don't want to feel this way every night. I thought by now I would have forgotten about it but something about the screams and cries and initially thinking it was an aggressive break in has really triggered me. Five months later and I'm still like this....am I experiencing PTSD? If so, what do I do?

[Summer Rose]

Hi NPR123

Welcome to the bb forum and thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry about the traumatic experience that you have had and that you are now feeling unwell.

I can totally understand how deep your fears are and why the incident has deeply affected you. I am not a doctor, so cannot tell you if this is PTSD. But as a fellow human being, I can tell you that I am concerned about you and believe that you should seek professional help.

I want to encourage you to make an appointment with your GP to discuss what has happened and how you are feeling. Best to schedule a double appointment, so you have plenty of time to talk.

Your GP can advise you on the next steps required and prepare a Mental Health Plan for you. This will give you access to Medicare subsidies for psychological treatment.

Life can get better with the right treatment. Please know that you can post back at any time to talk some more.

Kind thoughts to you