Fuck my APBS (adult post bullying syndrome) and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)...
I almost elbowed a co-worker in the face because of it...
Yeah he's just an idiot who acts like a child... He's not a hostile threat... But he came at me raised voice screaming "what the fuck" and with arms flailing... Yeah it's a joke and he's just being a child but my reflexes kicked in...
I raised my elbow so quickly to cover up my face. But the motion of raising it can double up as an elbow strike if the face of the attacker is too close.
I was an inch away from his face...Because I pulled back last moment. Or else I might have popped his nose or mouth... /Sigh.
To those who don't understand PTSD, it's like when the brain recognizes a pattern, the body will react accordingly...
My PTSD is not from fighting in Iraq or anything... It's from being bullied in school as a kid and I have experienced being cussed at first before I get assaulted in the hallway and I'm forced to fight! I get punched or kicked or shoved randomly... Sometimes without warning and sometimes preceded by name-calling or cussing...
So in that case... Pattern was
1) loud cussing
2) arms flailing
Even though it was all a joke and not an assault, those two conditions registered in my subconscious mind, triggering defensive reflexes. I also am a somewhat trained fighter... Not blackbelt level but I have aggression and decent fighting skills... From joining an MMA gym at one point and from all the street fights I had to do growing up in a 3rd world country (Philippines).
So this is why you have to be careful that the person you're dealing with might have PTSD... And you may trigger something.
A good indicator is being extremely quiet and socially awkward or withdrawn... Be careful of those people. You might trigger something in them. Approach from the front with non-hostile body language and speak in a lowered tone of voice as if you're trying to be friendly or calming down a crying child. And don't stare in their eyes long because they might perceive you're looking at em the wrong way...
They are like a ticking time bomb... be careful. Not all of them are consciously aware they have PTSD...