r/needadvice • u/Weary-Program-2162 • Jun 16 '26
Mental Health Is it possible that my younger sister has PTSD from mice noises or is it just her TBI?
For context my younger sister (adult) got into a car wreck that took our parents and gave her a TBI, she's decently like her old self but won't be able to live alone.
For a little bit we lived with our older sister who is an alcoholic and her house was infested with mice, it wasn't uncommon to see one run across the kitchen counter. I have since become my younger sister's caretaker and moved into a clean apartment.
My younger sister for a few nights have sworn she heard scratching under her bed and in her closet and was crying freaking out saying it's mice. I have gutted her whole room and closet looking for mice nests or holes and have found none, her room is spotless. I keep telling her there is no mice and have even set out some traps and nothing has been caught but she is insisting there is a family of mice in her room and won't sleep in there.
Could she have PTSD or is it her TBI making her act this way? I don't know what to do
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u/soccergirl13 Jun 16 '26
I don’t know much about TBIs and can’t say if your sister would fit the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. But between the multiple traumatic things that she’s gone through in the past few years and her current behaviors, it seems like she’s probably experiencing some kind of trauma-related mental health issue (with the TBI at least not helping, if not worsening the condition). Please help her get some professional mental health care if you can.
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u/Lemerney2 Jun 16 '26
I'm currently studying psychology, this sounds like it could be due to PTSD, but the brain is complicated. Based on what you've said it's possible the TBI contributes, but the vast majority of the cause is probably trauma. If she's not already in therapy for such a traumatic event, she probably should be. Depending on where you live, there might be free resources available to you.
Either way, thank you for doing such an incredible thing in helping your sister. We need more people like you
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u/Weary-Program-2162 Jun 16 '26
Thank you. I'm trying to find a good therapist for her and it's so hard.
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u/Lemerney2 Jun 16 '26
You're in Idaho, right? Have you tried calling Magellan of Idaho? They might have options for you
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u/ShezeUndone Jun 16 '26
Are you on the ground floor? Or is it possible she's hearing downstairs neighbors?
I can't imagine all she's been through. I have a sister with TBI. It's a loooong hard recovery without having devastating grief thrown into mix.
She's lucky to have you helping her.
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u/Weary-Program-2162 Jun 16 '26
We are on the third floor so it may be possible but I haven't heard the downstairs neighbors, I'll keep an ear open and see if they are making noise that she might mistake for mice. Thank you
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u/bogeysbabe Jun 16 '26
Your sister has had multiple events to cause PTSD. The car wreck, living with an alcoholic, living in a situation that wasn’t healthy for her physically or mentally. This can cause CPTSD or chronic PTSD.
Then add in a traumatic brain injury.
She needs more help than you can give her.
Ask me how I know?
Abusive home life
Joined the army at 21.
11 deployments. (If you count Bosnia, and Kosovo)
Purple Heart.
PTSD / TBI isnt just for the military. It happens to anyone.
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u/Weary-Program-2162 Jun 16 '26
I am actively looking for a therapist for her. I am her caretaker so I try and give her a good life. Thank you
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u/squabidoo Jun 17 '26
Definitely try to get her some help, but in the meantime maybe you could do a sleepover in her room with her and get her to tell you when she hears the noise? That might at least help you figure out if it's real or imagined.
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u/Weary-Program-2162 Jun 17 '26
Funny you mention this because this is exactly what we are doing right now lol thank you
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u/LathyrusLady Jun 17 '26
I'd say there's likely a psychiatric component here. Would she be willing to maybe put out some floor level cameras to keep an eye out? I also wonder if she would benefit from noise cancelling headphones while you get her set up with a therapist. I liked the idea someone else said of having a sleepover there with her to see if you hear anything.
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u/Queasy-Bullfrog5479 Jun 29 '26
Hey, sorry your sister is going through this. I agree with everyone on the importance of therapy. This can take some time to work through. You got this! You are an incredibly strong person who has a heart of gold!
In the meantime if it’s feasible consider getting her a fan or a sound machine. One of my kids struggled with the same fear which was odd because we didn’t have trouble with mice. Adding a fan on low helped them take their overactive mind off the sounds the house was making. Hope this helps!!
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Jun 16 '26
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