Mild PTSD?

Factual Questions
1

I work in a defence and aerospace related company that sends me on business trips to a specific location on a fairly regular basis for durations of one or two weeks each time. One of my co-workers is a retired tactical helicopter pilot who has done tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. In all respects he is a great co-worker except everything in off hours has to be together. I, on the other hand (while I enjoy socializing some of the time) need time by myself to get out and think about things and decompress. On our business trips, for example, I have a favourite route that I like to take and just go for a walk for an hour and now he’s joining me on that.

I’m not posting this to complain but I started wondering recently if he might have some mild PTSD and can’t stand being by himself. I’m former military as well, though ex Navy btw so what I’m seeing isn’t necessarily some military by product. As well, other co-workers of ours are ex-military and they don’t seem to have this need to always be together. So, again, is this a possible symptom of PTSD (I googled symptoms of PTSD but saw no mention of this) or is he just a guy that can’t stand being by himself? I’m interested to see your thoughts out there.

2

My experience with PTSD seems to point in the opposite direction, you’d rather be by yourself.

One of the symptoms is the inability to relate well to others.

3

I think it’s more likely he’s just one of those people who always needs people around. No PSTD.

4

There are other “Operational Stress Injuries” (OSI) other than PTSD. I know even know people that have some hearing damage and prefer to be around noise since it drowns out the tinnitus.

When I was suffering from the affects of PTSD, I would go out to the bar a lot, but it was to avoid sleep and have access to alcohol.

5

He was a pilot. Pilots always work in pairs, and IME always hang out together in their off time as well. He is probably just used to a certain level of bonding with his partner.

6

Sexual attraction? Occam’s razor and all that.

7

Thanks for the suggestions - they were all quite interesting. I suspect that he simply doesn’t like being alone, for whatever reason, and that I’m going to have to manage this on my business trips.

cheers