Sensory Issues and PTSD

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I noticed today while I was out with a group of friends. We decided to go into the city, like into the CBD and I have a PTSD problem with heavy trafic and crossing roads.
I can usually calm down within a few mins of crossing a road by myself, but i prefer to go with other people.
but today for some reason this didnt help. Then one of my friends who has ADHD so hes forgiven for his missfit behavior, made a really loud noise which really hurt my ears. Of course this was a huge sensory overload. but normally one sensory overload isnt enough to start me stimming and i really hate stimming in public. We had a new friend in our group and I had to walk back up the street to see my therpiest who is ee once a fortnight for stress related issues. I felt really embarressed cause i couldnt explain propperly why i was stimming to him, cause i really didnt know why either. I was really confused as to why the loud noise sarted off my stimming...

Im wondering could it have been the trauma with crossing roads shortly before the loud noise and the loud noise mixed with i hadnt been in that particular area of town before? I really am trying to figure this one out cause I have no clue.
Also has anyone else experienced something similar? I find it a lot more comforting to know im not the only one who panics with simple things like crossing roads.
(my depth perseption issues, and idiots on the road cause my PTSD with main roads).

You've sort of answered it yourself: stress causes increased stimming, it's a natural response for autistics and it's a good coping mechanism, it's unfortunate that it's somewhat embaressing.

I wonder if it's possible to change your stim to something more socially appropriate, like wiggling your toes.

Yes, I think all of these psychological and neurological issues can combine with each other quite easily.

Sensory overload + the stress of traffic as a trigger? I can see it.

Well if you do have PTSD it can increase sensory issues.....also the more stressed/anxious you are the worse the symptoms will probably be at least that is how it is in my experiance.

thanks sweetleaf. Yeah i suppose i need to work more on staying calm in these situations.

Yeah that is much easier said than done though......if something sets off my PTSD symptoms its almost garanteed that I will not stay calm.

Yeah i think thats what happend to me on Monday. I had one thing set of my PTSD and then a sensory overload.
Thing is i cant listen to my music in the city i need to be alert at all times so theres no blocking out everything with my music, i suppose i may just have to retrain myself to city life. I live a few kilometers out of the CBD so its not so busy where my communities CBD is thankfully, but our capitals CBD is bustling, worse at night argh Darwin, how i hate you haha.
Not really i love it here part from the noise and cars and such..