PTSD and trauma

A space for discussing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), domestic abuse, sexual abuse and other trauma. Please note some content may be distressing.

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A_Tech PTSD for Medical and First Responders
  • replies: 276

Hi, Well obviously this my situation. I was hoping to find others here that might have a similar background to chat with, it can be so hard to talk about this stuff with non-med people (and I mean no disrespect, it's just often graffic or upsetting t... View more

Hi, Well obviously this my situation. I was hoping to find others here that might have a similar background to chat with, it can be so hard to talk about this stuff with non-med people (and I mean no disrespect, it's just often graffic or upsetting to others). Im a 40 year old female that has spent the last 10years in the State Trauma Hospital as an Anaesthetic Technician. My PTSD was brought about after years of exposure to shocking traumas, deaths, and no support from management. I would love to hear from anyone that has a similar story, or just wants to chat. Cheers

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kiwiboy0897 I’m a 27-Year-Old Kid
  • replies: 2

Hi, I still feel like I’m 6, 12, 17 years old. It’s like I’m stuck at those ages at certain times in certain days because I didn’t get to live those days like I wanted to when I had them. Even now, I find myself repeating the same behaviours to have ... View more

Hi, I still feel like I’m 6, 12, 17 years old. It’s like I’m stuck at those ages at certain times in certain days because I didn’t get to live those days like I wanted to when I had them. Even now, I find myself repeating the same behaviours to have the same routine every night, like I would’ve had when I could in my teen years. It’s like I lost the time, lost who I am and lost my ability to move forward… Just stuck. I have a career now. I’m educated on a tertiary level. I’ve achieved ‘success’ in many avenues. But on nights like this, I go back to being that 6 year old kid… And nights like this is every night. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to move on. I’m still fighting, and won’t give up fighting, but the child within me refuses to grow up. He refuses to forgive the time that escaped him.Thank you for reading. I needed somewhere to get this off my chest, knowing some eyes world read it.

angecorn The time i was hurt
  • replies: 2

I think i might have trauma?! A few weeks ago i was beaten up by a group of girls at a sleepover simpily because they did not like me and now everytime since then when j try to sleep its all i can think about till i start shaking and crying same with... View more

I think i might have trauma?! A few weeks ago i was beaten up by a group of girls at a sleepover simpily because they did not like me and now everytime since then when j try to sleep its all i can think about till i start shaking and crying same with when im in school if somone jokingly says “wanna fight” i have the urge to run and start shaking mabye im overthinking it but im not sure why i csnt just get past it its over and done with i dont know why i cant just like forget it happend and be happy it makes me so angry because ill relize im hsppy then straight away like STRAIGHT AWAY be sent back to when i was screaming crying for help , i dont know mabye im over reacting or being a baby but thats all

Miss Odette CPTSD & Royal commission into domestic violence
  • replies: 2

Since all the news on television and the upsurge of violence /murder against woman lately.Has anyone found their CPTSD has been exacerbated.? If so how are you coping with the situation.?It is my wish to write to the Royal Commission regarding a most... View more

Since all the news on television and the upsurge of violence /murder against woman lately.Has anyone found their CPTSD has been exacerbated.? If so how are you coping with the situation.?It is my wish to write to the Royal Commission regarding a most serious incident which included grievous assult occasioning. And other incidents not to be mentioned here.ONE SMALL VOICE. I want my voice to be heard. I have thought long and hard about this but feel I have to tread gently as not to place myself at risk. The incident happened many years ago. And I know how I was mistreated ( not by all) and do not wish other women to endure the same. I have never done anything like this before.Has anyone any practical suggestions. Please.? Regarding how they manage stimuli of their CPTSD.Kind Regards Odette

Lezza Struggling with guilt for being on DSP and being triggered by comments
  • replies: 4

I have ASD, ADHD and CPTSD (from childhood) and recently got approved for the DSP. I should have been happy but my housemate made a comment under her breath and then complained about dishes. She's complained to her coworkers (I found out through some... View more

I have ASD, ADHD and CPTSD (from childhood) and recently got approved for the DSP. I should have been happy but my housemate made a comment under her breath and then complained about dishes. She's complained to her coworkers (I found out through someone else) saying that she thinks I'm capable of work. It sent me over the edge and I relapsed with self harm after 2 years without doing it. I struggle with feeling safe at home in general due to my upbringing and I'm at the end of my rope. I can't find any housing as I'm on Centrelink and rentals reject me as there's a big line of people waiting and workers and families are priorities and I can't afford a caravan. Been on the cat 1 housing waiting list for 2 years. Anyways I feel guilty because I can't work my regular job. Only volunteer work and my housemate and other people believe I'm capable of regular work because the volunteering I do is for emergency services, both fire and ambulance. (Fire gets quiet in winter). The thing is for some reason emergency services is the only work I've not dreaded, I love it. It's the only place that's ever made me feel like I have any value and when I'm on a job it's the only place I feel like I'm in the moment, like my heads calm for once and I can work but I still struggle with some stuff due to trauma. It's helped me with self confidence and building skills. Sometimes even when I'm neglecting everything else and unable to get out of bed it's the only thing I can bring myself to do The thing is tho I still feel guilty and like I'm nothing but a dole bludger who should be able to handle regular work. I've tried paid work again and again over the years and it's always ended up with me hospitalized or frustrated. Because of my housemates comments too I don't want to be in the house at all. I had a breakdown today at the possibility of having to move town to get housing. If I move town though I'll have to move or drop my volunteer work and my only supports are here and I might have to rehome my lizard. I don't want to rehome a pet due to my living circumstances again. It's killing me, all I've ever wanted is stability and I would love to work a regular job and be normal. I'm not sure what to do anymore. I feel like nothing I ever do is good enough and that I'm never enough. I've thought about paid work in emergency services but it would be a long time to be well enough to do it full time and even then there's the possibility I'm too mentally ill to do it full time.

Debbie Downer Feeling Stuck
  • replies: 1

Hello, Needing more advice and hope from the wonderful people on here as I've got none and can't think of anything else to do. I'm at a point in my recovery where I feel stuck, my issue is that I dream too big and have self acceptance problems. I hav... View more

Hello, Needing more advice and hope from the wonderful people on here as I've got none and can't think of anything else to do. I'm at a point in my recovery where I feel stuck, my issue is that I dream too big and have self acceptance problems. I have CPTSD, Depression, Anxiety a chronic pain disorder and recently been diagnosed with ADHD. I feel like I have tried everything to get better and it's getting worse and I am more nihilistic, everything I try feels like a failure as I'm not ~better~. I cannot accept myself and that recovery is a journey which isn't cured therefore I cannot get confident because I must be perfect to equal greatness which stops me from trying to pursue further education or passions. It feels like a self fullfilling proficy. I can't stop dreaming big, this leads to heartache when I realise all the work it will take to get there, which is hard to believe will ever happen because it's been 15 years of healing and I'm still falling apart at work when criticised or feeling judged or triggered by a client (I work in mental health) spiralling into a tunnel of worthlessness and defeat. I want to give up DSP which I know is impossible to get for start but then if approved I'm screwed financially and have to give up up my rental and change the remaining things that spark any joy (hobbies that cost money).

Guest_91949136 CPTSD work based
  • replies: 1

I have been treated for work based CPTSD by the employee support program but the govt dept I work for does not recognise this and despite taking months to recover by working some where else and coming back to my permanent I keep being told I have to ... View more

I have been treated for work based CPTSD by the employee support program but the govt dept I work for does not recognise this and despite taking months to recover by working some where else and coming back to my permanent I keep being told I have to go back to the place where the trauma occured. I can work other places successfully but keep ending up back on antidepressants when I end up back and feeling I am underperforming and in danger then of sub standard processes but when I work any where else I’m fine. I am not haivng luck winning a permanent contract elsewhere but have had lots of interesting jobs and complex jobs along the way. Please help.

Shantelle Anxiety, PTSD, depression
  • replies: 2

I’d like to start talking to someone as I am really struggling with controlling my emotions. I lose control and lash out at people I love. I doubt myself everyday. And have no self esteem

I’d like to start talking to someone as I am really struggling with controlling my emotions. I lose control and lash out at people I love. I doubt myself everyday. And have no self esteem

Hickury Is there anybody our there?
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I suffer from PTSD and it has come with a side of depression, anxiety. I am also a very well functioning adult/professional, but sometimes I really feel I need someone to talk to, but someone who understand how it feels to be like me. If yo... View more

Hi there, I suffer from PTSD and it has come with a side of depression, anxiety. I am also a very well functioning adult/professional, but sometimes I really feel I need someone to talk to, but someone who understand how it feels to be like me. If you know, you know, and if you do, wanna chat? Thanks!

Guest_65401602 Advice please... I am lost.
  • replies: 1

Trigger warning: I was attacked by my partner unexpectedly. They have never shown signs of any aggression before this happened. We just came from a bar (my partner's drink may have been spiked). I don't know what to do next. A few months after, I wen... View more

Trigger warning: I was attacked by my partner unexpectedly. They have never shown signs of any aggression before this happened. We just came from a bar (my partner's drink may have been spiked). I don't know what to do next. A few months after, I went out with a friend who I trusted. I'm usually a cautious person but I trusted my friend. I only had two beers that night but that was all I remember. I know I had about a 12 hour window where I don't remember anything but I keep getting snippets and flashbacks that I somehow know are linked to that night. I get flashbacks of those incidents often. Just after the blackout, I would wake up either crying or screaming and shaking, drenched in sweat. That lasted for two months, almost every night when I was completely alone in a boarding house. I still get really nervous expressing this and I'm far more cautious of the world now. I feel like I have to be vigilant all the time and on my guard. Along with this, I moved countries for work but I was made redundant there due to mismanagement, I became homeless, experienced financial hardship (unemployed for a year), had a threat of armed robbery, had malaria, and severe food poisoning. I lost count the amount of times my life was genuinely in danger. All of this happened overseas and within 6 months. I'm now back home and feel sick to my stomach most of the time. I find it very hard to find meaning here when everything is easy, and I have people around me genuinely care for me and can provide for me, instead of being alone overseas. I don't know what to do. I feel so lost. I see a psychologist next week though, I hope that might help.

Zamofing1 Cptsd
  • replies: 1

Friends and neighbours were having a huge yelling match each. Trigger very loud screaming and shouting. My body went into shock mode! I was on the bed shaking I couldn't stop shaking in tears crying for about 15 minutes husband managed to redirect th... View more

Friends and neighbours were having a huge yelling match each. Trigger very loud screaming and shouting. My body went into shock mode! I was on the bed shaking I couldn't stop shaking in tears crying for about 15 minutes husband managed to redirect the situation peacefully and calmly music was turned on and he gave me cuddles saying that I was safe and you're okay! Which helps me so much. But the last few days. My nervous system is sitting at 8%10 So finding ways to settle myself down.