Immediate support
Immediate support

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.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

Sophie_M If you need to talk about Bondi Beach - Our community is here
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, After the heartbreaking events at Bondi Beach on Sunday night, we know many people in our community may be feeling shaken, distressed, or unsure how to make sense of what has happened. Religious and political violence has no place is Aus... View more

Hi everyone, After the heartbreaking events at Bondi Beach on Sunday night, we know many people in our community may be feeling shaken, distressed, or unsure how to make sense of what has happened. Religious and political violence has no place is Australia and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families affected by this tragedy. We wanted to create a space where you can share whatever you’re feeling - whether that’s fear, shock, grief, or anything else that has come up for you. If you need support from others in the community, please feel welcome to post here. Violence and acts of terror can bring feelings of shock, grief, profound sadness, anger and fear. It’s normal to experience these emotions while trying to make sense of distressing events. It may take time for these feelings to ease, but it’s never too early to seek support if you are feeling distressed. Beyond Blue is here for you anytime, by phone on 1300 224 636 or via webchat: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/talk-to-a-counsellor You can also support those around you by being available to them and listening. Thank you for being such an important part of this community, and for the kindness, honesty, and wisdom you continue to share with each other. We remind the community that Beyond Blue is here for all people in Australia, no matter what you believe, how you live or who you worship. Kind regards Sophie M

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

John_S007 Support for male victim of female narcissist abuser
  • replies: 3

Hi All, I was told today by my mental health professional i am teh victim of narcissistic abuse by a female abuser. I have looked for support groups out there, but there don't seem to be any anywhere. I am struggling greatly with the realisations of ... View more

Hi All, I was told today by my mental health professional i am teh victim of narcissistic abuse by a female abuser. I have looked for support groups out there, but there don't seem to be any anywhere. I am struggling greatly with the realisations of how much abuse ive sustained in large part without even realising or understanding this. Anyone with any pointers or experience in dealing with or healing from this kind of abuse i'd be grateful for an advice.

A_mother First time reaching out needing help desperate!
  • replies: 10

Please help anyone I'm kind of alone with no one to turn to and well to sum it all it's about my partner he has ultimately crises me with his gaslighting techniques, been together like 6 years or more I'm 27 he's 29 we have a son together who is 5 an... View more

Please help anyone I'm kind of alone with no one to turn to and well to sum it all it's about my partner he has ultimately crises me with his gaslighting techniques, been together like 6 years or more I'm 27 he's 29 we have a son together who is 5 and a daughter who is around 4 months, I feel like I've got to a point where I want my partner to just get out of my life including our kids, just tonight he screamed the house down with uncontrolled outburst cause our son was doing the usual thing trying to get to sleep but calling out to stay awake etc as you know kids do but thought it was okay to traumatise him by abusing him for not sleeping, whilst waking our little girl and scared her, and because I told him he's out of line I then got abused and left helpless picking up the pieces of a crying baby and crying 5yr old. This scene is almost if not pretty much is a daily thing, I feel so neglected and disrespected, I just wish there was a place to send these bad eggs like him but I know you can't think like that but he's made me feel like worse than the dirt on his shoe. I've showed happy face for so long and am truly depply ashamed to break up because it's the stigma associated with it, I feel like I would make life worse for the kids if we were split up as he is very manipulative and would make my life hell by bad mouthing me to my beautiful kids, I know this cause he's already used it as a threat before if I ever left him, the list goes on I feel like I could be typing for ages it's the first time I've ever reached out for help... Not to mention I feel like I'd be letting down my mum and dad for not having a perfect relationship, has anyone else felt like this or had a partner that threatens these things that he will make matters worse if you leave ? I feel like I'll never be able to ever feel the love a girl is supposed to get from a man. I feel like time is ticking and I need to figure this out in a smart way but he scares me or I guess splitting scares me not that I'll miss us it's I'm scared of repercussions... Many thanks in advance for your advice

Sadshame PSTD and Pornography addiction
  • replies: 5

Hello. I would appreciate hearing from any one who has been going through what I am going through. I have been trying to cope with my husband's internet pornography and sex addition for well over 10 years, have never told any friends or family for fe... View more

Hello. I would appreciate hearing from any one who has been going through what I am going through. I have been trying to cope with my husband's internet pornography and sex addition for well over 10 years, have never told any friends or family for fear of embarrassing him and myself!!! We are old, in our 70s, physically healthy, have been married for 53 years... he is a Vietnam veteran diagnosed with PTSD. He denies it is a problem. His addiction has caused me so much grief and sadness, I was totally heart broken and felt total worthlessness, but am okay now, in fact in many ways I am stronger but sad. I have lost all respect, trust and faith in him. I did have a little counselling and have asked him get help but he won't, says he is fine and it's none of my business. I am just so sad that this is the how life is now for us. Otherwise he is a decent man.

Aleksi I feel empty and struggle to be normal
  • replies: 4

for the most part of my social interactions, I portray myself as happy and carefree. Deep down inside everyday, I struggle to be positive and happy and not "feel sorry" for myself but the truth is I am lonely and empty. I grow up with my grandparents... View more

for the most part of my social interactions, I portray myself as happy and carefree. Deep down inside everyday, I struggle to be positive and happy and not "feel sorry" for myself but the truth is I am lonely and empty. I grow up with my grandparents who are now passed on I have no other family all I have is myself. Which I struggle with because I am very family-oriented and I literally have no one to call or see and crave someone to love me and make me feel important. I could disappear today and no one would notice I'm gone and that's scary. I have gone through so many situations alone, being homeless, got out a domestic violence relationship where I was stabbed, the loss of my friends due to isolation from my past relationship, the loss of my family. I've been bankruptcy from a business I started and I am only 26. I struggle to just push on and be happy and not let anything get to me. I just lonely and sad and crave to be wanted and to be well. I don't what i am doing here...

Dephog Depressed wannabe Psychologist
  • replies: 6

I am a 25 year old guy who has just finished his psychology degree. A little older than the rest of my class, I took 5.5years to get through the 3 year course due to a whole host of issues. Still have 4th year and masters/PhD to go (complex pathways,... View more

I am a 25 year old guy who has just finished his psychology degree. A little older than the rest of my class, I took 5.5years to get through the 3 year course due to a whole host of issues. Still have 4th year and masters/PhD to go (complex pathways, but essentially minimum 3 years left) At first I didnt really wanna be there, i wanted to be a rockstar (lol.) Then the drummer in my band got murdered in 2015, and since then things have just got worse and worse. I was an 'emo kid' in early highschool, and got bullied up until the final two years when i carved out a new identity as a guy who smoked at school and played music. I never really felt comfortable in that identity though. Im certainly not a 'bad boy' type. I also did really well in school until that point when i stopped giving a shit. I feel as i write this that i am making a lot of excuses for myself. About a year ago I started therapy, and it has helped a lot. My therapist is toying with diagnoses of dysthymia/PDD and believes that i may have been in 'double depression' in 2017/2018 before i saw him, but we focus on talk therapy rather than meds. I have a lot of issues coming from a family that had violence perpetrated by my father (who i never managed to resent for it) against my mother and sister, and my sister who has mild borderline personality disorder as a result (and yet i do resent her, go figure. She use to threaten to kill me, and would attempt physical harm on me and others. I tend to subjugate myself, accommodate everyone else's needs and struggle to assert myself. I become avoidant, and at worse i surrender. When i surrender i can get really agitated and have suicidal thoughts. They're almost impulses, and they scare me. This pattern has also kept me in a 3-year long-distance relationship with a very emotionally manipulative woman who puts herself in hospital with 'burnout' or 'anxiety' when i try to pull away. I have lost almost all of my peer support network save for two friends I see about once a month so as not to burden them with my issues.

Ne12 SexualAbuse
  • replies: 6

I was sexually abused as a child , I recently told my mother - who completely ignored me and said I was lying . I also have a mother that is very selfish and constantly wants me not let her know when anything is wrong . I feel trapped as we live toge... View more

I was sexually abused as a child , I recently told my mother - who completely ignored me and said I was lying . I also have a mother that is very selfish and constantly wants me not let her know when anything is wrong . I feel trapped as we live together and she constantly threatens me saying she’s ll ruin my reputation

TimTams Forgiving rapist/s
  • replies: 5

Hi, I am feeling at a point where I am sick of feeling judged by other people and the person labelled for being the crazy one. I am starting to realise it will be a lot easier for me to forgive the people who did what they did. Has anyone else taken ... View more

Hi, I am feeling at a point where I am sick of feeling judged by other people and the person labelled for being the crazy one. I am starting to realise it will be a lot easier for me to forgive the people who did what they did. Has anyone else taken a similar perspective? I thought I should hate them but because of the way I have ended being treated by the public (like a lying, manipulating idiot) I am starting to feel like I should legitimately forgive them and forget. Anyone else agree that this is very smart? Should I or should I not forgive the people? I nearly lost my life because of my ex-partner on many occasions. But I am just really sick of feeling like the crazy one who is a liar. What his family did was really awful. Maybe the best way for me to do that is just never mention it again? I am sick of being thought of as a liar and sick of being the person who has to suffer because of it. It really is not me who should be in therapy, I never did anything wrong. I really wish I never reported or said anything to anyone. I am going to stop and never disclose anything, ever again!

Jess7653 Guilt & unsure
  • replies: 4

I am extremely unsure about a traumatic event that happened to me 2 years ago. I was travelling in Europe (had a boyfriend at the time) and when I was in Italy I got extremely drunk on a night out. I was with some friends and throughout the night a m... View more

I am extremely unsure about a traumatic event that happened to me 2 years ago. I was travelling in Europe (had a boyfriend at the time) and when I was in Italy I got extremely drunk on a night out. I was with some friends and throughout the night a man was hanging out with our group - no one really said anything about him hanging around us because we were all pretty drunk. Later on, we were on our way home and he offered to take one of us on his quad bike up the hill to drop me home. I asked to be taken because I was too tired and drunk to walk up the hill. In this time, apparently I was kissing his neck (I messaged him in the morning asking details of what had happened) and from what I remember, he pulled over on a beach somewhere and we had sex. I don’t really remember this happening, I am not sure if I consented to this. I remember crying straight after it happened, saying I have a boyfriend. I also remember being in pain but again not saying anything. I told my boyfriend about it, and later got tested and got an STI. What if he was extremely drunk as well? Is it still taking advantage? I told my boyfriend I was taken advantage of, but 2 years later I am second guessing myself and living with crippling guilt every single day. What if I am just a cheater trying to justify my poor actions? What if I am just a liar ? I constantly think I am a terrible person and my boyfriend is incredible for wanting to stay with me. Everyone always talks to me asking about how my Europe holiday was and all I can think of is this traumatic event. I have to constantly hide this event and it is so difficult. I feel like if everyone knew the terrible things I have done they would be disgusted. I feel like my mental health has never been the same and this event occurred 2 years ago and I am still obsessing over it. Any advice to get over the guilt and move on with my life ? I constantly think the only way to move forward is to break up with my boyfriend so I don’t feel the guilt, but I love him so much. I feel extremely stuck and as though this event will haunt me forever. I don’t see things ever getting better.

bron30 Recent trigger
  • replies: 1

This is my first post here and I’m nervous. I’ve recently had a major trigger for my PTSD. About three weeks ago. Before that, I was managing so well. I was getting on with life. and now I am so stuck. I sought out a new psychologist for this directl... View more

This is my first post here and I’m nervous. I’ve recently had a major trigger for my PTSD. About three weeks ago. Before that, I was managing so well. I was getting on with life. and now I am so stuck. I sought out a new psychologist for this directly as in the past ive only been through grief counselling. She says I’ve spent my life avoiding my trauma. I’ve been putting it away. And now as a result of this recent trigger I am feeling IT ALL. I don’t know how to cope with this much emotion. I am being reckless and impulsive. I’m spending all my money, I’m driving my car like a maniac, I’m chatting to random men in dating apps. I hooked up with a man impulsively last weekend, my first sexual encounter since my assault. I don’t know how to deal with this in a healthy way. I know therapy is a good start but I still feel like im drowning.