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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Guest5643 Im a little on edge today.
  • replies: 5

Hi Im a little on edge today. Yesterday 2 cops were banging and i repeat banging not knocking on my door. Not knowing who it was i opened the door with my door next to me barking. There were 2 cops in there swat gear, im in petrified shock thinking w... View more

Hi Im a little on edge today. Yesterday 2 cops were banging and i repeat banging not knocking on my door. Not knowing who it was i opened the door with my door next to me barking. There were 2 cops in there swat gear, im in petrified shock thinking what the hell have i done. The only thing i do wrong is walk my dog in places dogs arent allowed. I opened the screen door and they moved right against me. One cop spent kept looking at my chest cause i had no bra on and it was obvious. They started accosting me where the teenagers are. I said what teenagers? They said i have teenagers living hear which i do not. In the end they realise they knocked on the wrong door. If someone did that to someone else they would get in trouble so why do these thugs not get in trouble for abusing an innocent person. Sorry i just needed to rant im very upset over it. Cheers lynne

CKS Self-help Methods for CPTSD
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone I am new to Beyond Blue. I am very sympathetic about all of us who have suffered childhood abuse and trauma. I have regular visits with my psychiatrist who i have been seeing for over 7 years. I have also attended many groups sessions and... View more

Hi everyone I am new to Beyond Blue. I am very sympathetic about all of us who have suffered childhood abuse and trauma. I have regular visits with my psychiatrist who i have been seeing for over 7 years. I have also attended many groups sessions and one on one counselling, but sometimes its still not enough to remedy how i feel. I am wondering if anyone has developed any of their own self-help methods to heal the memories and hurts about their childhood trauma. Living with the symptoms of anger and addiction are horrendous. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thankyou

AnxiousMaiden How can I feel safe?
  • replies: 3

I live alone with my two children and I am struggling lately with how to feel safe at night. I have a history of sexual abuse during home invasions. As a little girl a man used to sneak in through the kitchen window my mum always left open and assaul... View more

I live alone with my two children and I am struggling lately with how to feel safe at night. I have a history of sexual abuse during home invasions. As a little girl a man used to sneak in through the kitchen window my mum always left open and assault me in my bed. I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm 33, and I have two of my own children and am a productive, self assured, strong woman by day and the same frightened girl every night. I get very little sleep and its affecting my mental health these past weeks. I do see a counsellor regularly but this is one very stubborn area of my life where I make very little progress. At times I feel like I will never feel safe again. I'd love to be able to go to bed and just fall asleep, feeling safe and protected. How can I get that? Please help.

ElyseH Dizzy and nausea
  • replies: 3

Is it possible to have trauma resurface and start to have bouts of feeling dizzy, faint and nausea? All of a sudden I am brought back to an unpleasant time of my early teens.

Is it possible to have trauma resurface and start to have bouts of feeling dizzy, faint and nausea? All of a sudden I am brought back to an unpleasant time of my early teens.

NanoCT Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the beginning
  • replies: 3

Hi, dears, I am a chronic patient, already over 10 years, I did not get rid of the voices. That was started after the PTSD injured caused by robbery happened at my 20th birthday. I have a good heart as people always told me. I am a good girl characte... View more

Hi, dears, I am a chronic patient, already over 10 years, I did not get rid of the voices. That was started after the PTSD injured caused by robbery happened at my 20th birthday. I have a good heart as people always told me. I am a good girl characteristic. Good in the musical instruments and art design during student, actively engaged in the school music festivals and won arts competition. I am a girl leader in schools. However, the Auditory hallucination with negative and depressive voices began after I finished my schools. I try to actively engage in the society but I felt discrimination and the auditory hallucination voices threatening me to be an active person. With the medication, the voices reduced to be the thought only when I am alone. Not voices anymore. Can anyone share their experiences with me for how to totally get rid of the voices disturbance? The reality is negative, a real-world is with sexuality and unrespectful, people wanted money, sex and power...... I cannot see real love. The voices made my health weak, very unhealthy. Finally, I went to Church last year. I wanted to get rid of the voices. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to be a good person. I wanted to engage in society positively. I wanted to be a healthy person. I wanted to help myself in order to help others. Thank you.

Katija My husband drinks to ...much
  • replies: 3

When my husband drinks he cannot handle his alcohol..He's not violent but he is depressive annoying and argumentative. It's a chore for me and is slowly making e sick. This has been going on for 5 years. He's decreased the amount of days a week but I... View more

When my husband drinks he cannot handle his alcohol..He's not violent but he is depressive annoying and argumentative. It's a chore for me and is slowly making e sick. This has been going on for 5 years. He's decreased the amount of days a week but I can't cope.. my some can't old it's simply to much. I don't know what to do or who to turn to.

hazygrey in need of a direction
  • replies: 4

Hello, I need to get my life back on track, in pretty much every area you can think of. Past trauma means I'm absolutely rubbish at talking about my problems.. I saw a counsellor once & that one session only cemented my views on what a bad idea it is... View more

Hello, I need to get my life back on track, in pretty much every area you can think of. Past trauma means I'm absolutely rubbish at talking about my problems.. I saw a counsellor once & that one session only cemented my views on what a bad idea it is to talk about your problems. So my question is how do you figure out what to focus on first? The stress, anxiety, long-term depression, sleeplessness, fear, the past trauma, the damage I'm doing to my relationship, the unemployment, or the body itself (in total need of an overhaul!) I had a beautiful doctor who I saw but she is no longer practicing and since I have severe whitecoat hypertension I would rather try and get through this without seeing a doctor. thankyou in advance x

She91 My boss tries to accuse me back when i reported that i was been sexually abused by a colleague
  • replies: 7

I work in a restaurant and one of my colleague touched and snapped my bra and i just walked of the work with my teary eyes. That night i finalised that i am no more working there and today my boss called me for my whereabout. I explained i am quittin... View more

I work in a restaurant and one of my colleague touched and snapped my bra and i just walked of the work with my teary eyes. That night i finalised that i am no more working there and today my boss called me for my whereabout. I explained i am quitting the job as i was been sexually abused by the man, and the owner was frowned at me when i used the word " Sexually Abuse" and he started to say that should not use that term and reminded me that it requires money to file a case. He even told me that people do this things for money and said there was an actor called Goffrey, where the alleged victim was accused back later. I am so disheartened to hear all this as i was looking for his support and he turn out to question me for my character and my money status. Well, i don't intend to file police case against that man as he seems to realise his action but the owner's way of dealing with the situation just to save his restaurant name and not caring for his employees was very unethical.

Basilcat Hidden Story
  • replies: 5

My story is kept hidden and I never let my guard down people think I'm confident, tough and come to me to sort everything (family and work colleagues) but I'm not I'm a complicated mess. Alcoholic father, verbally abusive, gas lighter. Looked after m... View more

My story is kept hidden and I never let my guard down people think I'm confident, tough and come to me to sort everything (family and work colleagues) but I'm not I'm a complicated mess. Alcoholic father, verbally abusive, gas lighter. Looked after my mother with MH from the age of 11 and my younger brother, mother remains dependent. Raped age 13 and abused by an older man. Suffered repeated violence from my first boyfriend. His violence caused the loss of our baby. I was aged 15. Married and settled 34 years had two kids cancer in 2008 survived. I have a good job and responsibilities but no one knows what goes on in my head. My father made me feel worthless all my life this year he died of liver failure. I said good bye 3 days before as he asked to talk to me he still didn't say he loved me, he never did. I think about ending the pain sometimes, sometimes I punch myself for being stupid and the rest of the time I am just lonely and sad. I have anxiety and occasionally panic attacks they used to be a lot worse. The anxiety presents as swallowing difficulty when eating. I also have anger spikes which turn into hating myself. I'm posting to ask how you leave the past behind? I've seen a therapist through the GP but it was worth what I paid not much. Thank you for reading this has been hard to write down but I figured unless I face up to the problems they are going to keep getting worse.

sparrowhawk Dealing with triggers
  • replies: 5

So I was diagnosed as having trauma after prolonged bullying/emotional abuse. I'm no longer in that situation and am getting professional help. The thing is that I am surrounded by triggers - people will simply say or do something that reminds me of ... View more

So I was diagnosed as having trauma after prolonged bullying/emotional abuse. I'm no longer in that situation and am getting professional help. The thing is that I am surrounded by triggers - people will simply say or do something that reminds me of what happened, send me into anxiety/tears. I even work with a very nice guy who is a huge trigger for me simply because of how he interacts with me. And of course sometimes flashbacks happen on their own. Maybe this is too personal a topic for people to respond to. People don't realise they trigger me - I have a very intuitive friend who has sort of clued in but sometimes she triggers me too. It's not their fault, they don't intend it. Every day something is bound to remind me of what happened and I hate it. Criticism, even constructive, is the worst. I can take criticism on its own, and before didn't worry so much about being criticised or corrected, but it is a massive trigger now, even if it's not a personal attack. Just wondering if anyone feels comfortable enough to share what they do.