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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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Sophie_M If you need to talk about Bondi Beach - Our community is here
  • replies: 5

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

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auschic Witnessed an assault, cant stop thinking about it now
  • replies: 2

**Trigger Warning, there is talk of an event some may find disturbing** A couple of days ago my partner whom I love dearly was aggressively physically assaulted by an unknown person. The attack was random and uncalled for, it left my partner with a b... View more

**Trigger Warning, there is talk of an event some may find disturbing** A couple of days ago my partner whom I love dearly was aggressively physically assaulted by an unknown person. The attack was random and uncalled for, it left my partner with a broken nose and minor head injuries. When it happened, i remained calm and attended to the situation to the best of my ability. My brain kind of blocked out all the blood and everything that I saw so that i could focus on breaking the fight up, gathering evidence and ensuring my partner was okay. Its been a few days now and ive been looking after him making sure his okay whilst his injuries heal. People were saying to me they were surprised how calm i was during the whole thing and how i must have been so scared. All i can say is honestly in the moment I wasnt scared at all but now, a few days later I cant stop thinking about it. When i close my eyes I see the person who assaulted my partner face. I keep replaying the blood i saw gushing out over and over again. I remember how much pain my partner was in as we waited for the ambulance and the shocked faces of everyone around me whilst my partner was on the floor. I just want it out of my mind. I dont feel like talking much to anyone about it, i just want a way to lessen the images I keep seeing.

meekamoo Boyfriend hit me after I hit him.
  • replies: 2

my boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 2 years now and we have a lot going on being in year 12 and trying to both keep a balance between school and life as well as our relationship. we never used to fight as much as we do now and it’s got m... View more

my boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 2 years now and we have a lot going on being in year 12 and trying to both keep a balance between school and life as well as our relationship. we never used to fight as much as we do now and it’s got me really worried. things just set us off. he’s really good with his words and sometimes he pushes it too far and his words become extremely hurtful; to the point where it upsets me and makes me lose all confidence and self esteem within myself. he knows to be gentle and kind to me as I do suffer from anxiety and depression but I don’t know if he realises whether he is doing something to hurt me or not. in saying this, I lose all self control of myself considering he’s the only friend/person who’s ever been there for me. I’ve lost my family and friends and he’s all I have left. I then retaliate and push him and then he’ll say something like “go on do it again” or “is it fun pushing me around like that?” and then i will push him some more. It will usually end in him grabbing me. Some times it hasn’t scared me, but other times it really scares me and makes me question my worth and our relationship. I love him so much and i know he loves me too but I need some help. what should I do?

Charley75 Scared of trauma therapy
  • replies: 7

Hello, I've started trauma therapy and I am scared. I have only fragmented memories of my childhood abuse and I feel so dirty and worthless thinking about it. How could I get sexually abused for years from different people? Why did it happen? Why can... View more

Hello, I've started trauma therapy and I am scared. I have only fragmented memories of my childhood abuse and I feel so dirty and worthless thinking about it. How could I get sexually abused for years from different people? Why did it happen? Why can I remember so little of my past? There are many questions for my therapists, but I would like to know from other survivors, how do you deal with the flashbacks? The times when you feel like you're 5 years old again? When you just want to die because you don't want to remember? When you feel worthless and useless and a waste of space? I feel like there are two people in me and I have no control when I get upset. How can I get myself grounded? I've learnt grounding techniques but when I feel bad I feel I don't deserve to feel better and I don't use them? Does that sound weird?

Mscrzy81 Is there anyone else like me?
  • replies: 1

Has anyone else here been diagnosed with PTSD after their partner had an affair? My partner had his affair towards the end of 2015 and I’m still suffering triggers and emotional breakdowns because of it... Please don’t judge me as I am still with him... View more

Has anyone else here been diagnosed with PTSD after their partner had an affair? My partner had his affair towards the end of 2015 and I’m still suffering triggers and emotional breakdowns because of it... Please don’t judge me as I am still with him... we have a family that I believe is worth fighting for..

Quinn_tm Need to talk and for someone to listen
  • replies: 3

4 months ago I finally acknowledged the sexual abuse I recieved at the hands of both my brothers, calling it for what it is. The strange thing is, I don't recall the ongoing abuse by 1 of them. I only know this because he came to me 12 yrs ago to ask... View more

4 months ago I finally acknowledged the sexual abuse I recieved at the hands of both my brothers, calling it for what it is. The strange thing is, I don't recall the ongoing abuse by 1 of them. I only know this because he came to me 12 yrs ago to ask for forgiveness. I did, only because I wasn't ready to talk. Internally, Things fell into place, for instance, who I had lost my virginity to. This is a big one, especially for a woman. But I am ready now. This brother (1) has been an incredible support and allows me to ask many awkward questions. He does feel guilt and shame. It started at 7. He would have been 11. My other brother started when I was 13 it occurred twice. He would have been 16. My 2nd brother denies it happened. I did chat to him to try to get answers, to forgive him for my sake. It's complex because despite this, I looked up to both of them and love them. I was also physically abused by my grandfather and bullied throughout school. My father was a verbally abusive alcoholic. I need to air this as I can't be open with it because (I hate to say) of the consequences for my brothers and my family. I know I didn't grow up in a safe environment as I was repeatedly exposed to my abusers. But airing this would devastate my mum as she tried her best to keep the family together. I internalised all my pain. Even to the point of blacking it out of my memory. i was diagnosed with depression as a teen, tried suicide multiple times. The counsellor I had back then never dug deep enough to expose the abuse then. All we discussed was the school bullies. I never did heal and now suffer with fibromyalgia. Years later (I'm 32) and After months of treatment, I'm still finding it hard to find a way to put this trauma to bed. My psychologist tells me I need to find a way to move on but I don't know where to start. I would appreciate some advice and direction. i am new here and I'll research the other threads too. But I'm desperate to tell my story and I thank you for reading

LostonaForum Coping With a Touch Phobia
  • replies: 4

Okay so I have a phobia of people touching me, this phobia is the result of living with an abusive parent when I was a child. The way my touch phobia works is that I cannot stand it when people touch me I feel scared and (this sounds very dramatic) v... View more

Okay so I have a phobia of people touching me, this phobia is the result of living with an abusive parent when I was a child. The way my touch phobia works is that I cannot stand it when people touch me I feel scared and (this sounds very dramatic) violated. I also struggle to be able to touch other people so I avoid any and all physical contact and intimacy. The problem is that not everyone who goes in for a hug or handshake knows this and even though it's hard I push through it is physically trying for me and sometimes it takes hours for me to feel safe again. I don't want to say no and give them no reason as to why because i'm probably going to offend them and ruin alot of relationships, but I don't want to tell everyone I meet about this phobia or the fact that I had an abusive parent. Is there some way to work around this?. Note: I am seeing help about this but it doesn't get better overnight.

Bobbie1982 Visiting the place where it happened
  • replies: 14

Hi, I was sexually abused throughout my childhood and have worked through a lot of stuff, but still have some “stuck points” where flashbacks run rampant every day. My therapisthas recently suggested maybe one day going back to my childhood home wher... View more

Hi, I was sexually abused throughout my childhood and have worked through a lot of stuff, but still have some “stuck points” where flashbacks run rampant every day. My therapisthas recently suggested maybe one day going back to my childhood home where it all started could somehow help me... I am wondering if anyone has done something like this - returned to the place where the trauma happened, and if so, did it help? Ive sometimes thought about it, going back there, but the thought of it made me feel really anxious. But I think I’m in a much better state since having worked through a lot of it...

Just_talk Ok putting it out there, A guy that was lost for a while
  • replies: 5

Hey, I will keep it brief, I lost my way and struggled with depression and PTSD and this has been a bad time. I wont fight it anymore. But guys its time to speak up and deal with it. I NO YOU GUYS HAVE GOT THIS. PLEASE TALK.

Hey, I will keep it brief, I lost my way and struggled with depression and PTSD and this has been a bad time. I wont fight it anymore. But guys its time to speak up and deal with it. I NO YOU GUYS HAVE GOT THIS. PLEASE TALK.

Shazzzy Life catching up with me scared to deal with emotions
  • replies: 4

Life has had many ups and downs starting 23 years ago with 1st child diagnosed with Lissencephaly making us full time carers 24/7..... that was tough but toughest thing happened 9 years ago when my husband losing 20 years of memories taking him back ... View more

Life has had many ups and downs starting 23 years ago with 1st child diagnosed with Lissencephaly making us full time carers 24/7..... that was tough but toughest thing happened 9 years ago when my husband losing 20 years of memories taking him back to before our family started..... I’ve had to be strong and keep each day going for the kids and him we still have our family but I’ve never dealt with what it means to myself what I’ve lost also while dealing with this all I’ve had 3 others kids to raise 2 with learning difficulties and adhd so been in and out of meetings, courts and everything else in between while keeping our family running We have also has 4 deaths in the family over 6 years and 2 friends taken one to suicide that’s broken me to who’s got time to deal with the emotions that come along with all this having no close social circle hurts to no one to chat to daily living remote sucks sometimes this year my dad died and I still haven’t dealt with that yet it’s too hard to let the emotions out incase they don’t stop wish I could of said goodbye Lost it yesterday hubby was looking at pictures and I felt lost, robbed, sad, angry even pissed off that we’ve lost so much of us it’s not the same only I remember our past and I feel robbed we can’t share these memories together yes we get to make more but our life together seems empty without these to share am I suffering ptsd or am I just lost in life quick run down on me gotta now put on smile and head to work thanks to anyone who reads this

3T Intense counselling session for PTSD has taken me back
  • replies: 3

I had a counselling session today with a new counsellor for complex grief and PTSD it feels like it has forced me back in a place that I don't want to be in. I had a panic attack after the session I don't like the way I'm feeling any suggestions or i... View more

I had a counselling session today with a new counsellor for complex grief and PTSD it feels like it has forced me back in a place that I don't want to be in. I had a panic attack after the session I don't like the way I'm feeling any suggestions or ideas to help please xx