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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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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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maplefog Is this a relapse? and of so will it pass?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, this is my first post here but I wanted some opionons and support if possible. I have a diagnosis of complex PTSD - as much as one can have that when it's not in the DSM (yet). I have been doing quite well over the past 10 years having gone f... View more

Hi all, this is my first post here but I wanted some opionons and support if possible. I have a diagnosis of complex PTSD - as much as one can have that when it's not in the DSM (yet). I have been doing quite well over the past 10 years having gone from not being able to work at all and being on the DSP to completing a vocational degree and working full time. I have also almost completed a second degree working full time and raising my 8yo son. Over the past two years I have has some signiffiant stress unrelated to the work/study commitments - some serious health problems and a relationship breakdown that ended in violence. I have kept my study up and even got a scholarship for the last year and a promotion late last year as well so I felt I was not slipping despite some serious anxiety. I went off medication last August - about 6 monbths ago now and this seemed to be fine. I went off as I felt I was managign really well and was sort of cured. All this has been with the support of a fantastic psychiatrist who I have seen for 8 years now - weekly for psychotherapy. What has happened recently is that I took 3 weeks off work. I was planning a lot of study to get a head start on the year but I absolutely hit the deck emotionally. I cried for about a week solid and my anxiety has returned with a vengance. Now I am back at work my anxiety is still there - quite disabling - and what I have also noticed are some very old thought patterns returning. Intense self criticism and feeling unwelcome and unwanted at work. It feels almost like a flashback to my early experiences in my family of origin but has been going for over a month now - longer than flashback? I am struggling to make sense of this and of course the advice is to go on medication again. It took me 5 months to come off antidepressants as I did this very gradually with the help of a compounding pharmacist so I am unwilling to go back on them if I can stick it out. Can people relapse with complex PTSD and does it pass on its own or will it get worse? I am worried a prolonged relapse will see me lose everything - job, study plans and my relationships. I have worked so hard to build these things. Any experiences other people have had would be helpful. Thank you in advance, M

Lil_b Seeking domestic violence resources in Melbourne
  • replies: 7

Hi there, I am a young female feeling so lost after being on the receiving end of violence from my now ex partner 18 months ago. I have seen a counselor for many months, but wondering if anyone can recommend some sort of support group, or someone I c... View more

Hi there, I am a young female feeling so lost after being on the receiving end of violence from my now ex partner 18 months ago. I have seen a counselor for many months, but wondering if anyone can recommend some sort of support group, or someone I can talk to that's specialized? I and would love to chat to people who have gone through similar events thank you

lilafish Did Consensual Sexual Experiences as a Child Traumatise Me?
  • replies: 2

When I was a little girl (from age 7 to 10), my best friend (from age 7 - 10) and I experimented sexually together. I never felt violated by it at the time, in fact I would consider it all to be consensual. But now, at age 21, I have come to realise ... View more

When I was a little girl (from age 7 to 10), my best friend (from age 7 - 10) and I experimented sexually together. I never felt violated by it at the time, in fact I would consider it all to be consensual. But now, at age 21, I have come to realise my early sexual experiences and experimentations have left me traumatised. I don't know how to explain this, or even how to tell anyone about it. It's been eating me up inside. Does anyone else relate to me? Am I crazy?

Lumpypumpkin Mental Health Stability - How do you gain it
  • replies: 2

Hi, l was diagnosed witb PTSD in 2015 after a assault at work with no staff support. This was the straw that broke the camel's back after years of assaults. It brough up old wounds from my childhood and other horrid events in my life. Depression and ... View more

Hi, l was diagnosed witb PTSD in 2015 after a assault at work with no staff support. This was the straw that broke the camel's back after years of assaults. It brough up old wounds from my childhood and other horrid events in my life. Depression and anxiety have been present since in severe and moderate at varying times. I would like to know "what state of mind do you need to be in to be considered stable by a Psychiatrist? ". I have yet to be deemed stable and it is preventing me from moving on with my life. Sadly for me l was also confronted with a drug addict threatening my life and being confronted by a male wanting to hyjack my car both which impacted on me. This occured last year and though l feel l have put this behind me, l can't get deemed stable. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, l so desperately want to leave the past behind.

Marks_Mrs Husband of 17 years lost all feelings for me in 10 days.
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone, Hoping to hear from anybody who has been through this. We have been together for 17 years, most of the time very happy. My husband was diagnosed with complex PTSD, depression & anxiety a year ago. He was prescribed antidepressants for... View more

Hello everyone, Hoping to hear from anybody who has been through this. We have been together for 17 years, most of the time very happy. My husband was diagnosed with complex PTSD, depression & anxiety a year ago. He was prescribed antidepressants for suicidal thoughts & sees a psychologist. We love each other deeply but I have noticed big changes in him since we sought help & not positive changes! He has slowly cut everyone from his life, mother, friends. But worst was to come, 10 days ago he said he felt nothing..even for me. this happened so suddenly that I am in a state of shock, hurt & very distraught. Am I wrong in thinking this is the medication? Can't be a coincidence that a very loving man in 12 months of taking antidepressants has lost all emotion & love. I hope someone who has been through this can shed some light on this, we have been to the psychologist & her answer was to up his meds. I am heading to the Drs in the morning for help, I am so upset it's affecting my health. Starting to think he won't come back to me emotionally. Thank you to anyone who responds to me.

Ant-Man18 Hi from Ant-Man18 who is working thru PTSD in 2018
  • replies: 1

G'day all Just wanted to say hello to everyone and give a brief intro. Been a long time FIFO worker (thought I put in the hard yards to pay off a huge mortgage and family debt). About 5 years ago, came home to find the Mrs in bed with a younger man. ... View more

G'day all Just wanted to say hello to everyone and give a brief intro. Been a long time FIFO worker (thought I put in the hard yards to pay off a huge mortgage and family debt). About 5 years ago, came home to find the Mrs in bed with a younger man. She totally turned my life upside down; divorce, settlement, custody battles - it was hell mates! Managed to get back on my feet however starting to suffer from PTSD about 3 months ago... just haven't been able to shake 'em or really talk to anyone about it. A good mate of mine recommended me to join this forum as a first step so I did. My biggest huddle is there are times I find it really hard to leave my bedroom - I just can't shake the thoughts of fear and an unsafe world to step into and then there are days where I am just fine and it doesn't even cross my mind. I have no idea what the triggers are or have any idea on how to detect them... Thank you all. Sincerely, AM

tatiailia Recovering from Complex PTSD, being abused again.
  • replies: 2

I'm in therapy for complex PTSD stemming from childhood abuse, and recently I've been re-triggered by a friend's behaviour. It's only just dawned on me (within the past 24 hours) that the things he's been doing qualify as emotional abuse. I know I ne... View more

I'm in therapy for complex PTSD stemming from childhood abuse, and recently I've been re-triggered by a friend's behaviour. It's only just dawned on me (within the past 24 hours) that the things he's been doing qualify as emotional abuse. I know I need to cut ties for my own safety, but I'm finding it hard because up to now he's been one of my only supports so I'm taking that away from myself without replacing it with anything. I'm scared of losing that, scared that he'll do something to himself and blame me, just scared in general. I guess I just need someone to talk through it with.

Beetle Coded yesterday after procedure.Feel very vulnerable.Helpless.Old wounds opened.
  • replies: 11

Hey I'm a first responder myself. However I coded yesterday after a procedure. Very scary experience. I am usually on the other side of this thing.Being the one being coded is a totally different story. I only remember I felt dizzy and my eyes went i... View more

Hey I'm a first responder myself. However I coded yesterday after a procedure. Very scary experience. I am usually on the other side of this thing.Being the one being coded is a totally different story. I only remember I felt dizzy and my eyes went into the back of my head. When I sort of came to "thousand" people were around me poking needles in me and talking to me. I felt so exposed, vulnerable, helpless. Even though they were all wonderful and I'm back home I'm still teary and feel still very weird, and dizzy. I wonder if this event has triggered old wounds of my past? ( sexual abuse, emotional and physical neglect and abuse) I appreciate anyone sharing their thoughts Beetle

Melsa I broke my silence after 15 years
  • replies: 4

Hi, I'm new and needed to join a support group and openly talk about my recent experiences. I was sexually abused as a child from roughly 8 years old - 14 years old by my father. I have kept this dark horrible secret for years, I've felt shame, guilt... View more

Hi, I'm new and needed to join a support group and openly talk about my recent experiences. I was sexually abused as a child from roughly 8 years old - 14 years old by my father. I have kept this dark horrible secret for years, I've felt shame, guilt and also fear and to be honest blocked most of my childhood out. I gave birth to a beautiful son 2 years ago, and this event triggered postnatal anxiety and I became terrified of my son being around my father. The flashbacks of my awful past started happening and I've lately been in a constant state of panic and fear. I've never told anyone about my father abusing me for years, however on the phone to my brother the other day ( won't go into all the conversation details) but I openly confessed to my brother what had happened, then I ended up telling my husband and mother. It felt so good to get this awful stuff of my chest, but now I don't know what to do next. I made the decision to silence and remove my toxic father from my life, which was a great first step. My parents are divorced also and my mother is shocked, horrified and angry and she is feeling like a failure as a parent right now. My family is pressuring me into making a police report, but 1) I'm terrified and 2) Because it was so long ago, I feel that nothing can actually be done. Was wondering if anyone can shine some light on making a report to the police and if you had a positive outcome? Cheers,

Pain4me Verbal psychological abuse
  • replies: 5

Hi I'm new in here.. my story is of a verbally and psychological abusive relationship I'm 7 days out of. Im finding things very hard I was totally isolated from family and friends and he was everything in my life the past 12 months. Five times I left... View more

Hi I'm new in here.. my story is of a verbally and psychological abusive relationship I'm 7 days out of. Im finding things very hard I was totally isolated from family and friends and he was everything in my life the past 12 months. Five times I left and went back always believing he would change. Telling myself constantly that if I just don' do anything to trigger him it would be ok. If course this never worked he would still go off over nothing. He was constantly accusing me of cheating on him which was not true but he would never believe me even when I could prove him wrong he still would not believe me. I don't even know who I am anymore and have spent so much time crying over this person who does not deserve it. Unless someone has been in this situation they have no idea what it feels like and you can' explain it. I just want my life back and stop the pain that I'm feeling at the moment. I have started councelling I just hope it helps. All I want to do is talk to him and see him and I know I can't and it kills me. Being alone scares me.. I'm moving towns for my job so will be away from family too.