PTSD and trauma

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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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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.

mygypsy Separation anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm new here I lost my granddaughter a long time ago to drowning which I thought I had finally come to terms with but my mum has now been diagnosed with bowel cancer I have been running around to radiation and chemo with her everyday which is ok b... View more

Hi I'm new here I lost my granddaughter a long time ago to drowning which I thought I had finally come to terms with but my mum has now been diagnosed with bowel cancer I have been running around to radiation and chemo with her everyday which is ok but I haven't seen my daughter or grandkids due to her partner and the other day I had a few drinks and apparently abused everyone my sons daughter let me know this and now I've been crying all day with no control it feels like before I feel I'm alone I always forgive people but no body can understand why I lash out

witheredorchid digging deep into my memories of sexual abuse [TRIGGER WARNING]
  • replies: 4

First off let me start by saying it has been very hard coming to terms with this. I am still confused by it. I just need to let it out. Finally. When I was 10 my friends brother sexually abused me. Years later when giving birth to my daughter I would... View more

First off let me start by saying it has been very hard coming to terms with this. I am still confused by it. I just need to let it out. Finally. When I was 10 my friends brother sexually abused me. Years later when giving birth to my daughter I would find out he actually harmed me in a way that made labour even more difficult. I just froze and never said anything until asked if I was abused by a doctor when I had my internal exam. When I was 12 I had this older guy at school and a group of his friends bully and abuse me. on top of all the other things in my life I am just so overwhelmed and confused. I get angry, sad, scared, anxious and I have nightmares about it going further with either myself or my daughter. its become more and more often even though it had been 7 years. I don't know whats happening.

Lisa_C Stressed and anxious, just want to move on and start a new life (warning: possible triggers of sexual abuse)
  • replies: 2

My ex lives with his parents and two brothers 12 & 15. Approximately 3 months ago, I stopped our son (5 in March) from going to their house because on one night of him coming home from there, I caught him in two seperate moments behaving sexually on ... View more

My ex lives with his parents and two brothers 12 & 15. Approximately 3 months ago, I stopped our son (5 in March) from going to their house because on one night of him coming home from there, I caught him in two seperate moments behaving sexually on my bed (extremely inappropriate for a 5 year old) my mummy sences were on high alert. It clearly indicated to me that he had been exposed to online porn and/or been shown sexual behaviours, after that he didn’t want to speak about it. I took him to our GP ASAP, who called child protection and they got involved. However he is still allowed contact with his dad, just not at his house. My instincts from the start were that my son should not be going to that house because they are disrespectful to each other and used fowl langue around my son and other inappropriate things too. But I trusted his dad to protect him and I told him not to leave our son in his family’s care or leave him alone in his uncles bedrooms but he didn’t listen to me, no matter how many times I’d tell him. I felt guilty because I thought I was being too controlling or overprotective. Now that my ex has only just found a new girlfriend he has turned against me and is going through mediation because he feels like he doesn’t get enough say in his sons life (even though I have NOT stopped them from seeing each other!) I’ve just been worried for our sons safety and making sure he doesn’t take him back to that house again. Anyway in 6 months time or so, I’m hoping to move to a new town on the beach (where I know I will find happiness as I’ve wanted to move to the beach for a long time) about 4.5hrs away from my ex but I am happy to travel back there every 2nd weekend so my son and ex can spend time together. I’m just wondering can my ex stop me from doing this? Will mediation try to stop me? I’m sole carer of my son and always have been. I know what’s best for both of us. I am not running away. I just want to start a new life and find happiness after 6 years of a miserable relationship. I am so done with all this. So very emotionally tired but I am TRYING to stay strong, I cannot show my weakness, I have to stay strong for my son and myself. Any advice appreciated. Thank you.

Quercus How to discuss difficult sexual feelings
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I need some advice if anyone is willing to share. I have two concerns.... One... Does anyone find it almost impossible to talk to their therapist about sexual issues and feelings? I like my psychiatrist and he is excellent and I feel com... View more

Hi everyone, I need some advice if anyone is willing to share. I have two concerns.... One... Does anyone find it almost impossible to talk to their therapist about sexual issues and feelings? I like my psychiatrist and he is excellent and I feel comfortable generally. But talking about anything sexual involves gestures and euphemisms or else I just blurt it out and want to melt into the floor and clam up. Either way I can't seem to discuss it. Any ideas to help? Two... Feelings of confusion and guilt. My backstory... High school sweetheart was a toad. I said no. He pretended not to hear. Abusive relationship. Many years later. Happily married. Husband is trustworthy and not remotely toad like. But I don't feel WANTED! That passionate don't want to take my hands off you sort of want. And the thoughts creep in. About how I must be sick and perverted because the only time in my life I felt like I was passionately wanted. Desired. Coveted. Was with the bloke who raped me and treated me like I was a possession. How do you broach THAT with a spouse?! Or even a therapist?! I can blurt it out awkwardly here. It's anonymous. A lot of people here know I'm strange and don't seem to mind me anyway. How did you separate feelings of PASSION from feelings of guilt? I would appreciate any advice. Nat

Betrayed72 Support needed
  • replies: 4

I'm new here and I'm looking for support as i have I'm going to assume a long and hard fight that I'm not looking forward to.

I'm new here and I'm looking for support as i have I'm going to assume a long and hard fight that I'm not looking forward to.

Lulu999 lost *trigger warning: sexual assault, child abuse*
  • replies: 2

I am so completely lost right now. I have anxiety & depression, 2 of my daughters were sexually abused earlier this year by a family friend & 2 weeks ago I found a video on my husband's phone of him having sex with a prostitute... & that is just the ... View more

I am so completely lost right now. I have anxiety & depression, 2 of my daughters were sexually abused earlier this year by a family friend & 2 weeks ago I found a video on my husband's phone of him having sex with a prostitute... & that is just the tip of the iceberg. I feel like there is no one left in the world I can trust. My husband has been my best friend for 15 years but it hasn't been easy. 6 years ago, pregnant with our 3rd daughter I found out he had had a one night stand (when I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter). I only found out because the nurses thought I had an std so I confronted him. He promised me that it was only a one time thing & was a huge mistake. But after our daughter was born I found that he had a secret email account & had been sending dirty pictures to other women & vice versa. He was also on dating websites & watching an increasing amount of pornography. I kicked him out. Following this he attended a few sex addict counselling sessions & once again promised he would change & never do these things again. As time progressed I knew he was watching porn but I turned a blind eye. We now have 4 young children & I guess it was just too hard? I should have done something about it. 2 weeks ago I found a video on his phone of him having sex with a prostitute. It shattered me. I also found texts where he was clearly setting up another session. I told him I want a divorce & was going to move down near my parents so I had some support around me. But I just can't move on. I still love him & he has begun to disclose some information about traumatic events which happened to him as a child & I believe these have had a big impact on his actions over the past years. I feel like I need to support him to get help but at the same time I'm a mess & don't really have much help for myself. To complicate things we are waiting for the court date to come up mid next year in regards to our children & their assault so I feel I can't move until that happens. They need their counsellors & support which has been established here. I feel like there really aren't too many honest or good people in the world. The person who hurt my babies was the partner of one of my closest friends & since things came out she has not spoken to me & is still with him. My husband was my one 'true friend' but now I find it was all a lie. Everyone closest to me hurts me & breaks my trust. I carry on for the sake of my children but I am so utterly broken.

Eliza2017 My fiancee hurts me *Trigger Warning - Domestic Violence*
  • replies: 7

We had our engagement party over the weekend. My family were slow to leave and so I asked my fiancee to relieve the babysitter for our three year old and I would follow shortly. When I returned we argued and he hit me. Splitting my lip very badly. Ou... View more

We had our engagement party over the weekend. My family were slow to leave and so I asked my fiancee to relieve the babysitter for our three year old and I would follow shortly. When I returned we argued and he hit me. Splitting my lip very badly. Our three year old son asleep in the next room. We have been together for 10 years and in that time he has physically hurt me three times First time he fractured my cheek. The second he gave me a black eye. Each time I have gone to my parents they have brushed it aside. I fear, as an overweight woman they feel I can do no better. I am smart woman, I know no one has the right to hurt me but I don't know what to do. I feel as if I am betraying myself. We also never have sex unless I initiate it. I have spoken to him several times to try to fix it and tell him that I feel unloved and lonely. Please. Somebody tell me I'm not the overbearing, horrible, undesirable woman I feel like I am. I am so desperately sad and embarrassed.

Hope_and_Love What Is A Relationship *Trigger Warning - Child Abuse*
  • replies: 9

Hello Beyondblue forum members, I am hear to seek advice from everyone that would like to share their insights onto relationships. First things, first, an introduction about me. I was one of the few millions of sperm that was able to swim into my mot... View more

Hello Beyondblue forum members, I am hear to seek advice from everyone that would like to share their insights onto relationships. First things, first, an introduction about me. I was one of the few millions of sperm that was able to swim into my mother's uterus and propagated with the egg. Jokes aside, I am 25 male (26 in a couple of months, cries) and have never really had a proper relationship. What do I mean by proper? I don't even know to be honest. My past experience was almost five years ago, where I dated this girl I met at university for three months, but then she moved to a different state and that was the end of that. I've never had any sexual activity in my life and my shrink have asked me if I am scared? I replied with, well if you had general anxiety and panic disorder would you be scared? Additionally, I was molested in my toddler years and I can remember that day pretty vividly. So I'm have some anxiety when connecting sexually. I am diagnosed with two medical conditions, general anxiety and panic disorder and to top that, I have personality traits in cluster B and C (Borderline personality and Avoidant personality disorder). To give you an idea what that means, I have extreme emotional response to abandonment, criticism, invalidation and rejection. I also have trouble reaching out physically to others for help, because inside I would like to be an independent person. Hooooraaay! One of my deepest desires is to connect with a female emotionally, as I do not have that with my mother. To be blunt, I feel like I am alone all the time. In additions to having BPD, I experiences extreme emptiness through my daily life and it can honestly be incredibly draining. I've accepted the fact I am not normal and that's okay. I was born with a hyper active nervous system where there are pros, which I am currently putting some effort into seeking. So here is one of my biggest issue with relationship besides getting into one, due to my personality traits which I have no control whatsoever, I often become obsessed with said person. Coming back to the extreme response to abandonment, my mind makes up scenario when this person may attempt to "abandon" me. It is a defensive mechanism to prevent me for attaining further possible pain. In addition to the intrusive thoughts, the anxiety can be crippling and it can honestly feel like dying is a better solution than to be in a relationship. In conclusion, I sabotage anything before it forms to anything. Regards, H&L

NeedingSupport Not coping anymore
  • replies: 3

Hi. I have no idea even where to start. Three years ago i left domestic violence. 3 Months after i was diagnosed with PTSD & depression. I also have an eating disorder which i have struggled with for years now. Ever since i left my ex partner it has ... View more

Hi. I have no idea even where to start. Three years ago i left domestic violence. 3 Months after i was diagnosed with PTSD & depression. I also have an eating disorder which i have struggled with for years now. Ever since i left my ex partner it has been nothing still but severe stress. I have a four year old little girl. I have started to isolate myself more and more & shut people out. I don't think i have ever coped with motherhood either & the reality of being a single parent has really hit me hard lately. I am exhausted. Financial stress is wearing me down and the damage is leaving me feeling emotionally & mentally all over the place. I feel like i keep going backwards with everything. On a random good day it has been a good day but then it is back to the same hell in my head most days. I have no self esteem or confidence left. I don't enjoy the things i used to and genuinely don't enjoy life anymore. I hate most people and i hate myself so much for the choices i made. My daughter is the reason why i choose to keep going but every day is hell. I have had my daughter mostly full time within the last four years. I don't feel like anyone at all understands. I don't look after myself at all anymore nor do i even have the energy to be bothered. Most days i just want to run away or scream my head off. Does anyone else feel like they have lost themselves entirely and have no idea how to bounce back. I am seriously losing my shit more and more every day..... I keep reliving it in my mind all the time and remembering everything he did and said. I feel more anger than anything lately