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
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

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.

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.