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
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

Sophie_M If you need to talk about Bondi Beach - Our community is here
  • replies: 8

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

summerdays Before it gets worse
  • replies: 4

hi there I am feeling really low right now and I feel like I just can't go on being a Mum. I can't handle it when my children cry. Like, I seriously can't handle it. They are 18mo and 3. This morning I pushed my 18mo away and he bumped his head on th... View more

hi there I am feeling really low right now and I feel like I just can't go on being a Mum. I can't handle it when my children cry. Like, I seriously can't handle it. They are 18mo and 3. This morning I pushed my 18mo away and he bumped his head on the table. I don't know what's wrong with me and I don't know what to do. I hate the kind of mother I am and I really wanted to give them more than this. I can't be in the present moment, and when my kids force me to be in it, I flip out. To a bystander I might seem normal but inside I am like a bomb waiting to go off. I would never hurt my kids but I can understand why and how people do it. and that scares me, to know that. Am i capable of it? yes. Do i love my kids? more than anything. But i can't cope. How can i explain this to my partner and his family (our support). I want to be alone. i want them to be in daycare everyday. I want someone to be here at home with us to help us, to help me. I want to throw myself into full time work so that I don't have to be their mum, but that's not going to solve anything, is it. I'm going to give the blueknot foundation a call today. Thanks for listening

Lostflutterby Religious issues.
  • replies: 15

I know this may be a sensitive and subjective topic but its something i really cant find any info about. I was raised in a strict catholic community and household. Where it was taken literally my whole life. I was NEVER good enough and constantly rem... View more

I know this may be a sensitive and subjective topic but its something i really cant find any info about. I was raised in a strict catholic community and household. Where it was taken literally my whole life. I was NEVER good enough and constantly reminded of it. I was made to feel guilty for merely existing and now that im in my mid 20s its affecting me in every aspect of my life. I feel guilty for sleeping, eating and i let people walk all over me including my 4 y.o daughter. I am getting help through my psychologist and gp and im not really looking for advice on help with it. Im mostly looking for anyone that may have any experience with this issue. Thanks for your time, and feel free to ask any questions.

Chrispie One day I'm feeling on top of the world, then boom I'm a mess!
  • replies: 5

This is my first post on here, feeling a bit weird about posting but what can I loose. I have depression and PTSD for most of my adult life. I have been married for 26 yrs to a great man. I have 3 lovely daughters who are all special in their own way... View more

This is my first post on here, feeling a bit weird about posting but what can I loose. I have depression and PTSD for most of my adult life. I have been married for 26 yrs to a great man. I have 3 lovely daughters who are all special in their own way. I should be oh so happy right...well not today. In the last 10yrs I have been mostly feeling great. I finally started to see the world around me and enjoy the simplest of things, like my beautiful surroundings and how lucky I am to have 3 amazing girls. So why today do I feel lousy? Inside I just want to cry and feel sorry for myself. I feel lonely and sad. This happens to me every couple of months and I hate it. I usually manage to pull myself out of it but today it is tough. It only took a couple of days of having bad headaches, which turned into a migraine yesterday. I end up feeling a bit neglected and unloved when I'm not well. My husband doesn't give me the attention that I am wanting. It sounds really selfish but leaving me for hours in pain and finally saying "do you want some water?" I had to ask him to go to the chemist for something stronger than Panadol. Then my daughter comes home from school and I was thinking he would have said Mums not well. She went on the computer and never came near me. So then I start to get upset. Saying things to myself like..."no one gives a shit about me". Then I crack it with a splitting head ache to Hubby. Damn then I hate myself and go into self loafing. My migraine finally goes but I have a really bad nights sleep. I had horrific nightmares which happens when I'm like this.

PeacefulWarrior What to do with anger?
  • replies: 8

Hi, i’m new to these forums. I encountered a traumatic event 2 years ago. I’m now 6 months into the healing process and have recently started therapy with a trauma psychologist. But I’m struggling. I’m angry, impatient, restless and on-edge all the t... View more

Hi, i’m new to these forums. I encountered a traumatic event 2 years ago. I’m now 6 months into the healing process and have recently started therapy with a trauma psychologist. But I’m struggling. I’m angry, impatient, restless and on-edge all the time. The smallest things trigger intense rage - and I don’t know what to do with it. So I turn it inwards. The other day driving the car, I ended up pinching my legs so hard that I was screaming in pain (it was to prevent myself from a road rage incident). Most days I binge eat to swallow anger. Or i throw something to smash. And the rest of the time it turns into frustrated helplessness. I'm already doing light exercise at gym most days (weights, walking or pool), which is probably helping a little... but its not enough. I’ve read that anger is part of the healing process when coming out of (or through) trauma - but I’m yet to learn a productive way to channel it outwards (rather than inwards). I’m a bit of a passivist, but I've been thinking about taking up boxing - to punch bags, not people. Has anyone found that helpful? Or some kind of martial arts? has anyone here experienced other ways of physically channeling this angry energy outwardly and productively? At this stage, I'm open to all ideas about what to do with anger cheers

Sunflowerrs Really struggling
  • replies: 11

I'm really struggling to find anyone who sees me.. I feel like I can't handle this.. I don't know how to do this, please help me. I'm reaching out to my family. I have a psychologist. it's like they don't know how serious this is. I don't know how to... View more

I'm really struggling to find anyone who sees me.. I feel like I can't handle this.. I don't know how to do this, please help me. I'm reaching out to my family. I have a psychologist. it's like they don't know how serious this is. I don't know how to tell them. Even though I'm trying to tell them please

Kmw Grief and depression
  • replies: 4

Hi my name is Kelly, I'm a mother of 3 daughters . Where do I start, well I've suffered from depression since my twins were born 6 years ago. Things started to get better last year and I stopped taking my medication and have been fine until recently.... View more

Hi my name is Kelly, I'm a mother of 3 daughters . Where do I start, well I've suffered from depression since my twins were born 6 years ago. Things started to get better last year and I stopped taking my medication and have been fine until recently. On Monday the 10th of April this year I got a phone call from my mum saying my dad had died due to a heart attack in his sleep. I didn't want to believe it!! My dad and I were really close, ever since he died I've been extremely lost. I cry every night and everyday, it hurts so much !! I've been running myself into the ground daily, mum needs me more than ever so I go there every 2 days and do all the cleaning and washing. I feel that if I don't help out I'm a horrible daughter.

empathy47 Treatment for PTSD
  • replies: 6

I have had a recent diagnosis of PTSD & want some info about support groups and effective treatment specific to PTSD . I have suffered severe physical abuse and bullying in my life.

I have had a recent diagnosis of PTSD & want some info about support groups and effective treatment specific to PTSD . I have suffered severe physical abuse and bullying in my life.

EMH84 PTSD and drug-induced psychosis
  • replies: 3

Hello, I was wondering could you develop PTSD from having a drug-induced psychosis - where you've taken crystal meth, became extremely paranoid and stressed out that people are going to kill you, but it isn't real? Thank you

Hello, I was wondering could you develop PTSD from having a drug-induced psychosis - where you've taken crystal meth, became extremely paranoid and stressed out that people are going to kill you, but it isn't real? Thank you

Mums_heartbrake In desperate need of grief counselling/advice
  • replies: 2

We lost our 21yr old daughter to a road trauma accident, I had 'the knock at the door',then taken to the hospital to 'see her..she wasn't conscious; she was being prepped to go to Perth via the RAC helicopter - major priority. I went and saw the site... View more

We lost our 21yr old daughter to a road trauma accident, I had 'the knock at the door',then taken to the hospital to 'see her..she wasn't conscious; she was being prepped to go to Perth via the RAC helicopter - major priority. I went and saw the site and car wreck...horrible, but I felt the need. I had to phone her Father ( we are divorced, but ok), and then her older sister, at work - and say that things are not looking good. She was in an induced coma. Travel time for me to get there to her, was at least 2hrs plus, trying to get stuff together to stay..... It was only the day before, that I had spoken to her to say that our closest family freind had passed - the one who I'd turn to now...my best freind, for over 30years...and knew everything about me, and loved the girls dearly.....I'm sooo lost now, I was soo close to Eme...I really am over it all, not suicidal.....but the pain I'm feeling, I'm not able to deal with....but I still have my two daughters, and my partner..pls can someone help me!! Eating is hit and miss, as is going to work: and I don't get paid when I don't go.......I'm soo miserable!!!

Harmony61 Life beyond grief
  • replies: 1

I am new to the group to cut my story short I am on my own with my 15 yr old son,after years of caring for others I am know facing a chanellege with my son who is struggling he has witness the passing of his grandparents and how cruel the system is n... View more

I am new to the group to cut my story short I am on my own with my 15 yr old son,after years of caring for others I am know facing a chanellege with my son who is struggling he has witness the passing of his grandparents and how cruel the system is no family support from other family members and social isolation not because of him but where we reside it hurts to see him struggle his self imagine is shot his focuses on his teeth ,eats very little and has a negative outlook.I struggle as I have not come to terms with my issues of grief and i am not effective to keep calm bugger I would say its a problem we also do home schooling which doesnt go down well by some family members so we are already on the outer my son is everything to me as children are extensions of us and for me I would like to see him succeed and be a happy person but at the moment my son has a dark cloud hanging over him I have made appointment for him at Headspace in Sept but its till then our day to day is a slight struggle.