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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

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anonymousme Fear of death after car accident
  • replies: 3

I was a passenger in a serious car accident at the start of this year, and since then I'm always afraid of death. Basically a bunch of my friends and I went to a backstreet that is notorious for hooning and one of the guys was mucking around in his c... View more

I was a passenger in a serious car accident at the start of this year, and since then I'm always afraid of death. Basically a bunch of my friends and I went to a backstreet that is notorious for hooning and one of the guys was mucking around in his car. Each of my friends took turns being a passenger and I was against it at first, but then decided to take a ride too. At first it was all fine, but then he decided to fishtail down a hill and it didn't take long before he lost control. We went sideways into two poles and then rolled into a ditch. It was the most frightening experience of my life and when the car came to a halt I thought I had died. It all happened so quickly but I still remember every thought that rushed through my head as it happened. All I could think about was my mum and that everything was over. Against all odds I was almost completely uninjured except for a split eyebrow, but I still can't go a day without thinking about it. I panic when I'm in a car with my friends, I panic when I'm on the train, I panic when I'm trying to fall asleep. I have had many dreams about car crashes and plane crashes lately. My dad takes planes weekly and I now worry each time that I'll never see him again. The event that stood out to me the most was when I recently went to the beach with my family. I have always loved the water and I'd swim out right through heavy waves. This time, I was in the water for about 5mins with pretty small waves and I panicked and got out of the water because I was too afraid of dying. I was never afraid of death before, but now it seems to be something I worry about every day. I just want things to go back to normal. I talk to my mum about it and she thinks I should see a professional for at least a few sessions, but I know how expensive that is and I feel bad. I'd rather use these forums.

Shred1106 Dealing with chronic pain, depression,anxiety and PTSD - any tricks and secrets?
  • replies: 12

Hi all Hope this thread helps and excuse me if there is one along this line already. I have been in pain now for some months - thankfully my GP hasn't given up on me but how do others deal with chronic pain. I find it is just adding to my feeling dis... View more

Hi all Hope this thread helps and excuse me if there is one along this line already. I have been in pain now for some months - thankfully my GP hasn't given up on me but how do others deal with chronic pain. I find it is just adding to my feeling disappointment in what I cannot do and is preventing me balancing medications, anti anxiety measures and PTSD, I am having Physio, dry needling (acupuncture), medications and have tried ice, heat, relaxation and yoga but had to give the Yoga away because of my hip. All and any suggestions welcome!

Margt losing a child
  • replies: 4

Hi, I was having a look at the forum this morning and saw a post from a lady who had had lost her little girl. I have lost two sons. One as a baby and one killed by a drunk driver almost nine years ago. Whilst i have dealt with this alone, i am going... View more

Hi, I was having a look at the forum this morning and saw a post from a lady who had had lost her little girl. I have lost two sons. One as a baby and one killed by a drunk driver almost nine years ago. Whilst i have dealt with this alone, i am going to start attending meetings eith "Compassionate Friends". This is a global support service . Please google this and find a meeting near you. Trust me you will need them. Marg

Joyceyy I never know where to start or when to finish.....
  • replies: 3

So this will be my first post here.. like the title says its hard to know where to start, Im 23 and i have two young children. One is just about 4 and the other is 9 weeks old, both boys. Im currently in a relationship with a 22year old man.. and hav... View more

So this will be my first post here.. like the title says its hard to know where to start, Im 23 and i have two young children. One is just about 4 and the other is 9 weeks old, both boys. Im currently in a relationship with a 22year old man.. and have been for a year and a half.. i would still consider myself a solo parent though. Our relationship seemed great in the start however that quickly gained all the nasties. Control , jealously , isolation , double standards,carelessness and emotional abuse. I have been called every single name .. under the sun. I have been physcially hurt. I am always rejected and pushed to one side and as of late im now living completely alone as he says his life is better without me. Every day for 3 weeks ive tried to get him back, ive stayed at his friends , ive gone backwards and forwards at ridiculous hours spent all my money trying to be by his side. When i was there.. i was basically pushed to the side the whole time although he claimed to have wanted me there. I lived for the moment he hopped in bed next to me. Even tho he went straight to sleep. I miss his companionship thats been gone for so long. I need help. I cant pull myself away. The dv has me trapped . I feel like i need him and am nothing without him.i can't eat. I cant sleep. I hate waking up. I hatethinking. I cant stop thinking. I feel so trapped within myself and i am always looking for or imagining escapes. I cant focus on my children. I never have anytime to just be me. And im so disappointed in myself for letting this happen. What can i do. Will he change Is it worth trying Im so unsure of my whole being. I feel like a long time ago i shouldve turned right but instead i went left.

Kazzl A thought for our diggers
  • replies: 8

On this ANZAC Day, let's spare a thought and extend a compassionate hand to our defence people, especially those who have returned from active service only to fight a war in their own minds. Reports (source-ABC news) are that there has been a four-fo... View more

On this ANZAC Day, let's spare a thought and extend a compassionate hand to our defence people, especially those who have returned from active service only to fight a war in their own minds. Reports (source-ABC news) are that there has been a four-fold increase in PTSD cases since Australian troops first went to war in Afghanistan in 2001. Many are reluctant or unable to admit that they have PTSD. Many do not report their symptoms. The suicide toll amongst returned service people is now three times that of Australia's combat losses in Afghanistan. Other figures show that around 20 per cent of returned soldiers develop mental health problems within three months of being home, and that's just the ones who have come forward. Others battle silently, developing alcohol and drug problems as they fight their mental war alone. It is also estimated that 10 per cent of Australia's homeless population are returned service people, usually with serious mental health and substance abuse problems. To any defence people reading this, firstly I say thank you. Thank you! And know that you are amongst friends here, people who have not and cannot begin to know what you know or see what you've seen, but people who know about fighting a mental war in ourselves. I for one would like to shake your hand, and then hold it tight through your dark hours. On this forum you will always be welcome, supported and safe to open up and share your pain. Kaz

HopefuG PTSD After DV Relationship
  • replies: 1

I was in a DV relationship which I ended in 2014 and moved State to get away. I received DV counselling and was going well (was on meds). The workplace where I worked closed in December 2015 (male dominated but very supportive male manager). I got an... View more

I was in a DV relationship which I ended in 2014 and moved State to get away. I received DV counselling and was going well (was on meds). The workplace where I worked closed in December 2015 (male dominated but very supportive male manager). I got another job but it didnt feel supported and I decided to move back to my original state as my ex partner is now in jail and my family are here. I got a job as a Manager of a small family own business with a male owner, I witnessed the owner speak very badly to my 2 female colleagues on a number of occasions and then he also did it to me, he wouldn't yell he would ridicule and be very sarcastic. At this point I started to feel like I couldn't relax my body my shoulders would be so tight and I had mega pains under my ribs, this has continued for the 9 months I was at the job which I have since left. I have since become aware that my ex partner is due to be released from prison on 25/4 so I obtained a VRO. Last week I was advised that it is likely he will be deported but I won't know this for sure for another couple of weeks. My ex has objected to the restraining order - this is the first contact I have had in 3 years as I closed any form of contact because he is such a psychopath. I went to a GP yesterday and he has referred me to a clinical Psychologist as he believes I have PTSD. I have made an appointment with the psych for next week I was really just wanting some support and some tips on how to manage my crazy body. I am not working atm as I want to get myself well. I have a partner who works FIFO he is great but he's tired when he's away and I don't want to keep dumping on him and just want to heal and get on with life. Any tips would be much appreciated.

survivor_angel Abuse Survivor Stories: How did you learn to love yourself after?
  • replies: 3

I am 23 years old, and recently gotten out of a two years abusive relationship. It has been a month since I left him and currently proud that I am in no contact. My ex was much older than me, and for the most part, he appeared very charming, loving a... View more

I am 23 years old, and recently gotten out of a two years abusive relationship. It has been a month since I left him and currently proud that I am in no contact. My ex was much older than me, and for the most part, he appeared very charming, loving and the perfect one in the beginning of the relationship. I should have recognise the signs such as he controlling ways, possessiveness and jealousy in the beginning but I took that as he cared and wanted to be a part of my life because he loved me. He kept me on a high from the start controlling when I could see him. Things took a bad turn when we started living together, then came the verbal swearing, the punching of walls and blaming me for everything that externally went wrong. I was accused of cheating and he started using my past which I opened up to him about early on and he was the one who asked me to tell him. I had two jobs then, and he asked me to quit one job promising that he wants to take care of me and spend more time with me only to blame me when we are financially short. Then came the physical abuse, and by then time, I was in trouble. He started by hitting me every once in two months, and the cycle got shorter. He used to apologise everytime after he hit me but it got shorter. As he switches from loving me, hitting me the next and then loving me again within a span of an hour. To make things worst he was a professional fighter and he was much bigger than me. Four weeks ago, I nearly suffocated and died when he a I was in hospital. The police had to arrest him, despite so he tells everyone that it was my fault and I deserve to be hit and made false accusations on social media against me. Now, I have an IVO order in place and slowly recovering. I promise to learn and love myself and heal. Any advice from fellow survivors?

3T The uglyness that is DV
  • replies: 10

DV does it really end, even when the physical and mental abuse stop. I have been in a DV relationship for 15 yrs although the physical abuse has stopped I still feel like I'm stuck in the uglyness that is DV. A certain look a raise in a voice and it ... View more

DV does it really end, even when the physical and mental abuse stop. I have been in a DV relationship for 15 yrs although the physical abuse has stopped I still feel like I'm stuck in the uglyness that is DV. A certain look a raise in a voice and it takes me back I can't breathe or think. I constantly blame myself for everything that goes wrong and still run through the check list in my mind of things that need to be done so he won't get mad. Does anyone else do this and does it get better. It feels like DV is always in the shadows waiting to rare its head again

louies PTSD
  • replies: 4

I'm currently battling depressing memories from my past. I suffer from PTSD from a past bad marriage and I have just recently moved in with my current boyfriend who is lovely and completely different to my ex husband. unfortunately though it is the f... View more

I'm currently battling depressing memories from my past. I suffer from PTSD from a past bad marriage and I have just recently moved in with my current boyfriend who is lovely and completely different to my ex husband. unfortunately though it is the first time I have moved away from my mother and father and I am now living with a man in my own place since my divorce. I am currently experiencing depressive memories and thoughts from the first time I missed out of home though this time it's completely different not sure what to do I love my partner and I want to be here with him but I'm also feeling very down and depressed at the moment. Is there anybody that has experienced anything like this before if so what do you recommend I do to get through this bad patch

Luka-_Ann starting to suffer PTSD & my partner is the reason why
  • replies: 3

5 years now ive been with my guy and it definitely hasn't been all happy endings. we have a two year old daughter who is our absolute world. my partner had been a meth addict since before i fell pregnant. our relationship deteriorated because of it b... View more

5 years now ive been with my guy and it definitely hasn't been all happy endings. we have a two year old daughter who is our absolute world. my partner had been a meth addict since before i fell pregnant. our relationship deteriorated because of it before i knew i was pregnant. when i realised i was pregnant my partner didnt want it, he wasn't there during my pregnancy, only when he wanted sex every fortnight or so. he came good then hated me again when we found out it was a girl we were having because he wanted a boy. he wasnt there during the birth despite me trying to get in contact with him, he showed up just after. things then kinda started to go okay between us both with our little newbie, he was still on crack everyday but it was a feeling of relief seeing him each day not when i had gone basically 9 months without him. after maybe 6 months he started getting alot worse, and i couldnt tolerate it much anymore, which lasted up until Oct 2016. hes a truck driver and is gone 3 nights a week, but when he was home he was never actually home, i never saw him unless he came to dump his dirty clothes or have a shower or sleep for 2 days then leave again with his influence. my daughter and i never saw him we never did anything together he never paid for bills or helped me financially despite him being on $1,800 a week. i fended for myself and our girl for the first year and a half, i remember many moments of grant lashing out at me like it was only yesterday. i still remember falling to my knees on my kitchen floor one day, screaming my lungs out, whaling with tears, with my phone in my hand just begging for him to come home. "please please come home please" things i asked everyday i remember, i remember the pain, i remember the trauma. i remember the loneliness, every night at 3am when i am still struggling to sleep because i dont know where you are, one more quick burst out of tears and show myself more self hate before i cry myself to sleep. the last 6 months hes been clean and sobar and back to his old amazing self, however im jus finding myself wanting to get away from him. i want to live separate without actually breaking up, i never gave myself the space i needed to heal myself and the trauma i went through for so long, i need time to miss him. hes so insecure because of his own fuck ups that its now taking its toll on me on another level and i am mentally drained. i just want to this so much but im so lost with how, doing so seems like a fairy tale