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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PookieHasPTSD PTSD - Motor Vehicle Accident
  • replies: 8

I have PTSD, Chronic pain & fatigue, Depression & Anxiety following a MVA almost 3 years ago(High speed head on collision with a Ute while I was passenger in a B-Double Truck), I have had ongoing mental health & physical pain issues since. Now its ju... View more

I have PTSD, Chronic pain & fatigue, Depression & Anxiety following a MVA almost 3 years ago(High speed head on collision with a Ute while I was passenger in a B-Double Truck), I have had ongoing mental health & physical pain issues since. Now its just too much! So over this right now!! I can't do it! I am in too much pain and can't seem to do it anymore. I am on the verge on a meltdown just thinking of such an early start for work. This is NOT normal behavior for me. I want OUT of this. I can't keep working like this anymore. To be told to prepare for a busy week ahead to then be told to stay home for 3 days (no pay) is not on! For this 6:00am start I have to be up at 4:00am for breakfast and to wake up enough to drive the half hour to get to work at 5:45am Pre-Start meeting (I don't get paid for!). My health is suffering so bad and I can't find anything to replace my job with to make my life better. My own stay at home business would be perfect but I need an income straight up, no stuffing around with network marketing and "might replace your income" stuff. I don't need "Feel sorry for you" stuff I need HELP! If anyone knows anyone that needs a new worker that understands and would be compassionate about my health issues please let me know! Or a way to start a business to earn a living from straight up!- Sounds desperate I know.... I am beginning to be desperate. (I can't take leave from work either as I am Casual = NO SICK PAY) I feel like running off to join the Circus.... But I just don't have the energy! I almost begged my GP last visit for permission to stop working because I just can't cope anymore!

Bella2311 PTSD - Where do I go now?
  • replies: 7

My husband suffers from PTSD & anxiety badly. He is from the Vietnam War era. We are both in our 60's. He is getting all the appropriate help etc. from Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and VVCS at DVA, but is no better. Today has been hell. He will n... View more

My husband suffers from PTSD & anxiety badly. He is from the Vietnam War era. We are both in our 60's. He is getting all the appropriate help etc. from Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and VVCS at DVA, but is no better. Today has been hell. He will not talk, ignores me if I try to help and has locked himself in his computer room all today. This behavior happens regularly. If he does speak to me he tells me it is all my fault. I know it isn't my fault but it is wearing me down. I am his 4th marriage. I love him dearly, but he clearly needs something extra other than the meds. he's on at the moment. We have no relatives here in Victoria and I am from interstate. Any suggestions? Can anyone help?

Lostandfound My PTSD
  • replies: 5

It started out wit small things, like bikes speeding would scare me, my life slowly came to a halt i was afraid of everything and i had no clue what to do, at school i was alone really, i had a limited group of friends as i was "weird" "too quiet" or... View more

It started out wit small things, like bikes speeding would scare me, my life slowly came to a halt i was afraid of everything and i had no clue what to do, at school i was alone really, i had a limited group of friends as i was "weird" "too quiet" or whatever else they thought, yet noone knew my inner battle. i was diagnosed with PTSD in grade 5, as i had been abused by my mother for about a year to a year and a half, i tried so hard to block everything out, the memories and the pain but i could't it consumed me. I was just this shadow who had no purpose my life was a mess and i wasn't old enough to comprehend everything no matter how hard i tried to understand it, i went down a spiral of thinking everything was my fault that i was a screw up and she hit me every day because I couldn't do anything right you know? the tears were punishment and the pain become my existent, i am now 17 and i still battle my depression and anxiety and PTSD, i am slowly progressing w\by getting help and have been put on medication as this year i hit a real low point as i confessed about the sexual assault that occurred with my uncle and well telling someone after keeping it in the dark for so long, destroyed me it was like being back into square one, I had to try to start over again, and i am slowly i have my bad days and teh days when things couldn't be better but i guess that's how it goes/

Bellamaree Anxiety or PTSD?? (trigger warning: domestic and sexual abuse)
  • replies: 5

Hi I am a newby so please bare with me..... I have lived with anxiety for a very long time (30+ years). I was indecently assaulted when I was around 3 years old for approx 2 years. I didnt tell anyone about this for fear I would get into trouble (tol... View more

Hi I am a newby so please bare with me..... I have lived with anxiety for a very long time (30+ years). I was indecently assaulted when I was around 3 years old for approx 2 years. I didnt tell anyone about this for fear I would get into trouble (told by abuser that if I told I would get into big trouble by my mum). So I carried this secret until I was in my 40's. I told my mother then and she was shocked and upset. Funnily, I did not blame anyone for this..... I just put it out of my mind for all that time. I didnt dwell on it. I met my partner when I was 18 and everything was wonderful then the abuse started. MaInly if he had been drinking. Physical abuse.... The usual back hander, thumped on the head, pushed, black eye, split lip. Then of course next day he was sorry and be the most wonderful man on earth filling my heart with love. At age 23 I was pregnant, we got married and the abuse was still happening. One night when I was 8 months pregnant, he came home drunk, we had an argument, he oushed me over and then kicked me in stomach. Next day he was sorry etc etc.... We ended up having two children. Abuse continued. This went on for aporox 10 years. He had even threatened me with "if you try to leave me you wont get out alive"...... I was very afraid so I stayed. All this abuse was alcohol fuelled. The short story is I have stayed with this man for 36 years. Whilst he is not physically violent now, everytime he drinks alcohol I feel myself getting very stressed and aggrevated. I have spoken to him about this but he says its my problem not his and if he has to stop having "a couple of beers after work, he will stop working". I dont know if I have developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or if its anxiety. He is very selfish in he will not own the fact that he did abuse me..... He always says "if I hit you you would never have got up".... (He was amatur boxer when he was young). He will not admit to the way he treated me or he just says that I deserved it. Im sorry this post is a bit all over the place - I would like your opinion if its possible for me to have PTSD?

private24 Surviving sexual abuse
  • replies: 5

Hi I've never done this before but I'm so lost in what to do, I'm under the age of 16. When I was six I was sexually assaulted by a family relative for an ongoing two years and whilst that was happening my father was abusing me for 10 years. I was to... View more

Hi I've never done this before but I'm so lost in what to do, I'm under the age of 16. When I was six I was sexually assaulted by a family relative for an ongoing two years and whilst that was happening my father was abusing me for 10 years. I was told I have a photogenic memory but I can't remember the important parts of everything that happened. I told the police whatevert I could remember but that made it worse. I'm living with bullying at the moment at school and I've been absolutely kicked to the curb. I feel as there is nothing left anymore. It has been so hard writing this. I haven't been sleeping and I have had multiple flash backs from that night and is it possible for PTSD??

MoodyLou Do I really have PTSD
  • replies: 3

Hi there I have been feeling depressed and increasingly anxious since late last year and finally sought medical help and was placed on antidepressants . In short I was subjected to intimidating and bullying behaviour (including swearing, name calling... View more

Hi there I have been feeling depressed and increasingly anxious since late last year and finally sought medical help and was placed on antidepressants . In short I was subjected to intimidating and bullying behaviour (including swearing, name calling and discrediting me) by a number of staff in my workplace for a couple of years including a male person threatening to 'take me out to the car park'. A number of these people also made disparaging public comments against me on face book. Anyway, I knew I was becoming down and stressed about their treatment toward me and needed to get away. I was successful in finding another job (albeit) temporary for 12 months. My mood and anxiety, while not going away completed, did improve significantly. The temporary job then ended and I was faced with returning to my old job (I cant afford to not work). The boss agreed to allow me a few months leave to try and find another job, however within a few weeks my depression and anxiety became so bad I needed to get medical treatment. I also started seeing a psychologist who believes I am suffering PTSD. My question is ...is it possible to have PTSD? I understood that PTSD related to experiencing a life threating situation. I also would appreciate any thoughts on whether it is unusual for medication not to be effective. I have been on my medication for a couple of months and the anxiety (at least) seems worse than ever (I have an appointment tomorrow to have my medication reviewed). Sorry if this is garbled, but any thoughts would be appreciated. lou

Calmum When does childhood torment end I'm so tired
  • replies: 8

Struggling right now with stuff that I thought I'd left behind. I'm usually so in control of things but I just feel like a huge damn mess. I'm mid 40's and still can't shake my childhood, I just want these horrible flashbacks to go away. I'm sick of ... View more

Struggling right now with stuff that I thought I'd left behind. I'm usually so in control of things but I just feel like a huge damn mess. I'm mid 40's and still can't shake my childhood, I just want these horrible flashbacks to go away. I'm sick of the power my parents abuse has over me. I just want some peace, I've tried to put this in a box and never deal with, speak or think about it but it just feels like it has me in a death grip and nothing I do or try is working. My kids and husband don't know some of the things that have happened as I just don't trust anyone enough to talk or tell them. It's like I have a heavy weight dragging me down and nothing can help me. I feel like I am two different people wearing a mask. The good one and the real messed up one

TornTabby How to tell my.mum about a trauma in my childhood without breaking her?
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm TT, Straight to the point - for 10 years of my childhood until I turned 17, I grew up in a hostile and abusive household. My stepfather was terrible to us all, but quite predominately my mother was his prime victim. 2 events happened during th... View more

Hi I'm TT, Straight to the point - for 10 years of my childhood until I turned 17, I grew up in a hostile and abusive household. My stepfather was terrible to us all, but quite predominately my mother was his prime victim. 2 events happened during this time that haunt my mind - even as an adult and just shy of 5 years later. On 2 seperate occasions I was abused by my stepfather, and at the time I told my mother about 1 of them and she dismissed my statement. Years later the events still trouble me and my mothers dismissal. Now that she is also in a better place mentally and no longer facing this man and not facing fear, I want to be able to be open and tell her what happened. Yet I worry that she either; a) wont believe me, b) that I will convince myself I made it up, c) she will completely shut down or d) she will explode on me. Any one of those things could happen (or others), and I dont know how to tell her. I havent told anyone about what happened, yet I figured I wanted to tell my mum. How do I tackled telling her something that will break her heart? She already blames herself for the physical abuse that she and us kids endured, so how do I approach this without meeting the same outcome? I want to be open to her, but dont know how. Please help me here, TT

WarPigs My name is Jeff, I witnessed someone suicide while I was at work
  • replies: 9

My name is Jeff, I witnessed a guy suicide in a children's playground while I was working there, I'm not sure how much detail to provide in my introduction, but here goes, myself and two workmates witnessed this and kept children and parents from ent... View more

My name is Jeff, I witnessed a guy suicide in a children's playground while I was working there, I'm not sure how much detail to provide in my introduction, but here goes, myself and two workmates witnessed this and kept children and parents from entering the playground before and after the event, this happened three months ago, I have been seeing a counselor since then gaining many strategies, this forum was one suggestion, please, I would appreciate any suggestions to help me become myself again, I, unfortunately have a dislike for the victim, because of what he has subjected me and my workmates to, but also what he could have subjected children and parents too, I am usually a very compassionate and empathetic person and realize this person had many issues, but, for him to do this to us and potentially children , in a children's playground, is doing my head in! I am having nightmares nearly every night, a feeling of detachment in group situations, not feeling my self, unhappy, weird,strange, I have downloaded some meditation apps, I am not on medication, I just want some strategies please to become normal again, I know it will take time, but I want to do everything I can to help my healing process , thank you !

Nez Alcohol, burns, death, abandonment, homelessness, pain, divorce- healed- but cannot forgive myself.
  • replies: 13

Yep- 18 months ago was clinically dead 3 times on the slab because of horrific burns because of booze+ciggie+blackout. My family disowned me from that moment. Ended up homeless - should have died again, mix of post hospital booze and hospital drugs u... View more

Yep- 18 months ago was clinically dead 3 times on the slab because of horrific burns because of booze+ciggie+blackout. My family disowned me from that moment. Ended up homeless - should have died again, mix of post hospital booze and hospital drugs used over 3 months for pain etc had fried my brain. Then came being stalked, threatened, robbed numerous times, fleeced of money, pain (burns), major depression, divorce, post burns treatment (sore),my dad died when I was in a coma, PTSD and a lot of other stuff. A year sober, depression under control- I do not take any pain relief, my brain is working better than ever, in a safe place housing wise, burns treatment okay. I miss my 2 adult sons heaps. They do not speak with me- despite me trying. I am alone. Divorce- I accepted the ex's demands without argument. So all on track, but I feel as if I deserve to be alone and punished. That my situation is my fault and I am not worth forgiving by others- so I should not forgive myself. I need to and am making progress. BUT B/B is another tool where I hope to gain strategies, learn- offer and perhaps receive support. Thanks for taking the time to read my narrative.