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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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lacy about me
  • replies: 4

hi im lacy i have ptsd and im 13

hi im lacy i have ptsd and im 13

Flowerbell Trauma
  • replies: 1

In final stages of divorce court. I left due to domestic violence. Highly anxious and unsteady. He has had various orders from police/courts. I am seeing therapist at this time. I have found courts unsafe, totally unaware of impacts of domestic viole... View more

In final stages of divorce court. I left due to domestic violence. Highly anxious and unsteady. He has had various orders from police/courts. I am seeing therapist at this time. I have found courts unsafe, totally unaware of impacts of domestic violence. I had to relocate/flee in car. He has since found me again and fear him locating me during this. There has been more than one move of houses due to this - I do not want another. This has put serious strain upon finances, my time and work.

Neeru Domestic Violence
  • replies: 6

My husband has extra martial affair with his sister in law now he is abusing me meantly and physical , i have one 18 month kid as well.his sister in law is overseas , now my husband wants brings her sister in law and her children in Australia in my h... View more

My husband has extra martial affair with his sister in law now he is abusing me meantly and physical , i have one 18 month kid as well.his sister in law is overseas , now my husband wants brings her sister in law and her children in Australia in my house .he took my car so i can't go on my work and he stopped giving money as well.he block my phone number as well ow he threatened me he gonna harm me and my baby but now my father is with me for my support i want separation with my husband but i can't afford the fees of Lawer what should i do

l-jc Bad dreams, ptsd, abusive relationship.
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone. Last year I finally got out of an abusive relationship that went on for over 3 years. he was my first ever partner. he was mentally and physically abusive. since then i've had trouble with sleeping and my dreams. In day time I am fine, b... View more

Hi everyone. Last year I finally got out of an abusive relationship that went on for over 3 years. he was my first ever partner. he was mentally and physically abusive. since then i've had trouble with sleeping and my dreams. In day time I am fine, but when I go to sleep I either have dreams about my ex attacking me or running after me, or threatening to kill me like he would in real life. or I dream of blackness and I start hyperventilating and sonetimes I silently scream to the point where it hurts and my body aches when I wake up. I sometimes cry a lot in my sleep and wake up in a sweat. is this ptsd? i'm on anti depressants but I still have these dreams. it's really starting to affect me. Should I see a counsellor or is this something a doctor should know about?

Guest_34923903 Abused
  • replies: 1

Hello All I'm 35 now and I keep having flashbacks from being sexually abused by a lifeguard when I was early teens. He was in his 20s. He literally groomed me over a summer hoilday and gave me lollies, food and let me and my siblings work in the cant... View more

Hello All I'm 35 now and I keep having flashbacks from being sexually abused by a lifeguard when I was early teens. He was in his 20s. He literally groomed me over a summer hoilday and gave me lollies, food and let me and my siblings work in the canteen. I found out a couple of years ago it happened to my twin sister too. She never told me. I recently was on Facebook and his face came up on a page he was working for, it made me sick. I went to go to the police last year, it took a long time and then they said I would have to go to trial and relay everything so I freaked out. I don't know who to talk to or what supports are out there.

CurlyLamb Bipolar, PTSD, Depression & Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi I knew here. I just need to chat with others who are in similar situations to myself.

Hi I knew here. I just need to chat with others who are in similar situations to myself.

Rowen13 Narcissistic Mum
  • replies: 35

I have recently turned 50 and have been a carer for my narcissistic mum. She uses all the usual tricks, gaslighting, verbal abuse, isolating me, sabotaging etc.My mental health has spiralled and after being a carer for 10 years, I feel depressed, anx... View more

I have recently turned 50 and have been a carer for my narcissistic mum. She uses all the usual tricks, gaslighting, verbal abuse, isolating me, sabotaging etc.My mental health has spiralled and after being a carer for 10 years, I feel depressed, anxious and suicidal. I suffer from childhood PTSD with physical and emotional abuse. We were also often starved as children and were never provided a stable loving or nurturing environment.She is now 82, has two brain tumours and has fallen and hit her head twice. But after being repeatedly verbally abused in front of doctors and nurses, I broke down. I can't continue and often feel like the only way to be free is to take my life.I am on a carer's payment so I take the abuse because I am scared of being homeless. I have no husband and was unable to have children. I have had a case manager assigned to me as I spiral further into my depression and suicidal ideation.I have told her I can no longer be her carer, she is trying to guilt me. I have no self esteem and feel guilty for leaving my mum in the hospital. I have no support network, no friends, no income and feel so isolated and desolate. My life has passed and I my body goes in to panic mode as I am continually traumatised by her abuse. I feel so much shame and lost in life. I have no idea what to do, I will soon be homeless and I will be unable to make car repayments. I'm a scared little child at 50 years old and I long to close my eyes and never wake up. I wish I was never born. My depression and GAD has made me in to a coward and I am worthless.

Jo999 Workplace injury horrible rehab Comcare invalidity - can anyone help please?
  • replies: 29

I have a psychological claim with Comcare that has been going on for years. I want to get away from them and out of the system, but they (and my awful employer) keep hounding me and sending me for multiple psychiatric exams and IMEs. They will not fi... View more

I have a psychological claim with Comcare that has been going on for years. I want to get away from them and out of the system, but they (and my awful employer) keep hounding me and sending me for multiple psychiatric exams and IMEs. They will not find me a job, will not give me a redundancy and will not put me forward for medical invalidity. I am just kept in constant limbo. The rehab consultants ignore all the medical advice and have not been able to find me a job. I have found the rehabilitation consultants to be the most useless nastiest pieces of work. They act like policemen telling me everyday to call up friends and beg for a job. They told me to do charity begging work even though I have poor social skills and anxiety. I am unable to approach people and beg for money. After 10 years of this ongoing crap, I am very unwell and don't know what to do anymore. Comcare said if I try to challenge anything or don't do what they say, they can go back and raise a debt against me for 10 years of payments (hundreds of thousands of dollars) so I am in a nightmare with no way out. Has anyone been through this? Can anyone offer advice or assistance as I need help. My anxiety is extreme and my doctor has prescribed sleeping pills to help me sleep as I lie away all night worrying. I am likely to end up jobless, cut off all benefits, and homeless, and the thought just makes me cry.

Mstuck Narcissistic husband
  • replies: 2

Hi, almost 3 years ago I discovered that my husband of 28 years had cheated on me what I thought was on 3 occasions. I discovered he had been to prostitutes. He blamed me because we had not had a great sex life for years. When I confronted him he den... View more

Hi, almost 3 years ago I discovered that my husband of 28 years had cheated on me what I thought was on 3 occasions. I discovered he had been to prostitutes. He blamed me because we had not had a great sex life for years. When I confronted him he denied it until I asked for his phone and showed him the messages. He then told me it was all my fault. He wanted to go to marriage counselling but would not book it. I ended up booking it. The counselling did nothing. He swore to me and the councillor it had only been 3 times. Fast forward a couple of years of hell and he finally admitted to this going on for 26 years. I did what he wanted, gave him sex regularly. It was hard as I felt so broken and he didn’t care for my needs. Then late last year he told me, after I probed, that he had continued to see prostitutes as it didn’t feel consentual. This was after telling me he hadn’t. Continued blame on me and no understanding of what I was going through. I also discovered he had downloaded dating apps going back 8 years. He lied to me from the beginning of our relationship telling me he hadn’t travelled extensively before we met. He also told the same story to our kids for years - so lied to them about his travels. That hurts the worst. When I called him out on it he just dismissed it. I feel trapped as I can’t afford to buy him out of our house or to sell and buy a place. The housing market here has made my hands tied. I would have left him years ago if I knew of his behaviour. I have to bide my time as my son is still in school and I know he will become very very nasty when I tell him it’s over. I feel scared and trapped. The hardest part is that he blames everything on me.

Esther89 Lost - Abusive marriage. Finding myself
  • replies: 2

Hi,After 19 years in a toxic marriage I am finally almost divorced, after being constantly told there was something wrong with me, reminded of how useless I was, reminded of my dysfunctional childhood , having the finances controlled and told I neede... View more

Hi,After 19 years in a toxic marriage I am finally almost divorced, after being constantly told there was something wrong with me, reminded of how useless I was, reminded of my dysfunctional childhood , having the finances controlled and told I needed help I went to see a counsellor who told me that it wasn’t me who needed help and showed me what I was experiencing, it was like a light switch and I grew more confident and assertive. I had a support network of friends who were like family. I was then offered a job to move to another state and he felt it was a good idea too. Fast forward to 2018, I suffered an injury which meant I had to take time of work, the mental abuse was suttle at first however it started to get worse and worse to the point I was threatened and told to leave, when he knew I had no where to go, he would tell my children how useless I was, I returned to work as fast as I could and he would take almost all my pay, it seemed to get worse as he knew I no longer had a support network - eventually I became so worn down, depressed and felt so trapped, I started just shutting down and taking the abuse. my credit rating was finally fixed and I used the opportunity to store money away, he once again threatened a divorce or separation and I stood firm and accepted it, only for him to a month later say he was forgiving me for whatever I had done - I didn’t accept it and said I want to leave - he threatened I wouldn’t have my children however istood firm. I had to find a rental in th area close to school which was very expensive. I thought it might change but since living seperately he’s still a bully and I feel I’ve finally hit a wall - he’s not given me a cent and I’m scared to take further, he’s extremely cruel and I’ve tried so hard to co parent but anytime I try to stand up for myself he will place horrible demands or restrictions. I feel so stupid because I’ve started to submit and I’ve lost myself somewhere, I’m overwhelmed and I’ve started isolating from the world hiding away. I don’t have family or friends and wouldn’t want to add my life story or negativity onto new friendships. I’m sorry for the Debbie downer post. I’ve never been in a place where I’m ready to give up and everything feels so overwhelming I become exhausted- I have zero will left