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

Reaperbird PTSD, abuse and family
  • replies: 12

My step dad was very abusive to me growing up and has caused me a lot of fear and trauma. Despite what he did to me, the rest of my family still talk to him. They also refuse to support me at all saying they don't want to get involved. Even when I we... View more

My step dad was very abusive to me growing up and has caused me a lot of fear and trauma. Despite what he did to me, the rest of my family still talk to him. They also refuse to support me at all saying they don't want to get involved. Even when I went to the police about it, they all refused to back me up or make a statement. It hurts a lot. I often feel like they don't care about me. Sometimes they put me in danger too by telling him about my personal life or inviting us both to the same function. I don't want to be anywhere near him, I'm terrified of him, and even when I tell them this they get angry at me and call me paranoid. There have even been a few in my family that say it's my fault I got abused, saying I deserved it because I'm a trouble-maker. They spread horrible things behind my back, and make fun of me. When I go to see my family, or when they visit, they often isolate me and leave me out of conversations. They also bully me and treat me like I'm inferior to them. If I see them in public, they act ashamed of me, like they don't want to be seen with me. I've had a lot of fights with them, I keep asking them why they don't like me and why do they keep hurting me, but they just get angry and say they do love me and that I'm just being sensitive. They also say I'm angry and manipulative, and I admit, I do get angry, because they treat me awful. And I have manipulated situations because it was the only way I could be safe from my step dad. They would have put me in danger if I hadn't done something! I'm really tired of fighting with them, but I don't know what to do anymore. They won't respect my need to feel safe, and they won't show any kind of support for me. I've tried everything to work things out but no one will listen. They just see me as annoying and causing trouble. They don't care how much pain I'm in, or if they put me in harm's way. They just tell me it's not their problem and to not bother them with it. I feel so alone. I feel like they don't care at all for me, and would rather see me hurt again then try to support me. I love my family, but sometimes I think I'm better off without them. Is that awful? It's just I don't want to be afraid and isolated anymore. I feel like I'm being punished for standing up to the abuse. He's nice to everyone, but not me. So many people have left already because they didn't believe me, I don't want to lose my family, but I feel like I already have.

Faith_Hope How can people be assessed for PTSD and OCD
  • replies: 2

I think i may have OCD and PTSD. How can one be referred and/or assessed for these conditions. What types of treatment are available to help treat these conditions? And lastly is it possible that a person suffers from these conditions for the majorit... View more

I think i may have OCD and PTSD. How can one be referred and/or assessed for these conditions. What types of treatment are available to help treat these conditions? And lastly is it possible that a person suffers from these conditions for the majority of their life but have periods where it appears they are coping or not showing signs of these conditions? Thanks for your help

swim I believe i have PTSD but all my experince says that i will be treated like the culprit not the victim if i seek help (distressing content warning)
  • replies: 5

I have trouble vocalizing how i feel so please understand i may mis-communicate some times Apporximately 2 and a half years ago i lived in a share house in which i rented a room at the front of the house next to the front door; Unfortunately for me i... View more

I have trouble vocalizing how i feel so please understand i may mis-communicate some times Apporximately 2 and a half years ago i lived in a share house in which i rented a room at the front of the house next to the front door; Unfortunately for me i made the biggest mistake of my life as i lived in a share house so i kept my gadgets and wallet in a small safe in the front lounge room where the front door is. That was what a group of 20yo's decided was there target. ive woken up and opened my door to a situation that i can never forget. The front door was kicked in there were multiple assailants, one of which attacking my housemate with a metal bar in an attempt to get him to say the safe code. the others next to him with three more standing in the front verander I was in shock and my arrival in the situation made the attackers stop and stare at me in surprise...my mind was racing on how to deal with the problem..(at which point i was attacked with an engine block and lost conciseness for about 10 seconds).. i was left with sever facial swelling/ bruising, i was coughing up blood for a week and suffering a headache for almost a year straight. the hospital gave me some panadol forte and sent me packing after refusing to Xray my skull because the doctor claimed that there was nothing he could do even if it was fractured. This was after hours of waiting in the waiting and the doctors spent the whole time accusing both me and my housemate of doing it to each other, my job made me take 2 weeks off work unpaid because they didn't like the look of the swelling and bruising on my face and the cops accused me of selling amphetamines and spent more of there time saying that i couldn't call it a home invasion anymore that laws say it has to be called an aggravated burglary. Everything i experienced was people trying to blame me which is half the reason i feel the way i do. Since then I've been unable to get a good nights sleep, ive developed a drug habit, i barley leave my house, if i think about the incident i cant get it out of my head ,I have become so temperamental and irritable people don't like to be around me, i cant hold a job for more than 6 months before i break and i have chronic depression and anxiety The end result is my life is falling apart and i have no idea how to start putting it back together, I consider getting doctor diagnoses but from what i experienced I'd be treated as the culprit not the victim. How do i deal with this?

Josh83 PTSD .... 
  • replies: 14

So I've started seeing a psyc to help me with somethings which turned out what all around my PTSD. My wife recently left me because of this which turned out to be a good thing because now I'm getting help. but seriously this last week has been shit t... View more

So I've started seeing a psyc to help me with somethings which turned out what all around my PTSD. My wife recently left me because of this which turned out to be a good thing because now I'm getting help. but seriously this last week has been shit the constant crying and i cannot control it trying not to break down now and the dam train I'm thinking of getting some medication to help me with it but I'm just not sureky background is I've been a cop for 9 years both country and metro service still in the job and love it but I just need to sort my shit out feel like I have no control on my life at the moment

DavidJ007 Hey guys finaly gained the courage to open up
  • replies: 6

I need to find people to talk to but have no idea where to start. Im a 35yo male and im finally at breaking point. I don't know where to turn and I don't know who to talk to. I treat my partner bad not physical but verbally and emotionaly. I can only... View more

I need to find people to talk to but have no idea where to start. Im a 35yo male and im finally at breaking point. I don't know where to turn and I don't know who to talk to. I treat my partner bad not physical but verbally and emotionaly. I can only put it down to me taking my own insecurities out on her. I need to stop as last thing I want is to loose her. My issues started as a child while my father was in jail my mothers boyfriends were physcially and emotionally abusive to her. I was sexually assaulted as a young boy by a older boy, being a child coming home at night only for the police to knock on the car window for drug raids a few times at that as well as many other violent nights I spent cowering in the corner.. Im in no way trying to make excuses for what I have become but I know its time to make a stand and ask for help to try work through my issues. I feel like I have something wrong with myself nearly everyday, I have with drew from the world I have put on a lot of weight, I feel unhappy within my self I just don't know where I start to start the healing process. Anyway thanks for having me and I look forward to talking to some of you soon Dave

matt21 I have become a woman abuser!
  • replies: 5

6 years ago I went through some traumatic times that I had no control over and it effected me greatly and I have never felt the same and became unsocial cutting off contact with most friends. I come from a violent upbringing. Over the years when very... View more

6 years ago I went through some traumatic times that I had no control over and it effected me greatly and I have never felt the same and became unsocial cutting off contact with most friends. I come from a violent upbringing. Over the years when very drunk I have had the occasional outbursts but never hurt anyone and generally was nice to everyone when drunk. The last 12 months has been hugely stressful. Small things have become big things and have just felt so angry on the inside and easily frustrated. I had a amazing woman who I became engaged to and was the rock in our relationship. Things got worse till in December after a music festival where I drank like an idiot I just lost it back at the hotel room for no reason and shoved her to the ground and swearing at her. We spoke the next day and she had said that in 2 years she never felt threatened and that I need help and if it ever happened again it was over. I agreed and saw a gp and explained my past and he said I was suffering from anxiety and depression and put me on medication which I felt good from after a week I thought everything was going to be ok from now on and it felt so good to love life again and have some patience. My fiancé also moved her and her daughters into our new house recently. Then it happened again 2 weeks ago, music festival, too much alcohol and I went to drive home!!! argued and I pulled over told her her to get out, took her bag, shoved her to the ground and threatened her.She has since moved out and in with her mum and says that even though she will love me forever we cant be together. We had a great relationship most of the time and I promise I do not get jealous, I support her friendships, I never try to control her and this should be the prime of our relationship after getting engaged in September and finally getting to live together. I have spent hours each day researching what I need to do. Most stories I read are about men who have always displayed some kind abuse by being controlling and verbally cruel etc. This just seems to have come out of nowhere. We have never even had a big argument just small rows that we talk about openly later. I now refuse to get drunk again and have cut back alcohol use dramatically because I wont choose alcohol over people I love. I am seeing a psychologist this week but hoping for any other advice or similar stories for a better understanding. If I sound like I'm making excuses etc then I'm open to a dose of reality.Matt

Happyness My brain hurts?
  • replies: 21

Don't know where to start. Only just started therapy. I'm scared of the way I look. I'm a lot calmer than I look I'm trying very hard to feel peacefull on the inside, regardless of how I'm treated Peace?

Don't know where to start. Only just started therapy. I'm scared of the way I look. I'm a lot calmer than I look I'm trying very hard to feel peacefull on the inside, regardless of how I'm treated Peace?

Just Sara PTSD - The returned soldiers maledy in men and women of modern society
  • replies: 9

Many people don't understand the concept of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and it's symptoms. It's not only experiencing trauma, it's the waiting and not knowing if it will happen again; waiting for the next bullet, bomb, enemy or orders to advance i... View more

Many people don't understand the concept of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and it's symptoms. It's not only experiencing trauma, it's the waiting and not knowing if it will happen again; waiting for the next bullet, bomb, enemy or orders to advance into a deathly situation. It's the waiting...to die or watch your mate perish. When veterans return home, peaceful existences don't make sense to the brain or biochemistry of the body, caused from living on adrenaline and cortisol for days, weeks or months at a time...hyper-vigilant with little sleep and rest. This same concept goes for civilians who've survived trauma. No matter what sex, age, race, religion or culture; waiting for bad things to happen again presents itself as anxiety, depression, panic, violence, victimisation and the list goes on. My PTSD story evolved from generations of abuse and dysfunctional parenting, and the secrets we/they kept. Unable to talk about it and even worse, seeing it as normal. Does your story resonate?

Little_Bird_Blue Mental Abuse
  • replies: 3

Hi,I am Little Bird Blue,new to Beyond Blue,I am in my 40's and have kids but I feel the mental abuse and put downs and just being so alone has made me be a bad and forgetful mum and that makes me feel worse about myself,just so lost I don't know how... View more

Hi,I am Little Bird Blue,new to Beyond Blue,I am in my 40's and have kids but I feel the mental abuse and put downs and just being so alone has made me be a bad and forgetful mum and that makes me feel worse about myself,just so lost I don't know how to cope anymore,don't know how to like myself and it is effecting me getting a job-which I've tried for 2years now and that gets me down,no one to talk to and am really lost and want to change and be better and find myself again,but I don't know how to-I need help

RickyK Police threatening abuse victims with jail :/
  • replies: 3

I am a 32 year old survivor of child sexual abuse. The events took place across a period of around 6 months in the 1990's when I was 13-14, by a male school teacher. This teacher was removed from the school, and is married to one of the other student... View more

I am a 32 year old survivor of child sexual abuse. The events took place across a period of around 6 months in the 1990's when I was 13-14, by a male school teacher. This teacher was removed from the school, and is married to one of the other students involved. There is 3 other victims, that I am aware of, 2 have taken their lives in the past several years. I'd managed to cope with it, mostly by shuttering it away. I'd had some counselling and AD's, but was mostly okay. Fast forward to ~2010, and this teacher is now the Deputy Mayor. I kid you not. I mention to the Mayor, who I had a relatively good relationship with, that this was causing harm to myself and other victims. Instead of getting support, I started getting legal threats. Constantly ever since. "Speak up and you'll be put in jail" I'm told, again and again and again. A week ago I called the Mayor, and told him I felt he should step down from his position. That it was causing emotional harm to victims, even if he did not mean for that outcome. So 6am this morning, two Police knock on my door and serve me with an AVO. Aren't police, who are aware the case is being investigated by several parties (including Police) supposed to be on our side? It's one thing to be getting threats from the teacher, and his friends - but when Police rock up and start carrying on about sending me to jail, it's a tough one to accept. I just don't feel like there's anyone you can turn to. Now that even the Police are helping intimidate me, I'm just lost. I am seeing a psycoligist (paid for by the education department) and getting AD's prescribed by my GP - but my goodness, I can see how people decide to take their own lives (something I'd never been able to get my head around many years ago - "how could it be "that" bad I used to think!"