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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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!"

stoneguzzi verbally abusive ex
  • replies: 4

I was with my ex for 4 years, the start was fine, he was like any other guy but after the first year or so he started calling me names, it got worse as time went on, I guess he knew I wouldn't leave because he kept getting away with hurting me. He al... View more

I was with my ex for 4 years, the start was fine, he was like any other guy but after the first year or so he started calling me names, it got worse as time went on, I guess he knew I wouldn't leave because he kept getting away with hurting me. He always made me feel like it was my fault whenever we would argue it was always over something pointless like cold coffee or burnt toast he would go off at me because I didn't make the coffee right. When he was mad he would call me a mutt, would swear at me, call me an idiot called me ugly once because he knew how I felt about myself. Would say "no wonder you have no friends" put down after put down and after hearing so much of it you begin to believe it's true, you feel worthless like you have no one. I had to start seeing a counsellor because I got depressed my doctor diagnosed me with mild depression and severe anxiety, he knew I had anxiety but would still try to make me feel like the worst person in the world whenever I didn't do something he wanted me to or didn't do something right. Almost into 4 years together I decided to leave I wasn't happy and had thought of leaving for a year it took alot for me to finally stand up for myself and leave. It's been about a month or so and he talks to me everyday says he'll change, asks for another chance asks to see me, when I don't feel IIke talking or don't reply or say no to seeing him the abuse starts and even threats. I've been sworn at, told to go die, I'm not aloud to return to collect the rest of my belongings if I do watch outhe I'm also heartless. He will abuse me over the phone and hang up then ring Back seconds later. I haven't changed my number because I wanted him to be able to talk to me I didn't want to hurt him anymore then I already did by leaving but I didn't expect this. I'm stuck. I just want to get the rest of my belongings change my number so I can move on but I don't think he is going to let me

Pat101 I often thought my first responder job would eventually cause me grief as has happened to many of my collegues
  • replies: 2

30 years in a professional first responder role I would have thought whats occuring would have been a result of that and I was always vigalent for its signs but it didn't come from that. Always steadfast, reliable and confident in my job and nothing ... View more

30 years in a professional first responder role I would have thought whats occuring would have been a result of that and I was always vigalent for its signs but it didn't come from that. Always steadfast, reliable and confident in my job and nothing really fazed me and still doesn't. But the increasing fear, anxiety and total overwhelming panic I feel when my ex wife becomes violant or verbally abusive totally throws me as it is totally at odds with how I am professionally. I could never fathom it because I was looking in the wrong direction expecting that one car crash, suicide or god knows what else to tip me over the edge like so many of my colleges. I was looking in the wrong direction and after 15 years of emotional abuse and and at times physical abuse from my ex partner which is still occuring because we have three children the warning light has well and truly come on. Im a very capable guy, assertive in the most stressful situations, a returned service man there isn't much I haven't seen or done. But I could never disengage from the arguments and violant outbursts, she would just follow, there would always be some punitive response which was most likely involve the children and still is. It was always hanging over my head like a carrot I couldn't do anything and helplessly had to take it, it was always my fault. Still occuring but thankfully not as much as Ive been separated and now divorced for five years but have 10 years to go until I can finally be rid of my ex-wifes influence. I thought it was just accumulative stress which in a way is true but the reality is its PTSD and never thought for a minute it would come from this because I was being every so vigilant but looking in the wrong direction.

Guest_2350 Disconnected
  • replies: 155

I am travelling in my home countries at the moment with a lot of friends and family and I am feeling so disconnected, it is weird to explain. This should be such a happy time and we have planned this trip for so long! I enter memory lane from time to... View more

I am travelling in my home countries at the moment with a lot of friends and family and I am feeling so disconnected, it is weird to explain. This should be such a happy time and we have planned this trip for so long! I enter memory lane from time to time and I only sometimes feel present, when I hug loved ones. Then it is all gone again. I must make all the right moves, as apart from my husband no one has commented on my solemn mood. I just want the holiday to be over. I wonder where all the years have gone. I know now that I have run away from all the memories and I don't really want to be here. I want to be where I feel safe, where I feel no hassle. I have just stopped understanding myself. I just don't make sense.I have been feeling the clouds closing in the last few days, is there nothing I can do to stop this downward spiral?

sarah74 Feeling alone
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new to this. Just a bit of background. I am a parent of a chronically ill child ( has 2 rare diseases). It requires numerous hospital stays and blood tests at hospital every 2 weeks. We have nearly lost him 3 times, and he takes numerous medi... View more

Hi, I'm new to this. Just a bit of background. I am a parent of a chronically ill child ( has 2 rare diseases). It requires numerous hospital stays and blood tests at hospital every 2 weeks. We have nearly lost him 3 times, and he takes numerous medications daily. My partner has just started a demanding job, my eldest is going to live overseas in 3 weeks. I am at the lowest i have ever been. It came to a head 1 month ago when my partner suggested that I need help as i have been flying off the handle a bit and not coping with the simpliest of things. I have seen my GP who said I' suffering from PTSD and extreme depression. I have been on anti depressants for a month. 2 days ago, my partner left the family home as he said i have been coming unbearable to live with. He still loves me and wants to work it out. I have been referred to a psychologist but that is not for another 2 weeks. I really need some tips, input about how to manage my outbursts etc as it is impacting my relationship, which i do not want to lose. I do not know what else to do.

LZinsight I guess this is my story.
  • replies: 9

So, since my first post here actually helped me sort out a lot of feelings I decided to take it one step further and make a second post, describe my trauma, and what broke me down to what I am today.So here we go. I'm 22 years old, Male and suffering... View more

So, since my first post here actually helped me sort out a lot of feelings I decided to take it one step further and make a second post, describe my trauma, and what broke me down to what I am today.So here we go. I'm 22 years old, Male and suffering from heavy depression, anxiety, social anxiety, repressed memories causing cognitive slowing (the term used by my psychologist), Insomnia, psychosomatic pain when I try to recall memories of that time, all severe enough to cripple my function in daily life. So here we go, I was a very small child, and rather smart, as many know these are prime examples of being a target for bullies, and oh boy was that the case here. starting first grade, the standard bullying stuff, Name calling, social isolation/exclusion, nothing worth even reporting, but getting away with that much over a few years gives them confidence to escalate and as such the bullying became physical, Threats, shoving, hitting, I reported it but teachers only gave out light punishments, 1 time lunch detentions and such, which well... only annoyed them and made them go harder, so over the course of 3rd - 5th grade it escalated to full blown beatings, pelted with rocks, surrounded and tormented until I had a mental breakdown and just wound up screaming and flailing in pure terror, none of these one time events. 6th and 7th grades were the worst by far, developing into sexual harassment and eventually molestation and assault, Stripping me in front of girls on the playground, constantly touching me and grabbing me in sexual ways.. Not because they were gay, but purely because they knew I hated every second, and sadistically enjoyed my suffering. Something broke in me during all this, I've never been the same since, I doubt I will be ever again. The worst part about all this, is that these things are all I can remember, everything else has been lost into this cloudy void of pain and hatred. 8 years of school life, vanished, not a single memory left but abuse, pain and torment. I don't even know the correct medical term for whatever this is, something messed up I'm sure.So there you have it, the story of what happened to destroy this 22 year old to destroy him a point where functioning a normal everyday life is more difficult than directing a blindfolded toddler to completing a rubix cube. To answer any predicted questions, Yes I see a psychologist and psychiatrist regularly, no I don't really have anyone in my family or friends I can talk to.

Elizabeth CP Feeling stupid & embarrassed re reaction to trigger
  • replies: 9

Attended meeting at church discussing scriptures. Unfortunately person leading group started using bushfires as an example to illustrate the point he was making. There was nothing wrong with what he said for anyone else and I could see the point he w... View more

Attended meeting at church discussing scriptures. Unfortunately person leading group started using bushfires as an example to illustrate the point he was making. There was nothing wrong with what he said for anyone else and I could see the point he was making. I managed to stay where I was although uncomfortable for a short while but then further comments were too much and I walked out feeling embarrassed for making a fool of myself and extremely anxious and upset both due to what was said and then my over reaction to it. I was trapped in a bushfire as a child so reminders of bushfires is a trigger for me. One minute I think I'm doing better and then something like this happens and I feel like I'll never overcome the problem. My reactions are so inconsistent which makes it harder to deal with it logically. any ideas to help me react better would be helpful

feel_unwanted what to do
  • replies: 6

Hi to all need some advice on what to do. I'm losing my mind, in the last 4 years after the birth of my 5 child if been unwell, had 3 surgeries, found out that my dad's not my dad. I can't seem to stop thinking I'm just a burden on my family. I'm alo... View more

Hi to all need some advice on what to do. I'm losing my mind, in the last 4 years after the birth of my 5 child if been unwell, had 3 surgeries, found out that my dad's not my dad. I can't seem to stop thinking I'm just a burden on my family. I'm alone I have no friends in this town and my husband doesn't seem to understand because I still look after him and the family "so anyone can do that" is what I think. Don't won't to feel useless and a burden anymore.