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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JulieA Husband charged with sexually abusing my 7 year old Grandaughter
  • replies: 3

I separated from my husband the day he was charged - January 2025i am now living with my daughters.I miss my husband terribly and worry about how he is coping.i know contacting him is not the right thing to do but the pull is extremely strong.Has any... View more

I separated from my husband the day he was charged - January 2025i am now living with my daughters.I miss my husband terribly and worry about how he is coping.i know contacting him is not the right thing to do but the pull is extremely strong.Has anyone been through anything similar and has some advice for me.It would be greatly appreciated

Tearnie13 Car accident and domestic violence
  • replies: 2

I just wanted to get my story out there and see if could find someone to relate. I was t boned at an intersection by a road train at 75kms, that moment destroyed my entire life, left me with a brain injury and permanent disabilities. Along with that ... View more

I just wanted to get my story out there and see if could find someone to relate. I was t boned at an intersection by a road train at 75kms, that moment destroyed my entire life, left me with a brain injury and permanent disabilities. Along with that really bad ptsd and emotional regulation problems, since that moment I’ve felt alone, like no one fully understood me, I still feel that way now, I can’t work and I feel worthless. In the midst of my recovery I thought I had found a man who would help me through it, he seemed to understand and help me a lot. I trusted him to help me and I needed him to help me. Until he stopped, he started physically abusing me multiple times, on the last account he nearly killed me with a car when he was drunk. I have felt worthless, I have felt useless, unwanted and broken since all these things have happened to me. I can’t seem to stop feeling this way, like I should have died. I have people supporting me but it doesn’t help me, like I can’t seem to get what I need from them. I feel too broken to stop feeling this way and I don’t know if I’ll ever stop feeling like this. I just want to know if there is anyone out there who could relate, who knows how this all feels.

1234 PTSD shattered memory's and getting some of them back
  • replies: 1

Hi all I feel very alone as I haven't found anyone that has had a trauma where they have lost memories and had others shattered into pieces that could not be understood. I knew something was wrong 50 years ago when lots of people (counsellors) came i... View more

Hi all I feel very alone as I haven't found anyone that has had a trauma where they have lost memories and had others shattered into pieces that could not be understood. I knew something was wrong 50 years ago when lots of people (counsellors) came into the classroom and talked about a boy that had drowned, I didn't know who he was and thought I should have. Then the boy next to me leaned over and told me "he thought he was a pair of shorts hanging on the side of the pool " I immediately had a picture in my head of this, it has never left me I have shards of memories that I could never put together or understand these are sharp and vivid. Being asked to go to a friend's place Talking about a P76 Leland car with him while walking to his place One of churning water this made no sense to me until about 5 years ago And the one of walking home but not knowing where I had come from I have thought about these everyday of my life and I could not understanding them. About 6 to 7 years ago I decided I was going to work them out. It led me to have a really bad brake down I found help with a Psychologist and a stint in SPP I got more memories back and on the memories and family evidence I sort of believe I was there. My question is are there others like me And how do you cope with the thoughts around are the recent memories real, I'm at 98 to 99 percent real, but that 1 or 2 percent just f--ks with me

Guest_94670177 Self diagnosis
  • replies: 2

I have not said anything for 3 years, it’s been a lonely and isolating experience and have cried my way home many nights, but after a physical injury at work where I ended up in hospital for the night I called my manager who shouted at me when I call... View more

I have not said anything for 3 years, it’s been a lonely and isolating experience and have cried my way home many nights, but after a physical injury at work where I ended up in hospital for the night I called my manager who shouted at me when I called to ask what I do with capacity form for worksafe, she accused me of self diagnosing by going to hospital.. I have been 4 weeks in sling with a deep tear in my left arm tendon (can’t self diagnose an ultrasound), her treatment after that of me is indicated of her and a handful of her long term employees treat staff. I feel you years and years of abuse, isolation, whispers of ho ( I’m a 65 yo grandma and a widow for 10years) old old woman, I have to work im alone, and actually very good at my job, previous receptionists have just fled but this time her treatment re the injury just triggered a meltdown .. I don’t want to leave the house I’m intermittently crying .. not like me I’m strong but this has taken so much from my self worth I don’t know if I can get back up again once my arm heals.

Rach28 Spiraling out of control
  • replies: 15

Hi everyone. So im really struggling right now in my life. I feel like im stuck in a dark deep hole in the dark and I feel so alone. Context: I suffer PTSD and have suffered multiple terrible trauma experiences. I just feel so broken. I dont know wha... View more

Hi everyone. So im really struggling right now in my life. I feel like im stuck in a dark deep hole in the dark and I feel so alone. Context: I suffer PTSD and have suffered multiple terrible trauma experiences. I just feel so broken. I dont know what to do. I have no life direction and all my triggers are on high alert. I also struggle with anxiety/ depression which has become more severe recently due to triggers that are related to my trauma. I just feel like anytime I try to do something and put all my effort in, im always disappointed. I always end up getting rejected, hurt, or getting my hand burnt (hypothetically not literally). I just feel like nothing good is going to happen in my life. I just feel like I am a broken human being. I feel like no employer will take me on if I want to apply for a job - im so messed up mental health wise plus I dont like being around people. I get triggered SO easily I cant control it. I guess I am writing this post because I feel so alone right now in all of this. i dont know what decisions to make because right now avoidance is the best option for me. If I avoid making any life decision I'm not going to spiral more out of control. And right now my mental health is very delicate. Plus I recently had a fight with a friend and I'm not talking to him. He's been a huge support system for me and I feel he doesnt understand my mental state right now given the stress of timing of the year also regarding traumatic events. I just feel so alone and I want to never have to work again. I want to just be left in peace and deal with my broken version of myself after being sexually assaulted, abused by my ex and abused my family. I just dont know what to do. Does anyone else understand what I am saying. I just would love to know that I'm not the only person struggling with PTSD, trauma and mental health. I just want to curl in a ball and hide away from the world, in hopes that everyone will just leave me alone and allow me peace and quiet to figure out what the hell I am going to do with my life. I'm scared of living after all the awful life events I've faced and survived. I'm scared of trying again. Does anyone else relate? Id love to hear from you.

Happygolucky77 My child was abused
  • replies: 2

I’m just not sure how to go forward.i found out my son was sexually assaulted by a teen neighbour when he was in lower primary school. I didn’t find this out until he was a teenager himself and we had long moved away. I myself was molested as a child... View more

I’m just not sure how to go forward.i found out my son was sexually assaulted by a teen neighbour when he was in lower primary school. I didn’t find this out until he was a teenager himself and we had long moved away. I myself was molested as a child and it was always some I thought I could protect my own kids from. But I have failed. I had a small baby at the time I found out and he is now 8 years old and he struggles. I know it’s because of me being so depressed after what I found out. Everything has suffered. I have been estranged from all my family since my kids born because I asked them for support and was never believed. I am also estranged from everyone in my life because I just hate myself so much. I can’t even hold a normal conversation anymore. Nobody at work likes me, my own partner hates me. My kids hate me. My in laws have also been no support and just call me a bitch. Now my partner wants me to leave. I understand and don’t blame him. I just have nowhere to go and nobody to talk to. Any advice

ScooterCat Feeling like things will never get better
  • replies: 3

Growing up, I was made to feel unwanted. My teachers would constantly shout and criticise me whenever I made a mistake. My peers would exclude me and put me down. My parents would tell me I would never be good enough and that I deserved to suffer. Be... View more

Growing up, I was made to feel unwanted. My teachers would constantly shout and criticise me whenever I made a mistake. My peers would exclude me and put me down. My parents would tell me I would never be good enough and that I deserved to suffer. Because of these things, I felt like I didn’t matter. I pushed people away and isolated myself because I didn’t think anyone would like me. I sabotaged my future and my chances of graduating because I didn’t believe I deserved success. I felt like people didn’t want me around and that the world would be better off if I was gone. Because of the things people have said about me, I’ve missed opportunities. I never got to have friends. I never got to feel wanted. I never got to feel like I deserved anything and I never go to feel like my life mattered. And now that all these things are gone, I can never go back and experience them. Those times are gone and I can never change what happened. Even if I work through my trauma now and undo all the things people have taught me, it will never change anything. It will never alleviate the pain. All that pain is going to stay with me in one form or another, and I will always be in a state of suffering. There is no hope. There is no future. The pain from what I have lost will always be a part of me. All that is left for me is a life full of eternal suffering.

Rowen13 Should I take the hint?
  • replies: 5

I hurt my friend multiple times and I know he is very stubborn. He might forgive but he will never forget and he no longer trusts me. I always have to initiate contact and he ignores me on mutual social platforms. should I just accept he no longer ca... View more

I hurt my friend multiple times and I know he is very stubborn. He might forgive but he will never forget and he no longer trusts me. I always have to initiate contact and he ignores me on mutual social platforms. should I just accept he no longer cares? I know it was all my fault, so perhaps I should take my punishment and move on?

N0vaaa I feel destroyed.
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone, i'm gonna start off strong for this one. I’m still really hurt over a falling out I had with people I thought were my close friends. It started because of a disagreement and some uncomfortable situations involving another friend, but ... View more

Hello everyone, i'm gonna start off strong for this one. I’m still really hurt over a falling out I had with people I thought were my close friends. It started because of a disagreement and some uncomfortable situations involving another friend, but instead of working through it, they ended up twisting things and turning on me. I showed them the truth, but they ignored it. I was slowly pushed out of the group, isolated during one of the lowest points of my life, and made to feel like everything was my fault. My bestfriend even used personal things I had shared in confidence, getting her boyfriend to attack me with it, including my mental health, identity, body and life struggles. After everything I had been through, it was like i was hit by a truck. It still hurts me because I don’t fully understand how it got so bad or why I was treated that way. I feel like I lost people who meant the world to me, and it left a hole I haven’t been able to fill.Around the same time, I was also dealing with a toxic relationship. Someone I dated repeatedly ignored my boundaries and made sexual comments even when I wasn’t in a state to consent or push back. I had shared my past trauma with them, and they used that vulnerability to their advantage. Even though I know deep down I was manipulated and taken advantage of, I still blame myself sometimes. I feel confused, guilty, and honestly a little broken.I’ve been trying to move on, but it’s like I carry this invisible weight every day. I struggle to trust anyone anymore.. friends, partners, even myself. I second guess everything I say and do, like I’m always walking on eggshells, waiting for people to leave or hurt me. I want to heal, but I don’t know where to begin or how to stop feeling so alone.