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: 273

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

Eagle Ray Presenting as ok even when you’re not
  • replies: 9

I have a tendency to always protect others from what I’m going through. I might have been at home minutes earlier in desperate amounts of emotional pain, but once I’m in a public setting I put on a brave face, say hello to people and will even say I’... View more

I have a tendency to always protect others from what I’m going through. I might have been at home minutes earlier in desperate amounts of emotional pain, but once I’m in a public setting I put on a brave face, say hello to people and will even say I’m going well if people ask. I think a major factor in this is that it wasn’t safe for me to say if I wasn’t ok as a child. Doing so could even lead to being attacked. From about the age of 5 I learned I’m alone in the world and I have to take care of myself. I also became a carer for a parent with mental health issues at this age, so I became a carer rather than someone who received care. I think part of the issue too is that it’s just not a usual thing to drop the fact you have experienced trauma into a conversation, and I don’t like the feeling of burdening others with my troubles. On Monday I have an appointment with an employment agency to try to get back into work. Most likely I will automatically tell them I’m fine, have a very glass-half full, optimistic approach and in no way reveal how desperately I’ve been struggling over the last couple of years particularly. This is me on autopilot. But in reality I’ve been through multiple losses in my life including deaths through illness and suicide. I experienced an instance of volatile abuse from someone known to me following my mum’s death that almost pushed me completely over the edge. I was also just diagnosed at that time with a progressive autoimmune disease with a reduced life expectancy. My fear is that I will go forward pretending I’m fine as always but that that could jeopardise my health and even my life. My health has improved greatly over the past 3 weeks, especially since a dietary change which has led to a great improvement in symptoms. But I fear I may take on too much with work in terms of hours or stress levels that are harmful to me. What I’m wondering is how do others cope having trauma in their history that still affects them? How do you go out into the world and interact with it? Do you pretend everything is “normal” and “fine” even when you are really not ok, or have you found a better way of managing this? It’s like I fear if I say I’m not ok something terrible will happen but if I don’t say I’m not ok I’m extremely alone and not taking care of myself. I even put my brave face on when I’ve been to counselling sessions and essentially protect the counsellor from the worst I’ve been through. It’s like I protect everyone except myself.

Marc_01 The last one left
  • replies: 3

Hi,,,,, My mother died of breast cancer 30yrs ago at 50yrs old, my brother died in his sleep 8 yrs ago at 48yrs , my sister died 3yrs ago of breast cancer at 53yrs , i was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 52yrs , after surgery and 4yrs into remissio... View more

Hi,,,,, My mother died of breast cancer 30yrs ago at 50yrs old, my brother died in his sleep 8 yrs ago at 48yrs , my sister died 3yrs ago of breast cancer at 53yrs , i was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 52yrs , after surgery and 4yrs into remission all is ok ,, it get's lonely when your the last one left , stay safe everyone

Apricit123 Intense flashbacks
  • replies: 16

Does anyone else experience intense flashbacks . Dissosociation or both having a really hard time mentally and emotionally drained from all this

Does anyone else experience intense flashbacks . Dissosociation or both having a really hard time mentally and emotionally drained from all this

Phnx2405 My Recent Diagnosis
  • replies: 6

After 28 years of being diagnosed with depression and prescribed a variety of meds to no long term success I've recently been diagnosed with Complex PTSD. Which was something I was not expecting given my nearly 3 decades of being told otherwise. Firs... View more

After 28 years of being diagnosed with depression and prescribed a variety of meds to no long term success I've recently been diagnosed with Complex PTSD. Which was something I was not expecting given my nearly 3 decades of being told otherwise. Firstly I felt a sense of relief that someone listened and based on findings leaned towards a different path. I actually cried. Secondly; I then found myself mourning all those lost years and moments battling and fighting without having the 'right' tools to survive and hold my ground. Needless to say it's been a very overwhelming couple of months and through a mental health plan I've started sessions to attempt to unravel the knot that is the trauma and hopefully get a better understanding of my triggers, strengths etc. Today has been very heavy and I just needed to vent I guess. So if anyone has any experience in being diagnosed later in life I would appreciate any hints and tips I could possibly use moving forward. Cheers.

romantic_thi3f Finding glimmers in PTSD and trauma
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, So I've been reading about glimmers lately and thought it might be useful for other people too. Basically the idea is from Deb Dana (a professional in trauma) that tells us that every single person all of the time is looking for signs of... View more

Hi everyone, So I've been reading about glimmers lately and thought it might be useful for other people too. Basically the idea is from Deb Dana (a professional in trauma) that tells us that every single person all of the time is looking for signs of safety and danger. Most of the time, we aren't even aware of it but our system is always keeping an ear and an eye out for things that could be dangerous to us. In trauma and PTSD, we don't have the same baseline of safety- so we're constantly looking for danger more than we need to. Like a door slamming even though it's just the wind. This is why we get jumpy even though we might know that we are ok now. So glimmers- intentionally finding ways to know that we are safe. Some of the ones I can think of and find is cuddling my dog, smelling a vanilla candle and looking at the plants around my house. and the beach; I always feel safe at the beach Is there any you can think of?

Megs14 Working through Trauma - feel overwhelmed
  • replies: 5

Hi I am working really hard on overcoming my childhood traumas ( emotional abuse and narcissist parents ) I push my boundaries every week with the support of my therapist, dr and Chinese medicine practitioner so I have great support. I recently decid... View more

Hi I am working really hard on overcoming my childhood traumas ( emotional abuse and narcissist parents ) I push my boundaries every week with the support of my therapist, dr and Chinese medicine practitioner so I have great support. I recently decided with advice from my psychologist to approach my sister about an incident in our childhood that has always made me feel ashamed and guilty. I did this and it wasn’t as big of a deal to her as I thought. However i felt brushed aside, gaslighted, ( unintentionally on her part - she’s the golden child I’m the scapegoat) and it’s really effected me negatively. I feel incredibly anxious, I’m overthinking everything, worried I’ve done something worse to her and I’ve forgotten, not sleeping well and barely eating. Now she’s given no indication of this it’s all my own doing. It’s a pattern I have of pushing myself then exhausting myself then questioning and finally defeat. She said she needed some space so I think by opening up to her ( maybe too much at once ) I’ve made her uncomfortable. I feel overwhelmed and think I’ve re-traumatised myself through this process. It’s hard because I want to work on our relationship and we used to be close when we were younger however she’s very much like my father ( narcissist ) and although she’s understanding she doesn’t have the same feelings I do about our childhood and it is almost as though she doesn’t want to remember. I carry a lot of guilt and shame around because of the abuse. Now this waiting to hear from her I feel like I’m in trouble and that something bad is going to happen. I struggle with anticipation anxiety and am terrible with confrontation. This all feels like it’s too much. I’m just wanting some kind words of encouragement. I feel like I can’t open up to get again and I know if I push it she’s going yo just close down like she has done previously. I know I’m the only one to get myself out of this vicious cycle as I put myself here but it feels never ending at the moment. I work and am also a wife and mother so I can’t blame it on being lonely or bored. Anyone else get this overwhelmed?

SleepyTinkerbell PTSD Flashbacks and trying to work
  • replies: 9

Hi. I don't really know how to start this, but I am reaching out since I have been struggling to cope. I currently work a job that I love from 8am-4pm during the work week . They are super flexible, so I see my psychologist every 2 weeks (I haven't t... View more

Hi. I don't really know how to start this, but I am reaching out since I have been struggling to cope. I currently work a job that I love from 8am-4pm during the work week . They are super flexible, so I see my psychologist every 2 weeks (I haven't told them it is for psychology), and work longer that day to make up the missed hours. All of this is so amazing and I am so grateful as I have wanted this job for a long time - it feels like I have finally achieved what I have been working towards for a while now. But now that everything is going well, my flashbacks are becoming really intense. I called in sick on Thursday since I didn't have the energy to stay back another hour after my psychologist appointment. I went to work on Friday though and I felt on the verge of a panic attack most of the day. My heart almost constantly aches all hours of the day like I am heartbroken. I have been using all of my coping strategies to keep it together, but I still struggled to stop the flashbacks occurring at work. I am falling behind and I don't know what to do. I barely have the energy to show up (hence the falling behind) but I am going to have to start staying back to catch up on all the work I miss. I am too exhausted! Does anyone have any advice? Should I talk with my workplace about my struggles and ask for a smaller case load? How much do I tell them? All I do all weekend is lie in bed and watch tv or read Do I bother keeping it together at work?

MyProfile Help coping with news about the Texas school shooting
  • replies: 8

I saw it briefly on the news. I'm avoiding it. But there is a crushing feeling in my chest. I don't have anyone to reach out to. It's all starting to pile up, all this bad news. There are too many horrible things in the world.

I saw it briefly on the news. I'm avoiding it. But there is a crushing feeling in my chest. I don't have anyone to reach out to. It's all starting to pile up, all this bad news. There are too many horrible things in the world.

G12345 Coping with worsening trauma
  • replies: 4

My trauma follows me wherever I go I try to escape but I feel trapped I haven’t used forums in a while my trauma still affects me and it still hurts

My trauma follows me wherever I go I try to escape but I feel trapped I haven’t used forums in a while my trauma still affects me and it still hurts