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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Sophie_M If you need to talk about Bondi Beach - Our community is here
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, After the heartbreaking events at Bondi Beach on Sunday night, we know many people in our community may be feeling shaken, distressed, or unsure how to make sense of what has happened. Religious and political violence has no place is Aus... View more

Hi everyone, After the heartbreaking events at Bondi Beach on Sunday night, we know many people in our community may be feeling shaken, distressed, or unsure how to make sense of what has happened. Religious and political violence has no place is Australia and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families affected by this tragedy. We wanted to create a space where you can share whatever you’re feeling - whether that’s fear, shock, grief, or anything else that has come up for you. If you need support from others in the community, please feel welcome to post here. Violence and acts of terror can bring feelings of shock, grief, profound sadness, anger and fear. It’s normal to experience these emotions while trying to make sense of distressing events. It may take time for these feelings to ease, but it’s never too early to seek support if you are feeling distressed. Beyond Blue is here for you anytime, by phone on 1300 224 636 or via webchat: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/talk-to-a-counsellor You can also support those around you by being available to them and listening. Thank you for being such an important part of this community, and for the kindness, honesty, and wisdom you continue to share with each other. We remind the community that Beyond Blue is here for all people in Australia, no matter what you believe, how you live or who you worship. Kind regards Sophie M

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

Monarch Difficulty trusting medical clinicians
  • replies: 2

Hello good people, I am trying to seek help for what I think may be cptsd. My experience with the public health system has left me feeling like a lost cause. I made a booking with a private psychologist then cancelled the next day. Is this common? My... View more

Hello good people, I am trying to seek help for what I think may be cptsd. My experience with the public health system has left me feeling like a lost cause. I made a booking with a private psychologist then cancelled the next day. Is this common? My past experiences have been less than stellar. I have met some very good therapists in the past and met others that were openly hostile towards me. I am not confident I can heal myself but feel I am putting all my eggs in one basket when I book with a new therapist. I am distrustful and fear disappointment. I feel I am living my life from one crisis to another. Such is life I know but I am not confident I am equipped emotionally to move on. Any thoughts, feelings, experiences? Many thanks, HRH

Mudcakes Healthy vs not Healthy thoughts or ideas
  • replies: 1

Basically I feel sometimes the urge to look up people from my past or places to see how they are going. Like I know its bad but its like a curiosity thing too. I guess Im feeling lonely and since I did a load of like 10 weeks worth of in hospital men... View more

Basically I feel sometimes the urge to look up people from my past or places to see how they are going. Like I know its bad but its like a curiosity thing too. I guess Im feeling lonely and since I did a load of like 10 weeks worth of in hospital mental health treatment, I wanna reconnect with people who maybe I misjudged or thought less of but was through the lens's of my anxiety. Issue is I also get ones of people from my past that looking at will distress me. Like damn, I get over thoughts and feelings about this one person and then I randomly just wanna see her damn smile, but she’s hurt me and the way her life has turned out is not what I expected. It’s not what I guess anyone expects wanting to reconnect after therapy to finally have that needed conversation with the girl you confessed your feelings to but never spoke over the phone to find out at 17 she’s expecting a kid. Or to hopefully reconnect with someone else who was special to me years ago to find out he’s basically an incel in the making. But yeah sorry topic changed, point is, is it bad or healthy to think or look people up from my past if its to see if my anxiety messed my view up at the time?

Hippy PTSD & TRAUMA
  • replies: 2

HiI'm 60yrs & have Struggled with PTSD & Trauma Most of My life?? Growing up I Hid behind & delt with it by Smoking Weed?? & it has sort of helped?? Nearly 2yrs ago I gave up?? Everything that I couldn't deal with in the past ALL come to surface? I'v... View more

HiI'm 60yrs & have Struggled with PTSD & Trauma Most of My life?? Growing up I Hid behind & delt with it by Smoking Weed?? & it has sort of helped?? Nearly 2yrs ago I gave up?? Everything that I couldn't deal with in the past ALL come to surface? I've been trying to get Help & the Doctor has tried SO MANY different Meds in that 2yrs & None of them seem to work?I'm not taking Anything atm coz All the different/wrong Meds are making Me worse & I'm STRUGGLING Really Bad now?? I have NO Energy, can't get out of bed, cry Nearly All Day & am finding it Really Hard to walk out My front Door & it's getting Harder & Harder? I get & feel Really Weird Body feelings that are Really Hard to Explain? I have Dissociation & it makes Me feel like I'm Literally Going Crazy/Insane & it's Scary? I would rather Not be here But I have 7 GrandBabys who Love Me ALOT & I have Amazing Relationships with My 3 Children & it would Break Them & I can't Hurt them? I have NO Friends, I don't want any coz in the past they Traumatised Me??I just want to Be Normal....There's lots more I could say...CheersMaz

Picture Coping with trauma
  • replies: 2

Hello Following a trauma last year I went through a mental health crisis, and I am now feeling more stable and calm but not yet normal. The things I think that have helped are seeing a psychologist to talk openly to (she was very empathetic and had s... View more

Hello Following a trauma last year I went through a mental health crisis, and I am now feeling more stable and calm but not yet normal. The things I think that have helped are seeing a psychologist to talk openly to (she was very empathetic and had some useful suggestions); the crisis lines; getting medication to help with sleep; support from family/friends and this forum. I will carry the trauma I have been through for my life but I now feel it is not overwhelming me in the same way. I still feel a lot of sadness and regret, flashbacks, rumination, social anxiety and a feeling of being a bit separate from myself. I am able to function a bit better with family and others though. So far I have just been speaking with a psychologist but will look at some other therapies as well. I may also try yoga. I will also try and do more exercise. Just thought I would post to show what has helped me in case it helps others. For me it is a slow process but I do feel it is moving in the right direction. I hope others experiencing trauma are also coping.

ComplexPTSD Complex PTSD
  • replies: 4

I have had a history of Trauma throughout my life (including childhood trauma), and I do believe I am suffering from complex PTSD. I do get attracted to Chaotic people and situations, to fix them, and other people's problems become my problems, and r... View more

I have had a history of Trauma throughout my life (including childhood trauma), and I do believe I am suffering from complex PTSD. I do get attracted to Chaotic people and situations, to fix them, and other people's problems become my problems, and relationships get damaged/destroyed, or something terrible happens to people around me or me, for example, recently, when I had to get the police involved (case now closed) and move from my area/go into hiding. Has anybody else had this problem, and how do you fix it? I do get blame and guilt from my family when I go through these situations, which doesn't help me recover and fully work through the trauma. I'm starting with a clinical psychologist in the new year, and I'm doing another round of EDMR for the most recent event. I want to set myself up better for the future. I'm a well-trained professional and an expert in my field, and I know I can have a better life going forward if I make better choices.

Picture TV Shows to distract from trauma
  • replies: 9

Please suggest some light hearted shows that help distract you from focusing on trauma. Thank you

Please suggest some light hearted shows that help distract you from focusing on trauma. Thank you

Guest_71804972 Worried about plurality
  • replies: 4

I'm concerned I might fall under the term of someone who is plural, I've done a lot of research on the subject of DID and OSDD and worry my symptoms could be lining up, but I'm unsure as I've dealt with things like delusions and hallucinations in the... View more

I'm concerned I might fall under the term of someone who is plural, I've done a lot of research on the subject of DID and OSDD and worry my symptoms could be lining up, but I'm unsure as I've dealt with things like delusions and hallucinations in the past, and my brain could be convincing me of something that isn't real. I don't have money to spend so I'm not very sure how to go about figuring it out with a professional either

Nix I feel like I should be entitled to compensation for my C-PTSD
  • replies: 3

CW* CSAI, like the title very much suggests, feel like I should be entitled to some kind of compensation for my C-PTSD and the fact that because of it I have not and will not be able to work or function in society. I was CSA by no less than eight peo... View more

CW* CSAI, like the title very much suggests, feel like I should be entitled to some kind of compensation for my C-PTSD and the fact that because of it I have not and will not be able to work or function in society. I was CSA by no less than eight people, four of them being adults, from practically birth to 17. Pictures were taken of me and that fact haunts me to this day. My mother was also CSA by some of the same people, one was her foster father. Because it happened to her in foster care she was able to access the national redress and get a payout and an apology from the government. But guess what?? She left me there. She left me in that situation with her foster father, who might or might not be my biological father, and she just left. It wasn't until I was 11 and he was imprisoned that I was able to get out. She got money and lives guilt free despite what she brought me into. I don't think I qualify for the national regress because I wasn't in foster care myself. And I don't think I qualify for a TPD payout because I never worked to begin with. I feel stuck and alone and angry and sad and tired and I wish she had just aborted me rather than let me grow up like that.

Mudcakes Time moves fast but I feel stuck. I cant explain.
  • replies: 1

Oh shit. Ever since mum came across my father in the ED in march last year and then seeing on the news his company logo sponsoring his football team, then learning its their charity and involved with a well known charity that runs their program and t... View more

Oh shit. Ever since mum came across my father in the ED in march last year and then seeing on the news his company logo sponsoring his football team, then learning its their charity and involved with a well known charity that runs their program and then them doing how he gives back and highlighting just him and trying to work out what to do about this and how the ivo ends in may this year…. Time has not felt normal. How is it that I havent seen my gp since august last year? Or my other doctor for my sleep meds the consult was from feb last year? Im kinda freaked out. Time has felt frozen for me but I feel like its dragging me along with it. How do I explain this to my gp next time or the other doctor? No wonder around july I stopped doing stuff like going out as much or my board game group. I mean every-time I go outside I automatically scan and imagine him walking up to me or I see him. It’s like purgatory. I hate it. It feels like he’s everywhere. I mean he will contest my application for another IVO(avo in other states) and I cant go through that. I can’t. He is like slenderman that’s what it feels like. Im also like, freaked out by the news and stuff and dont feel safe in my state or country anymore honestly. Mum turns 60 in a few days and it just reminds me how fast time is going and Im not ready or feel stuck. Im 21 and yes I have a learning disability and like a bit developmentally delayed so I’m behind peers my age I guess but I cant get over 2018 was like 7 years ago I think? Like it freaks me out. Anyway. Sorry its so all over the place my post.See less

Sophie_M If you need to talk about Bondi Beach - Our community is here
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, After the heartbreaking events at Bondi Beach on Sunday night, we know many people in our community may be feeling shaken, distressed, or unsure how to make sense of what has happened. Religious and political violence has no place is Aus... View more

Hi everyone, After the heartbreaking events at Bondi Beach on Sunday night, we know many people in our community may be feeling shaken, distressed, or unsure how to make sense of what has happened. Religious and political violence has no place is Australia and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families affected by this tragedy. We wanted to create a space where you can share whatever you’re feeling - whether that’s fear, shock, grief, or anything else that has come up for you. If you need support from others in the community, please feel welcome to post here. Violence and acts of terror can bring feelings of shock, grief, profound sadness, anger and fear. It’s normal to experience these emotions while trying to make sense of distressing events. It may take time for these feelings to ease, but it’s never too early to seek support if you are feeling distressed. Beyond Blue is here for you anytime, by phone on 1300 224 636 or via webchat: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/talk-to-a-counsellor You can also support those around you by being available to them and listening. Thank you for being such an important part of this community, and for the kindness, honesty, and wisdom you continue to share with each other. We remind the community that Beyond Blue is here for all people in Australia, no matter what you believe, how you live or who you worship. Kind regards Sophie M