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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Empathic Husbands porn addiction
  • replies: 53

Ok, so I first came here when I needed help with my husband's depression but here I am a couple of months later and I am so traumatised and messed up in the head I don't know what to do. I knew he was alcohol addicted, I knew he was depressed but I d... View more

Ok, so I first came here when I needed help with my husband's depression but here I am a couple of months later and I am so traumatised and messed up in the head I don't know what to do. I knew he was alcohol addicted, I knew he was depressed but I didn't know he was popping prescription medicines or that he has a porn addiction too. During the course of talking to my husband and hammering him for answers I decided I would do the one thing I never imagined doing, I snooped. What I have discovered has left me in absolute ruins. In December last year over the course of 3 days he searched for and visited 52 kinky websites and signed up on 13 Kinky Dating sites. When confronted he of course denied it but I wasn't having any of it. To cut a very long story short I have discovered he is addicted to porn and has even watched it at home right under my nose. The nature of the porn has gotten worse and while I haven't actually viewed any of it judging by what he was searching for I can only imagine. My heart is shattered, my head severely messed, I cannot eat, cannot sleep due to nightmares, I have invasive thoughts - things pop into my head at any time and I'm really struggling to deal with it all. He has accepted he has a massive problem and wants to get whatever help he can. He is genuine in this and has begged me to stay and help him. The trouble is, who is going to help me? There seems to be so much out there for his addiction but all I can find is sites telling me how I'm feeling. I already know that! I need help to accept, move on and heal. I am so lost. I don't know who I am anymore, I don't know who he is anymore, I'm broken, sad, depressed and have been having crazy irrational thoughts. Is there any hope?

ABC01 Triggered by actions. Reliving Trauma.* Potential Trigger Warning *
  • replies: 22

Hello, 4 weeks ago my beloved cat was killed by my next door neighbours dogs. They had dug under the fence and I found him dead. We followed council laws and our property was safe for him,but the dogs dug under the fence and we didn’t see it coming. ... View more

Hello, 4 weeks ago my beloved cat was killed by my next door neighbours dogs. They had dug under the fence and I found him dead. We followed council laws and our property was safe for him,but the dogs dug under the fence and we didn’t see it coming. For 2 yrs we have lived next to them and everything was fine. When I found him I lost it screaming hysterically. I can’t get that image out of my head. The look on his face. The fact that it was just another normal day for us like the last 3.5 yrs,and now he was dead infront of me and in my arms. I haven’t been okay since. I have spoken to mental health professionals and am being treated for a variety of things. PTSD being one of them. I keep getting triggered by my own dogs, who had nothing to do with my cats death. I understand that. My cat was raised with our dogs and they all got along like family. They loved each other. However now,when my dogs pick up their toys and shake them in play, all I can immediately think of is my cat. My mind freezes,my body feels a flush of dread,it stiffens up and pain goes through my body.My teeth clench and my neck stiffens to the point my head gets a sharp headache. I understand that my dogs are just playing with their toys. There isn’t anything violent about it, just play. But my mind still goes there. Does anyone have any advice on this? Thank you for any suggestions. ABC01

Gia052 PTSD trigger warning sexual assault mentioned
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I’m 19 and currently in a relationship and I am currently struggling with ptsd due to multiple sexual assault incidents since I was 15. I am currently in therapy and have started EMDR therapy but I am struggling with coping with my traum... View more

Hi everyone, I’m 19 and currently in a relationship and I am currently struggling with ptsd due to multiple sexual assault incidents since I was 15. I am currently in therapy and have started EMDR therapy but I am struggling with coping with my trauma. I have periods of time where I struggle more with flashbacks and nightmares especially if I am asleep in the same bed as my boyfriend, I have panic attacks and sometimes my body can still feel the trauma. I have tried to explain this to my boyfriend and I know that it’s difficult to understand. I feel like sometimes he gets frustrated with me about it especially because I really struggle with intimacy now. does anyone else have problems like this with their partner, has anything helped?

David35 PTSD from caring for mum
  • replies: 8

The last few years my mum, 78, had bladder cancer treatment which worked. She's now in remission. But in that time, I (47) have grown to despise certain parts of her. It's like her medical issues and personality got all jumbled up. I hated the illnes... View more

The last few years my mum, 78, had bladder cancer treatment which worked. She's now in remission. But in that time, I (47) have grown to despise certain parts of her. It's like her medical issues and personality got all jumbled up. I hated the illness, but i didnt hate mum. For a long time everything was a crisis with mum, at least in her own mind. Over time I got burnt out. I would regularly just drive off to go for a walk to get away from her constant fears, worries, nagging. The problem is now whenever I get phone calls from her, I blow up. Today I went down the shops, a drive I find peaceful but being interrupted by her calls just made me fly into a temper tantrurm. I get that I'm her carer, support system, but sometimes I just need some space. How do I stop over reacting this way? It hurts her, it's shameful. I have a woodworking hobby as an outlet. But this incessant checking up on me all the time drives me nuts. Mum suffers with anxiety, but how can I stop blowing up from something so trivial?

Neeru Domestic Violence
  • replies: 5

My husband has extra martial affair with his sister in law now he is abusing me meantly and physical , i have one 18 month kid as well.his sister in law is overseas , now my husband wants brings her sister in law and her children in Australia in my h... View more

My husband has extra martial affair with his sister in law now he is abusing me meantly and physical , i have one 18 month kid as well.his sister in law is overseas , now my husband wants brings her sister in law and her children in Australia in my house .he took my car so i can't go on my work and he stopped giving money as well.he block my phone number as well ow he threatened me he gonna harm me and my baby but now my father is with me for my support i want separation with my husband but i can't afford the fees of Lawer what should i do

Mikhaela Am I in the wrong
  • replies: 1

I was 8 when I was diagnosed with ADHD and 10 when I was diagnosed with Autism.In year 4 I just had this friend thing where one of my friends lets say her name is Molly. (this is privacy. not her real name) Molly and I were really close friends like ... View more

I was 8 when I was diagnosed with ADHD and 10 when I was diagnosed with Autism.In year 4 I just had this friend thing where one of my friends lets say her name is Molly. (this is privacy. not her real name) Molly and I were really close friends like we had been friends since preschool and so yeah this one day, one of my friends goes "hey Mikhaela can't you just be invisible" And like Molly goes into this kinda huddle thing and says something and, the whole next week she ignores me and says like when i'm trying to talk to her she goes "oh it must be the wind" or "it's the abominable snowman again" and yeah so that's a whole week of that. Then in year five my sister leaves the school, and my other frinpend lets say her name is grace not resl name. Grace is sad sbout my sister leaving the chool understandable, but she starts blaming me and for three terms she is constantly bugging me about how it was all my fault my sister left. she starts ig oring me making snide comments about me and rumors like it's all my fault my sister keft and Molly I only just started trusting againstarts believing the rumors and completely stabs me in the back, it's not true, and my sister wasn't getting a good enough education like her teacher wouldn't go over thing my sister didn't understand. yeah like grace and molly are just telling this new kid and feeding her the rumors and she believes them and soon there's no one at my school i can trust, not even the teachers. they don't do anything about this bullying. I find that molly ang grace both stole and ripped me of my identity and that i didn't deserve that. i just can believe it. then one day on the bus i catch grace is all in my face about how it's all my fault my sister left the school, and she keeps on insissting about its all my fault. im pretty sure it's not though.Am i in the wrong to be upset and traumitised wanting to take all days off school possible?

maddyy354 how do i tell my family and loved ones? (tw: mentions of SA and rape)
  • replies: 2

Hi, when i was 17 years old i was sexually assaulted by a guy i barely knew (i am now 20). he was sober while i was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. over the past three years, i feel that i have dealt with it in an extremely unhealthy way. w... View more

Hi, when i was 17 years old i was sexually assaulted by a guy i barely knew (i am now 20). he was sober while i was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. over the past three years, i feel that i have dealt with it in an extremely unhealthy way. whenever the feelings or the thoughts of the incident arise, i try to push it under the rug and “forget about it”. which builds up all these emotions, and maybe once every two-three months i actually cry about it. i haven’t told anyone about my experience, because i feel ashamed that i put myself in a position to be violated like that because of taking the drugs and alcohol. i have pushed friends away because of this and have not been able to stay in relationships. ultimately, i just need advice on how to approach this topic to my family, specifically my parents. i am at the point where i need to get it off my chest but i am too afraid. i also want to try therapy, but i don’t want to feel pressured into reporting the incident to law enforcement. i don’t think i am ready to do that or really will ever be. any advice would help thank you so much 🩷 i also wanted to add that i am now sober! i am now a year sober from drugs, 4 months sober from alcohol and 3 months sober from nicotine.

Leo25 Workplace
  • replies: 2

Yes I have been targeted by the people I work for Queensland Health subjected to an illegal investigation by their ethical standards unit. It took them 2 months to inform me of what the allegations were and 7 months to find me guilty. They insisted m... View more

Yes I have been targeted by the people I work for Queensland Health subjected to an illegal investigation by their ethical standards unit. It took them 2 months to inform me of what the allegations were and 7 months to find me guilty. They insisted my GP fill in a very personal form requesting my full medical record which I refused prior to informing me of my guilt. When I returned to work I was isolated from my department I was sat at a kitchen table in an unfamiliar area outside a manager’s office I couldn’t get into the office due to my id not opening the door and had to stand outside like a dog waiting to be admitted when staff wanted to have a meeting I was told to move.The work I was given was meaningless and despite requests for passwords no help was forthcoming. No one cared whether it was done or not as it was unnecessary. I went on sick leave. The manager was emailing me on a Sunday asking for medical certificates. Finally they removed my access to my department emails sighting I was on leave. Other staff had been on leave 6 months but continued to receive emails this prevented me attending staff meetings and inservice training. Now I’m left with nothing still on long service leave living on 72 dollars a fortnight.

ILoveSharks28 I’m a bit confused about my feelings (TW: mentions of SA)
  • replies: 6

I didn’t know what topics to put this under due to being unsure about the entire thing myself. (Sorry if I get anything wrong or call it the wrong thing). As the title suggests I’m confused. When I was 9 I had this neighbour I was friends with her, I... View more

I didn’t know what topics to put this under due to being unsure about the entire thing myself. (Sorry if I get anything wrong or call it the wrong thing). As the title suggests I’m confused. When I was 9 I had this neighbour I was friends with her, I didn’t realise it at the time but during our whole friendship she would constantly body shame me. Then one day she came over and SA me (I think, idk if I can classify it as that she didn’t do much other then got me to take my shirt and pants of and then ground on me and I didn’t say no). That was 7 years ago to this day it still bothers me I am no longer friends with her but I feel really shitty because the few interactions I’ve had with her now she is extremely nice to me and now I feel guilty for still holding a grudge against her. Idk tbh I can’t do anything about it now anyway because I don’t have evidence and I don’t think people would believe me.

yeah i don't know if it counts
  • replies: 5

during my last relationship we moved so fast things were happening quicker than i thought. i thought i was ok doing them but now i feel so dirty and regret it deeply and wish i could go back and change what happened. halfway through doing stuff i reg... View more

during my last relationship we moved so fast things were happening quicker than i thought. i thought i was ok doing them but now i feel so dirty and regret it deeply and wish i could go back and change what happened. halfway through doing stuff i regretted it and just wanted to cry. why do i feel like this?