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: 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

Start a discussion

Shirogane Partners of DID systems.
  • replies: 4

Gosh where to start. Our life looks so quiet from the outside but truly it is chaos Just below the surface. I'd dearly love to hear some positive stories and strategies reguarding moving forward with a DID system for partners (12 alters) and regular ... View more

Gosh where to start. Our life looks so quiet from the outside but truly it is chaos Just below the surface. I'd dearly love to hear some positive stories and strategies reguarding moving forward with a DID system for partners (12 alters) and regular family life. The host I married is gone but there are a few whom I'm close with since then. (4 years ago next month) they don't therapy but instead work on their head themselves. They are also highly intelligent autistic folks. I run into problems often with my communication issues As I'm clinically depressed and highly anxious myself. I have a tendency not to share everything. I'm a quiet person naturally. This really bothers them. Is there anyone out there who gets it. Knows how complex this kind of relationship is?

lochness46 I live with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) & I have struggled most of my life with relationships
  • replies: 3

My names Vanessa & Im a single parent living in country Vic. Ive been diagnosed with BPD since 2009. I was previously diagnosed with Depression prior. Its been a very diffcult journey for me, especially prior to being diagnosed with BPD..BPD is one o... View more

My names Vanessa & Im a single parent living in country Vic. Ive been diagnosed with BPD since 2009. I was previously diagnosed with Depression prior. Its been a very diffcult journey for me, especially prior to being diagnosed with BPD..BPD is one of the most complicated & complex Mental Illness you can have. Most of the trauma that happened to me, to trigger my mental illnesses (my BPD) occured when I was a teen that sent me on a spiral of self medicating with self distructive behaviours, & ruining my first serious romantic relationship. I havent felt good enough in my own skin for most of my life, & still dont. So as the years went along, I saw therapist after therapist, with most of it not really helping me till 2009, when I was offically diagnosed with BPD. Then 16 yrs ago I met a man whom had narcasstic traits that I wasnt even aware off. He soon became my "favourite person" & wanted to be loved so desperately. Life seem good & this man whom I was besotted with...6 months after being together I found out that I was pregnant. What a huge & delightful suprise, but not known to me after this man found out I was pregnant, he changed....We started fighting alot & he started to become verbally abusive with me....I didnt know what was happening at the time. I started to resent the way his was & see that he was had very narcissistic traits.. So after my beautiful baby boy was born, the relationship with my sons father really turned bad & not only did more veral abuse start, the physically abuse started too. I was very confused & eventually reached out to the Domestic Violence Support Group. It certainly opened my eyes to the fact that I was dealing with domestic violence. So after that, after about 3 yrs I wanted out of this toxic relationship with my sons father. But he certainly didnt make it easy for me to leave. So many AVO"s & court appearances drove me insane. All these huge difficult issues made my BPD SO much worse, which I didnt even realise at the time...I have suffered quite alot of other traumas in my life also, with a parent who im sure has BPD as well, my mum & a dad who invalidated my feelings & emotion most of the time. Even though I have gone through alot that I wasnt prepared for & have survived quite alot, I still feel very lonely, to scared to get in a relationship again & misunderstood. Can you relate & understand my story??

Slipperyfish Advice on VoCat
  • replies: 1

Hi. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with VoCat (victims of crime)? It’s been 4 months since I started talking with the lawyer and we still don’t really know what’s going on. For me I suppose my biggest stress is that I need them to ap... View more

Hi. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with VoCat (victims of crime)? It’s been 4 months since I started talking with the lawyer and we still don’t really know what’s going on. For me I suppose my biggest stress is that I need them to approve funding for therapy, otherwise it’s $195 a week. Anyway. Any feedback if you have any idea please let me know! Also wondering if anyone on here has had to go in and face the tribunal! The lawyer seems to think that because of Covid they may just send out a letter of offer. Who knows. Again any info would be much appreciated!

Guest_9043 Mother with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Struggling.
  • replies: 9

Hi all, I could not sleep even though I'm utterly exhausted so thought to get my thoughts out here. I am 40 years old. Late in December last year I finally realised my mother had been abusing me for a long time. I decided to cut all contact virtually... View more

Hi all, I could not sleep even though I'm utterly exhausted so thought to get my thoughts out here. I am 40 years old. Late in December last year I finally realised my mother had been abusing me for a long time. I decided to cut all contact virtually immediately. I do not regret that. Last night I came to the full realisation my mother has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Reading about daughters of mothers with NPD finally put some pieces of the puzzle together. I have a name now behind the reasons for my mother's abuse of 34 years towards me. I have read that many don't discover this till later in life. I KNOW now it was definitely abuse and an explanation for mother's cruelty to me. No wonder my therapist said it is like you have been brainwashed in some terrible cult. She did not know my mother has NPD either. I'm truly struggling with this. Many pennies dropping at once and my head can't stop spinning. I am feeling beyond angry. NPD is a horrible disorder. The thing is they are never responsible for anything. Anyhow this is very new territory for me sadly. I feel like I can't breathe, just be

G12345 My disability and trauma
  • replies: 4

I'm embarrassed that I have a life long disability and now trauma won't leave alone suicide was traumatising self harm was traumatising my history of sexual abuse was even more traumatising what's next I want someone to talk to me who can realate I d... View more

I'm embarrassed that I have a life long disability and now trauma won't leave alone suicide was traumatising self harm was traumatising my history of sexual abuse was even more traumatising what's next I want someone to talk to me who can realate I don't feel like I have a right to be happy

Tomyy I don’t like my dad
  • replies: 2

Me and my dad have always have had our ups and downs. He is anger issues, is very loud and stubborn, and always thinks his right. I am also 20 years of age. So earlier this year, my dad got very angry and short tempered that I didn’t help my brothers... View more

Me and my dad have always have had our ups and downs. He is anger issues, is very loud and stubborn, and always thinks his right. I am also 20 years of age. So earlier this year, my dad got very angry and short tempered that I didn’t help my brothers homework properly, so he physically assaulted me. He didn’t apologise or anything to me but after a few weeks we moved on. Today we had a big argument, he doesn’t like one of my friends and gets annoyed when I hang with him. He’s heard rumours about him from family members which are lies, and I told my dad they are lies but he believes them. I told him that I am 20 years old , and that I am responsible for my own decisions , and you can’t pick and chose who I am friends with because I’m not a child. He then got very angry and was threatening in his words. I just really dislike him and want nothing to do with him.

Summer_Charm EMDR
  • replies: 2

I’ve started EMDR please tell me it gets easier? It’s just causing more anxiety at the moment but I physically cannot tell my psych how I feel about it. The traumatic memories are too hard to relive.

I’ve started EMDR please tell me it gets easier? It’s just causing more anxiety at the moment but I physically cannot tell my psych how I feel about it. The traumatic memories are too hard to relive.

sead05 Partners CPTSD + Past sexual abuse trauma support
  • replies: 7

Hi all, This is my first time posting after reading through a lot of your posts which have been helpful in understanding my partner. My partner was groomed and abused as a young teenager for many years, recently they have reported it to the police an... View more

Hi all, This is my first time posting after reading through a lot of your posts which have been helpful in understanding my partner. My partner was groomed and abused as a young teenager for many years, recently they have reported it to the police and they are going through the painful process of re-living the trauma by gathering evidence and giving statements. Our relationship was really healthy before but there has been such a change now I can't quite keep up with it. Although still a healthy relationship, my partners anxiety is almost engulfing her for the majority of the day. I am unsure how I can support her when she is clearly anxious, having flashbacks and panic attacks. Her mood was never as low as it has been, she is on the wait list for CASA but there is a delay. I am letting them vent all frustrations, giving them as much space as they need/want. Also our sex life has took a nosedive, I understand that sex is pretty far off for us but I miss the intimacy. My partner hasn't verbally recognised this and I don't want to bring it up incase I make her upset. Any information or guidance on how I can support my partner would be really helpful.

el-d Do I have PTSD?
  • replies: 3

So about two years ago we found out that my dad had been having an affair for almost 7 years. Since then my parents fight a lot and my mum has been diagnosed with PTSD from the night she found out (there was a big thing). A few weeks ago (maybe even ... View more

So about two years ago we found out that my dad had been having an affair for almost 7 years. Since then my parents fight a lot and my mum has been diagnosed with PTSD from the night she found out (there was a big thing). A few weeks ago (maybe even a month or two) my parents had this big fight (my house is small so every time they fight I can hear them). Usually, it ends with my mum walking out or her coming and sleeping in my bed with me. However, this time when my mum tried to leave my dad wouldn't let her (he usually tries to stop her). My mum was saying stuff like "why don't you kill me." The whole time this was happening it was like I couldn't even cry, I was just shaking uncontrollably. My dad was being manipulative and telling my mum that she couldn't tell anyone what he had done or he would call the police on her. Ever since the night we found out I have constantly been worried that my mum was going to kill herself, she has assured me that she won't but it's hard to not think about it. Anyway, ever since that night whenever one of my parents raise their voice, my dad uses the tone he reserves for arguments, a door is closed too loudly or someone is stomping on the floor (sometimes it's even people arguing on the tv that I can hear from my room) it's like my heart skips a beat until I realise that it's okay and my heart beats really fast. It also happened while writing this. I don't know if it is PTSD, sometimes I feel like maybe I am just looking for attention and reading into things too much. Anyway, let me know what you think.

Nay1309 Anxiety & guilt
  • replies: 1

Hey. Ive never done this before, but I’ve been suffering badly with my anxiety lately and it’s effecting my life way to much. My major problem is the guilt I feel for my fiancé who’s constantly feeling lost and alone because he can’t help me and can’... View more

Hey. Ive never done this before, but I’ve been suffering badly with my anxiety lately and it’s effecting my life way to much. My major problem is the guilt I feel for my fiancé who’s constantly feeling lost and alone because he can’t help me and can’t understand because quite frankly I don’t even understand. im seeing doctors and pyscologist but I feel like nothing is going to work, I hate my job 90% of the time and I don’t feel like it brings me joy but the thought of changing careers makes me feel embarrassed. the only way I can escape these feelings is if I’m high, which I don’t want to do all the time. I just want to be able to cope with this on my own and stop putting so much pressure on my fiancé to make it all better, I hate myself for that.