Hi New person with a different story

[Mick_P]

Hello

My name is Michael and I am 56 and came on to this forum to partly get my story out and also to get some pointers. I do not have a formal diagnosis yet but I want to get one. I lived and worked in the Middle East for many years and got laid off over there in 2016. I started a business over there so that my son could finish school where he was but the business did not work and one thing led to another and I ended up in Jail over there in a very small room with 12 other guys because i owed money. I ended up starting to get flashbacks because I blocked things out of my mind and I also ended up developing acute symptoms of claustrophobia and was crying a lot.. Ended up in hospital in the prison system being treated by a Psychiatrist while there. I was released from prison and had to settle legal matters before we could return to Australia which we did in January

I found a job and worked for a company for a while but unfortunately I was not at my best I felt exhausted and a combination of that and the company problems with Covid meant that I did not survive there. I have been on job seeker and earning as much income as I can dipped into my super etc to survive. I have a wife and son dependent on me and try as I might I cannot persuade them to go to centrelink to register. They are angry with me and at one level I cant blame them

I am a HR practitioner and trainer talking to people about work every day but not got anything permanent over the line yet. I still get flashbacks of both the prison experience and the lead up to it, It is a year on September 22 since the prison experience happened. The marriage is over and its best that we live apart. Just need to find the means to acheive that . I have been getting flashbacks, depression i feel like I am in a fog as well as some anxiety

I need to deal with this for my own sake and my families sake. For those who have been through it is this possibly PTSD and should I talk to a mental health professional about it

Thanks any views appreciated

[Sophie_M]

Hey Michael,

Welcome to our friendly online community. We are really grateful that you have reached out here today as we know it can be tough to do this for the first time. We're so sorry to hear what you've been through over the past year, it sounds like these flashbacks must be really overwhelming and tough to cope with. But please know that you do not have to do this alone, and support is always here for you. Many in our community may be able to relate to these feelings, and hopefully a few of them will pop by soon to offer you some words of advice and wisdom.

We hope that you always feel welcome to reach out to our Beyond Blue Support Service, which is available to you anytime, day or night, on 1300 22 4636 or you can also get in touch with us on Webchat 3pm-12am AEST at www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport One of the friendly counsellors will be able to talk through these feelings and experiences with you and can provide you with advice and referrals to help you through this difficult time.

Many in our community have also been through a lot in their lives and will be able to talk through these feelings with you. Please feel free to keep updating your thread here to let us know how you're going, and how you're feeling throughout your journey.

[Mick_P]

Thanks for that Sophie

[Mick_P]

Have resolved to seek professional guidance on this. I need to move forward . It is the one year anniversary of this event today so the feelings are particularly strong today

[Tom R]

Hello Mick,

I'm new to the forums here. I'm conscious that you disclosed this anniversary of your prison experience almost three weeks ago. I'm glad that you've decided to seek help. Did you get through the anniversary okay, and how are things going for you these days?

T.