Stressful times with PTSD, Isolation, Chronic Illness, Domestic Violence, Harassment

[star89]

Hello there,
I have found myself in an challenging and uncomfortable position.
I was diagnosed years ago with chronic fatigue, social anxiety, panic disorder and reoccurring PTSD (from childhood).
I have always been able to fight on through the downtimes with a smile on my face.
After various tremulousness years, dealing with domestic violence from my former long term partner and him being a lead social activist for political causes has caused me to further isolate and feel ostracized from the community.
I was getting on my feet again, and it all tumbled down before me when I lost my job, became harassed and stalked online and in person by a love obsessed acquaintance (I had previously helped through hardships), and the new man I was dating becoming involved in an hit and run suffering months in a coma resulting in traumatic brain injuries and a vegetative state.
During this time I had no support or any means to speak too anyone about this as the stalking I was dealing with limited my access for help, and thus overtime enhancing the feelings of separation.
I applied for centrelink disability services and was rejected on the grounds my conditions are not stablized though have been told I have a reduced capacity to work.
Now my situation is that place in which I am living is being sold, I have been renting in for a time.
The stress with finding a new place to move, on top of working out how to seek help for my other issues is causing problems.
For today they are holding an open house and I cannot move due too chronic fatigue flair up, last time they held one I pushed my body in making sure I had everything organized and leaving the house (which was huge for me) and spent days after recovering.
I have been trying to reach out to see a therapist who can initially do skype sessions and work my way into face to face, improving my diet and finding new group of friends whom share common interests and have no connection to my ex.
I thought to write here as a means to voice what has been happening and seek validation and support also, as I have been scrolled through people's stories and felt that compassion.
My goal is to be able too recover as best to my ability and to be able to do the things I have missed for so long.
Thank you for listening.
xx

[Boo1986]

Hi Star89,

My gosh, you have been through so much, I hope you are proud of yourself for making it this far because I am proud of you! I can't even begin to imagine how you are feeling.

Support is the only way I get through, and you have pretty much been doing it all on your own. I know it is not much, but I am here if you need to talk.

It is so upsetting that Centrelink won't give you disability support as this could really help you to have some time to work on yourself and not have 500 other issues to deal with at the same time. I get very upset seeing people receiving benefits who are far less deserving and waste it all anyway.

Are you able to see your doctor and go over everything and maybe get his/her help to refer you to the right place, maybe a psychologist who can support your application and your GP too as surely they can't deny a genuine case like yours when presented with all the evidence? This is what we pay taxes for after all!

I am assuming that your family is not in the picture and can't help you? It would be really nice if they could 'step up' so to speak. Don't be afraid to ask for help. The worst thing they can say is "no", and if they do say no, that is a reflection of the quality of their character, not yours.

A lovely friend of mine was suffering from PTSD among other things and started an intensive course of 'therapy' with her psych, 2 sessions per week and a group therapy. She was able to apply for centrelink with her psych helping her as she could not handle the stress of even applying. After about 3 months you could already see the improvement and it just got better and better. She recently took a trip to the USA to see a friend who used to live here and was so happy to be able to do so without it causing a relapse.

There are definitely places out there that offer free services which would be perfect for you. Start with your doctor but also look up your local council and their mental health services.

Please keep in touch if I can help or just listen, I'm worried for you.

xo

[Croix]

Dear Star89~
I’m sorry for the delay. Welcome, thanks for posting, and we are indeed listening, please be generous and allow us to be tardy at times

I understand PTSD, anxiety & panic attacks having had the pleasure of experiencing them when invalided out of the police. The good news is despite me mucking things up I’m now, while not cured, in a pretty good place with a productive mainly happy life

I’ve never experienced domestic violence, only seen on it duty, and you have my heart-felt sympathy. Similarly my admiration for still coping despite these and the other matters you mention

You set out a clear account, level headed and factual – can’t have been that easy to do so

Harassment: is complicated to deal with at a stroke, perhaps we can talk about that more

Housing: I’ve not had to face that problem, our own 24/7 helpline on 1300 22 4636 may have some thoughts. Other than that my first move would be Anglicare (different number in each location)

Centerlink: you need the strong support of a GP or other health professional in order to navigate your way though, so I’ll leave that to one side at the moment too

Of course the really important thing is treatment for PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks - together with chronic fatigue

You don’t mention what sort of treatment, if any, you are undergoing at the moment. I’ll run though things in case there is anything you are unaware of – my apologies is this is all old stuff

As you probably know these illnesses are counteracted on a number of fronts starting with a sensible GP. If you have not already done so I’d suggest making a long appointment and set out your complete history in detail at your leisure, including the things that are happening to you now. The GP may decide on meds and a Health Plan to a psychologist.

I guess this may be where you are at now talking of Skype and a therapist?

You will find a structured set of consultations where various different sorts of therapies may be available. Whichever you have, there will be a strong self-help component

This leads me on to support. Do you have family or friends with whom you can talk and who can support you, both moral and practical help?

Information on these illnesses is available via The Facts menu above. The Blue Knot foundation deals in PTSD & Childhood trauma http://www.blueknot.org.au/Helpline. Don’t forget our own helpline

While there’s more I’m running out of space so will leave it for the moment

Please come back and talk more

Croix

[geoff]

hello Star, I am so sorry about the domestic violence which you had to endue, especially when he involved in a social activist, a figure who is meant to show responsibility, so much for that.
I have known somebody who had chronic fatigue syndrome which is another illness which people find difficult to accept, let alone try to understand, and the flow on from this is social anxiety and panic disorder, so it's a hell of a lot to cope with.
What you have been through is awful, but it didn't end there, because your b/friend suffered a terrible injury with catastrophic results, but then to cope with this stalking fellow and I don't have to go on because none of it is good news, which I am dearly sorry for all of this to happen.
I don't think you could discount talking to a therapist using skype as I'm sure that this type of counseling would become very popular over time, it's a good idea, especially if you live in a busy city and hate the thought of travelling in and out and then finding a car park.
You have to be congratulated for posting your comment, it's very brave of you, so I'd like to welcome you to the site.
I'd like to know what you want to concentrate on first of all, because it's an enormous list, and hope to hear back from you. Geoff. x