Trigger Warning *Physical assault*: First time dealing with a Trauma (physical assault) Need help

[OliLovesTacos]

Hey everybody,
hope your all hanging in there. So recently i was attacked by two people who i thought i knew well, a bloke jumped on top of me and started attacking me, and then a girl came out with a sharp object. While the bloke was ontop of me, she aggressively attacked me. My heart actually stopped and i was pronounced dead for a min. Obviously this has taken a huge toll on my mental health( i can't sleep without dreaming about getting attacked, i wake up covered in sweat) i'd zone off at random time during the day when i'm trying to work. I'm new to this whole trauma thing guys so any tips and pointer would be greatly appreciated(P.S i have started to see a therapist but am yet to bring it up so far)

[Sophie_M]

Hey OliLovesTacos,

Welcome to our forums and thank you for reaching out and sharing your story. We are very sorry to hear about the trauma you went through, at the hands of people you thought you knew well. If it's a recent incident, it would only make sense that it still has a very strong grip on your psyche. Even incidents that have happened a long time ago can still haunt and trigger us and something as traumatic as what you went through would be incredibly difficult to process on your own. Please know that you are in a safe, non-judgmental space where you can talk about what you are experiencing.

We are glad to hear you are seeing a therapist. This is a huge step towards healing. We would strongly encourage you to disclose what has happened to her so that you can start working together to heal the impact of this incident. Traumatic incidents such as this one can lead to PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and that might be a reason for nightmares.

We also encourage you to reach out to other means of support in between your sessions with your therapist. You can contact our Support Service any time at 1300 22 4636 or our friends at Lifeline at 13 11 14. There are also webchat options available with both these services.

You can also check out https://thiswayup.org.au/courses/the-post-traumatic-stress-course/ where there is a PTSD course for adults who've suffered a traumatic event.

We hope you will keep posting here and let us know how you're doing, whenever you feel up to it.

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear OliLovesTacos,

A very warm and caring to out forums...

I am deeply sorry that you went through that...my heart breaks for you...

I agree with our lovely Sophie...and am gently urging you to try as hard as you can to disclose the attack that happened to you....It will more then not be very hard to disclose this horrible attack on you...OliLovesTacos...if you don’t disclose what happened to you...your therapist won’t be able to able to give you the proper therapy needed to help you process these horrible things you went through...nor can they give you their professional help and guidance in the area that you need care and guidance for....

I have CPTSD from long term trauma....without proper counselling it started to control my life...since I’ve fully opened up to my now Counsellor....I am beginning to heal from my trauma....and now talking baby steps into my recovery...

Please talk here anytime you feel up to it...we are here for you and want to help support you as much as we can...

Sending you my kindness and most caring wishes for you

Grandy...

[OliLovesTacos]

Brother, i've only just started seeing a therapist, i was also in the army so its hard for me not to be the stoic man

[OliLovesTacos]

All my fam are v ery supportuve but they dont know what to do about my trauma and neither do i, im terrified

[OliLovesTacos]

thankyopu for your kind words, i'm mostly lost in what to do its affecting me from day to day and i'm really struggling just to have a normal life

[OliLovesTacos]

i think thats my problem as well mate, i'm too use to internalising everything

[OliLovesTacos]

mate me too, hang in there brother

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi OliLovesTacos,

I like tacos too 🙂

As someone who lives with PTSD I am so sorry to hear about what you went through. It's no wonder that you've been having nightmares because it sounds truly frightening.

I am glad though that your family are very supportive and that you've connected with a therapist. How is it with them so far?

I'm female so perceptions are a little different for me, but what I have found is that it takes a lot of courage to speak up and ask for help. People had to be stoic in the past because they didn't have any other option - there wasn't any other way. We had to push through a broken knee because there was no chiropractor or physiotherapist, in the same way that we had to push through mental illness. But now things are a little different - so even if you don't feel ready to talk about what happened just yet, maybe you can talk about the reason why you don't want to talk.

Sorry that was a long post! But hope it helps

rt

[romantic_thi3f]

P.S. I really want to share this link with you. Grounding is a great tool to try and 'come back' to the present moment, and reminding your body that you are here now. This could be something to try-

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/grounding-yourself-what-is-it-a...