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: 273

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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Rhianna_n Scared, anxious and angry
  • replies: 1

Hi there, Two months ago my ex fiancé held me against my will in our bathroom and threatened to take his life. I’d never felt so scared and trapped in my whole life, and I feel like I’m only now starting to process it. I had no idea how to counteract... View more

Hi there, Two months ago my ex fiancé held me against my will in our bathroom and threatened to take his life. I’d never felt so scared and trapped in my whole life, and I feel like I’m only now starting to process it. I had no idea how to counteract the situation, so I stayed with him and tried calming him down for over an hour. I managed to escape with what he was threatening his life with and I was able to return him to the care of his parents. What kills me is that, without knowing this particular situation, his family and friends blamed me. All I did was help him, and it frustrates me to no end that I was blamed, and I still get frowned upon, for assisting him in a situation where we were both vulnerable. My ex has always been troubled and has a tendency to threaten suicide when he feels overwhelmed, which others are well aware of because they warned me about it. I care for him and I want him to get better, but I’m dealing with my own emotional fragility and I’m starting to spiral downwards again. Last year I was diagnosed with PTSD. I’d been feeling better up until that night and now I’m worried I’m slowly retreating back into that angry, scared and anxious person. I’m thinking about that night more often and I suffer from really bad panic attacks. I’d really like to connect with others who may understand this particular situation. I just really need to reach out as I can’t see a counsellor at the moment, but would like to as soon as I can.

Seeta No more hope
  • replies: 44

I feel disgusting talking about it but I’m really suffering at the moment. I have been through a lot in my life including the loss of my parents, the loss of a loved one, sexual abuse, family violence and right now an abusive relationship. Also, once... View more

I feel disgusting talking about it but I’m really suffering at the moment. I have been through a lot in my life including the loss of my parents, the loss of a loved one, sexual abuse, family violence and right now an abusive relationship. Also, once the pandemic started, I felt sick and had all the symptoms of the Covid but there was no place that would test me for it. After doing an X-ray, they found viral infection in my lung but I couldn’t get the thought of having the virus out of my mind. Ever since my mental health has been awful. At 24 I feel like this is the end of the world for me, I have a beautiful little daughter who is very cheerful and loving but being a mum with mental disorder makes me feel sick about myself. I can’t think, I can’t sleep, I can’t find anything that makes me happy and I can’t get out of the house or my anxiety will kill me. I am currently also doing a degree at uni which is another burden for now . I feel like I can’t recognise many people anymore and everything seems unfamiliar for me. The doctor has put me on antidepressants which hasn’t worked as of now but I’m hoping that it will. I’m also seeing a psychologist who is the sweetest person I have even known. I feel very hopeless and worthless at the moment. My partner is no help at all as he believes mental illness doesn’t exist and that we make our mind to always think negative. I’m constantly told many negative things including that I am worthless, lazy, mental and that I have grown in hell. The only reason I’m here today is because of my daughter.

Limpy Suffering so many problems...
  • replies: 8

Hi,I suffer from anxiety, stress,and depression, pstd,just to name a few. Most of these come from being in an physical and emotional abusive relationship.This I still carry with me even though I lefted this person who did horrible, horrible things,I ... View more

Hi,I suffer from anxiety, stress,and depression, pstd,just to name a few. Most of these come from being in an physical and emotional abusive relationship.This I still carry with me even though I lefted this person who did horrible, horrible things,I have tried to put all this behind me,him being a addict was the reason that I was subjected to a living night mare.I had got help from women's support and even had an avo done,just to feel safe,truly believe that there are people who care.But,growing up with an a abusive parent just made me feel like I didn't mean much,so having to try and cope with being abuse almost most of my life,has taking it toll on me, I have seeked both medical help and counselling to no avail.I feel so alone with this. I have family but not near to spend time.this is where I will leave my story for now.It has been hard for me to write as I have trust issues with people,however, I wish to say thank you for allowing me to express myself here.Limpy.

Guest_1211 Dealing with triggers at work etc... past abuse
  • replies: 4

I’m really struggling as a teacher who has to constantly (well periodically, but feels like all the time) update and complete compliance regarding child safety. I know how important it is. I know why we do it etc. I just find it so triggering and so ... View more

I’m really struggling as a teacher who has to constantly (well periodically, but feels like all the time) update and complete compliance regarding child safety. I know how important it is. I know why we do it etc. I just find it so triggering and so difficult to complete. I just don’t know how to deal with all the pain, feelings and flashbacks it brings. how do others here deal with this kind of thing?

NateMcNate No one is willing to help
  • replies: 16

Hi, I am posting here as I have no idea what to do. Heres a brief account of what happened to me. Late 2017 I was involved in an incident while at work where I mistakenly put myself in between a violent male and a woman and her child. In doing so I e... View more

Hi, I am posting here as I have no idea what to do. Heres a brief account of what happened to me. Late 2017 I was involved in an incident while at work where I mistakenly put myself in between a violent male and a woman and her child. In doing so I ended up being physically attacked. Everything seemed fine in the following weeks. Approximately 4 or 5 weeks after something switched in my head. Severe anxiety, depression, stress manifested out of nowhere. This affected me severely. I have approached GP's, attended psychologist and they all have diagnosed me with PTSD but have done nothing to help me address the problem. I feel that these people only prolong the agony to make as much profit from it. Since then everything has gone from bad to worse, I have gone from working where I did make quite a good living to being homeless, living out of a tent, constant anxiety, heart feels like its ready to jump out of my chest most of the time. I don't eat, I haven't had a full nights sleep in 2 years. This is not living, what is the point.

Alone1973 Lost
  • replies: 3

I lost my mother, father and brother all within the last 5 years and I just feel all alone and really lost as if I don’t fit in anywhere. I feel depressed and I just miss them all so much, I just want to be happy again and enjoy life the way I used t... View more

I lost my mother, father and brother all within the last 5 years and I just feel all alone and really lost as if I don’t fit in anywhere. I feel depressed and I just miss them all so much, I just want to be happy again and enjoy life the way I used to. I didn’t deal with it very well and I shut it all out and now I need to deal with it to move on. not sure what to do or where to go and I find it hard to talk about it, I can’t talk about it and I feel no one understands how I am feeling and what goes through my head every day.

Slim_Man Old fella, same old feelings
  • replies: 12

At aged 5 I came out of hospital with a body drastically changed by polio. I was weaker, my legs wore callipers, kids much younger than me could do lots more than I could, including ride a bike faster and for longer, climb trees much more ably, beat ... View more

At aged 5 I came out of hospital with a body drastically changed by polio. I was weaker, my legs wore callipers, kids much younger than me could do lots more than I could, including ride a bike faster and for longer, climb trees much more ably, beat me in running. playing footy and in fights. John, my little brother's best mate, 6 years my junior challenged me in a swimming race. He won easily. I've always felt inferior to other people, especially blokes. And feeling 'less than' turned into feeling disliked, not good enough and not fully part of the group. My physical best always fell short. My footy coach, dickhead man that he was, after an opponent strolled past me at fullback to score a try, castigated me saying, "he was your man to tackle." I failed on every physical level as I grew up, despite doing my best. And today, at 72 years old, I still consider I'm failing, not good enough, 'less than and inferior to' and thereby destined to remain on the fringes of life and social groups. I even feel I'm not good enough for my kids.

Supermum New feelings .
  • replies: 1

Hello. The past 2 years have been difficult and have dragged up old memories that explain why I do the things I do, react the way I do and feel the way I do. I was abused by my brother when I was younger very early teens something that I have not dis... View more

Hello. The past 2 years have been difficult and have dragged up old memories that explain why I do the things I do, react the way I do and feel the way I do. I was abused by my brother when I was younger very early teens something that I have not disclosed to anyone until I told my psychologist this year. It’s something that has altered the way I feel about myself and being intimate. He didn’t physically touch me but he asked me to do inappropriate things and put pornography on when we were alone. He still tells me things that are quite intimate and that clearly make me uncomfortable. We moved counties so my children have never had to be protected as it were until I had to go home as my mum was sick and I took my eldest daughter with me . My brother gave her a hug as it had been 10 years since he saw her and I felt sick to my stomach. Thank fully he will probably never meet them as we live so far away but since these memories have surfaced I am struggling . Today especially .

ananotherone men who hates women, or maybe just want to control them..
  • replies: 6

I have been so naive for such a long time; I believe people are generally good. I think we want to do the right thing; we want to treat the ones we love right. I still do and that’s probably my biggest mistake. I have been in an emotionally abusive r... View more

I have been so naive for such a long time; I believe people are generally good. I think we want to do the right thing; we want to treat the ones we love right. I still do and that’s probably my biggest mistake. I have been in an emotionally abusive relationship for a long time, it’s been so long so that I have suppressed half of the things that have happened, the calls to the police, and the locking myself in the bathroom. I have justified the drinking and anger. Because he loves me, and I know he does. He actually loves me like no other. I don’t think I will ever be loved like that again. That’s fine. obviously, my rational side can say that it’s not but the hard shell I have made to protect myself can deal with it. I have this whole right brain, left brain argument going. I did however find out that he saw a prostitute. It broke my heart. It broke what was left of my confidence. How could he? Also is that something people do? Why do some people do this to others, break them down. I get traumatic childhoods, abuse, but when there in nothing like that to factor in. How can I trust again?