Complex PTSD

[JessieB1107]

Hello, new here. Hoping to find support and give support. I have been struggling with complex PTSD from severe child abuse which has impacted me as a child and up to my adult life to this day. The person at the root of it is no longer in my life and I have no desire to have a relationship with her. It isn't good for me. After a huge episode involving and unintentionally hurting a person I loved, I decided to seek help. Being recently diagnosed this past year, I feel that I need to do more therapy, because it's helping. Not drastically but it's helping. Family and friends just don't understand. I think only those who have it, live with it, and are successfully overcoming it would be better for me to reach out to. Always welcoming a chat if anyone needs a friend and willing to listen to each other through such a struggle.

[Hidden]

Hi, welcome aboard and let's fight this together. Like you, my family doesn't quite understand my depression as well. Friends tend to run away rather than dealing a "sick" person. They don't experience it and they don't understand. Thank God we have online community and let's support each other to get through this.

[JessieB1107 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! It doesn't make me feel like I'm the only one dealing with it. People and loved ones who I have opened up to either judge or look at my situation as a "just fix it, shouldn't be that hard to change" which can be so frustrating.

[Hidden in reply to JessieB1107]

I totally understand. I was told--get it together, you are affecting every body's mood. It's not like a switch, I can easily turn it on or off. I don't not want to suffer, but it's real and it's debilitating. I miss that old happy ME.

[loren1212]

Hi and welcome,

I have PTSD from child abuse and continued trauma into my adult life. I also have OCD, anxiety, and depression. My family and friends don't understand it either. They want me to have a quick fix and just get over it, so I completely understand what you're saying about that.

[JessieB1107 in reply to loren1212]

I also have anxiety and when a trigger hits hard, I get panic attacks and my depression can get bad. It's hard when people think something's wrong with you. With therapy, and the techniques to keep in control, it takes my ENTIRE energy to redirect, pull back and keep grounded when I feel a trigger coming.

Sometimes when I try to explain this to people they can't grasp the idea. I had someone say "my mom beat me too as a kid but I turned alright. My mom's not like that anymore" and it's a triggering comment. As if I'm overrreacting, the same "get over it" message. Nowadays I don't talk about this to anyone, they can nod their head but really not understand.

I've heard of tokens, bracelets or objects to keep around so one can stay grounded in trigger situations, any ideas any of you use? I put post its of my own positive words in the house, mirrors, lamps. It actually helps lol.

[Carin28 in reply to JessieB1107]

I remember an instructor telling one of her students to wear a rubber band on her wrist whenever unwanted thoughts, emotions, tookover.

[JessieB1107 in reply to Carin28]

I've heard of the rubber band. Maybe that explains when someone asked me one day seeing a black hair tie on my wrist and asked what it meant. At that moment I had no idea what she was talking about and only replied "Ummm to remind me to tie my hair if it gets too hot and not fumble looking for one?".. Haha

[DianeA]

I'm diagnosed w ptsd , therepist thinks from childhood , divorce , loss of house / business , etc etc. sometimes I get partial seizures from the stress also. Hope u feel better. Diane

[DianeA]

Me too. I do positive quotes all over. In the car too. I also go around w a little notebook and journal positive thoughts. I try to encourage and cheer up myself lately , too. Ha ha. It helps.

[DianeA in reply to DianeA]

( I've been telling myself all the ptsd and trauma I've been through are going to turn around , and I'm going to end up on top. Hopefully. With The grace of God and a lot of support.

[Sadchild]

Are you still on this site? Cause i am dealing with the same issues right now