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Childhood Can I check something out before I ask if I can give it to someone else

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oakleaves

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I feel really flooded with memories at the moment after my mind has begun to make different kinds of links with things so I wanted to try to write it all down to box it off and try to contain it a bit outside of therapy sessions.

I wanted to ask whether the things I have written make any kind of sense because I think ideally I'd send it to my T so that I can try to forget about it for now knowing I have said it (even in writing) and sent it.

It is horrible because the things I remember some of them are objectively awful and other things are more my mind realising how it got to a point that that was able to happen if that makes sense?

Anyway so does any of this make sense and also is it too much to send and just ruminating?
So things like the memory of my mum telling me she was seeing 'him' and how it honestly felt like everything shattered because I already was scared and then she had decided he was ok and the implications of that for me. And then he moved in and I had told her to leave my dad but then she left him because she'd been found out and actually he was devastated and never recovered from it at all. Also things with my dad like when I thought he might kill me and his eyes were so glazed and he was so out of control and the things he said. The time I stayed over at 'his' house and the colour of the room and the things that happened. But still going for walks and learning about things I was interested in and that making me think sometimes that it was ok and then other things happening that didn't feel ok and the skin crawling feeling and the confusion of that. And still going to their house and then not wanting to but going anyway and I don't know why I did that. I was ten, eleven. And my sister was strong she has always known her own mind but I was so preoccupied with my mum's wellbeing I tolerated a LOT of stuff) and then the weird period of time when dad was chasing us and phoning and mum was out a lot and I was scared but felt like I should be able to cope. And desperately trying to keep everything right so she didn't explode or crumble. And then 'him' moving in and seeing his work bag and suddenly he was in that space and my mum worked evenings or nights and I worry a lot about what I might not properly remember as much as what I do. [And this is the time there were things that happened that I still can't properly talk about or put into words and the shame and feelings which I have posted before]. I have a really vivid memory of something happening and at that time promising myself if it got to a certain point I would say something but I knew I couldn't. And the worst thing. And then I am terrified I am so terrified. I'm terrified and I feel like I can't cope and the world isn't real. And he leave and mum does crumble for a while and the only thing that gets us through is my aunt. And I know I skate over the details and the things that actually happened but this is the closest I have ever got and I am crying and that is probably an appropriate response. Terrified of my body and what if I say this in the wrong place. If it isn't your fault then what does that mean. That I was really vulnerable and no one is actually able to keep anyone else safe. The contaminated feeling.

And then later my dad's cold house and how broken he was and still going to see him and trying but I feel like I didn't do enough and then when he died the smell and still visualising how that might have happened and no one should be alone like that. I can't bear how lonely I imagine he was
 
This is called unpacking. You have quite a lot here. When we unpack something we take it out piece by piece, lay in on the bed, think of unpacking a suitcase. So here is all this stuff. You put some away because it’s still clean, or you have a souvenir tucked in there that you pause at and figure out where you want to keep it, the dirty stuff you set aside to launder. if you think about the launder part of unpacking it’s a process, it too gets set in a pile and then maybe sorted, washed, dried, folded, put away. This is the same picture you have in what you want to say to your t. It can’t all be processed at once. Sometimes people unpack from their travels in stages because they are all wore out from travelling. Therapy is like that too. It’s all steps. So do your writing elsewhere in steps and send her the pieces that hit the hardest that you want to work on.realize too that every time you write, you are processing.
 
I think that's what I was worried about that it would be too much for my therapist and feel like I am just flooding them in the way I feel flooded I just don't know what to do with it because I want to share it but it feels like it might be too much. I will have a think and maybe I won't send them anything. Thanks. I wanted to know how it sounded so that is helpful.
 
@Teamwork, thank you for sharing that explanation. That made so much sense to me. I get so overwhelmed sometimes trying to communicate what is going on with me. Now I have a new tool!!! We are never too old to learn new ways to manage. Thank you again.
 
For a friend? That would probably be too much.
For a therapist? That’s just getting started, barely a toe in the pool, and is in no way too much.

Sorry so just to check do you think if I were to send that and say I don't want to talk about it now I just want to tell you so that I know I have put it somewhere and that's fine - and I will raise different parts as I feel I can.

Do you think that is too much?

I think the point is that I feel really flooded and back in touch with things I don't want to be in touch with but also I am terrified of never getting to tell anyone like a part of me is terrified it will never be heard. I want to try to explain that I feel as though there is a bit of me that is still a child that just desperately needs to be able to say this stuff. Not that that is totally separate but that is how I make sense of it. And I am having really bad dreams and intrusive memories at the moment and I suppose I hope if I write it down properly (even though there are bits I can't say definitely can't say) it will help me to box it off. I am just tired of it and tired of being alone or feeling alone because I am very fortunate that I do have people around me but I don't want to put it on them obviously.
 
Nope.

Not only is it not too much, but the outline of what/why you want to send it -not tot talk about now, etc.- is super clear and direct / so both you & your T are on the same page about why you’re sending it. Great thing to send or bring to therapy, to start working on, as you can.

Thank you so much. I feel really paralysed and overwhelmed at the same time and I haven't got an appt for a month and I just don't want to have to hold it all that long I don't even know if I can. It's like things settle then get overwhelming again. Thank you.
 
I feel really tortured by thoughts that it didn't matter and it wasn't bad enough to justify my reaction then and now at the moment. Like my mind really telling me that it wasn't a big deal and to get the f*ck over it. Like who do I think I am to be thinking I even need to share more when actually other people go through so much worse. I keep coming back to this thought that because it wasn't violent I don't deserve to think it was bad I just have to sit with the shame of it. I really want to talk more but the fear that someone will hear it and go 'oh, ok then' is so overwhelming. Like if I had been pinned down or locked in a cupboard or something it would feel more concrete like yes this was bad this was trauma.

I feel so paralysed I can't do anything at the moment at all.

There was the first stuff (like that was minor like just touching over my clothes and pressing against me so his penis was felt etc)
Then there was the underneath stuff like inside my underwear, groping inside for ages and his penis at maybe 11 or 12.
Then there was the other stuff of having to do things and putting his finger in and the feeling of it my mouth
And the things I think but can't remember enough to trust my mind just flashes of images.

Writing just that down is so hard and deliberately factual descriptions because I can't but I am just terrified. Is it not bad am I making a big deal out of nothing? Can I even call it abuse. Why do I feel so ashamed and contaminated if it wasn't. It's like my mind is torturing me.
 
If someone can help me and tell me whether this was abuse or grooming and what they think a therapist's reaction would be or what anyone's reaction would be if they had never had these experiences I would be grateful.

I don't know whether it was bad enough to talk about or how to say it. Or if it is justified to say I think I need trauma treatment for it.

There was the first stuff (like that was minor like just touching over my clothes and pressing against me so his penis was felt etc)
Then there was the underneath stuff like inside my underwear, groping inside for ages and his penis at maybe 11 or 12.
Then there was the other stuff of having to do things and putting his finger in and the feeling of it my mouth
 
Hi I just read this and I know exactly how you feel and I'm so sorry.

I was sexually activated at a very young age and it never seemed like abuse but mostly the memories were repressed and I'd never told anyone or the people I tried to tell overlooked it. All that stuff is abuse. Any sexual attentions from an adult or even other kids is abuse. Kids aren't supposed to be exposed to that.

A therapist will help you one who understands CSA which I guess you know means childhood sexual abuse.

When it's coming out and you are trying to talk is the most difficult time and it's terrible what you are going through and trying to deal with and don't minimize it. It's life and death trying to get it out and the most difficult thing you'll ever do and definitely the hardest part.

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this there is a lot of help here I'll pray you'll feel better and I hope you can meet with a good therapist.
 
If someone can help me and tell me whether this was abuse or grooming and what they think a therapist's reaction would be or what anyone's reaction would be if they had never had these experiences I would be grateful
Hint: If you walked over to the nearest elementary school, and did ANY of that to one of the students, what would it be?

Totally kosher/normal/not even worth stopping the class for, much less talking about? Or would the police be called and your ass thrown in jail for sexually assaulting a child?
 
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