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Over four years ago, my friend committed suicide. We had struggled with many of the same things, and over the course of several months I watched her deteriorate to the point where she ultimately took her life. Her suicide affected me in ways that I think are different from other deaths I have...

Really anything. My question is really open-ended. Ways to get money, ways to get medical care, and generally what people do when they come across a situation like this where working is difficult due to PTSD but they can't just have no income either.

One thing to remember is that "quitting" doesn't have to be forever. I don't know a lot about what you are in school for -- is Chinese "just" an elective for you? If so, you can always come back to it later in the program or even take it for fun once you've graduated. Either way, it may be a...

Right now I'm in grad school (online distance program) full-time and also work full-time. I like being busy, so while doing it this way has been difficult I have kind of liked it, and more importantly I have needed the money for tuition and living expenses. Now that it's summer my workload is...

It doesn't feel like it, but I see what you are saying in that there is time to work out coping skills, arrival/departure times, etc. that could feel safe.

I agree with everything everyone has suggested. I would also emphasize finding some way to find meaning in your life. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, like through community service, family, friends, or a hobby. Some people get this through their jobs and when they are no longer...

Because it would be ignoring/"betraying" my experience to go an pretend things are okay when they are not. I admit that this is often my default, to just push my way through things and pretend there is not a problem, but I always feel awful after I do it.

This is my situation: I have not seen my abuser for approximately six years. My sister is graduating this June and he is invited to her ceremony and party. I have only remembered that it was him for the past six months, so this would be the first time that I am seeing him with the knowledge...

Just wanted to say that I can empathize with you, as I was in a very similar situation in my last apartment. I'm very happy for you that you are able to move out so soon; the situation where you are now sounds awful. I admire you for being able to talk to them about it, although I'm sorry for...

I did not always remember my trauma, but as bad as I feel now I would not choose to go back to not knowing. However, knowing what happened, especially some of the more horrific details, has made it hard for me to do "normal life". I have a hard time reconciling that there are horrible things...

Ashamed. But it'll be okay. It seems like whenever I feel like something didn't go well I feel ashamed.

I had an incident recently that really triggered me. It felt retraumatizing and I'm still really upset about it. I know that the incident itself was stressful but relatively minor, so I think that I'm more upset about what this set off internally for me than the incident itself. I'm trying...

Thank you, everyone, for your responses. Everyone's posts seemed to resonate with me in one way or another, so I thank you all for your time in responding and for your wonderful feedback and ideas. @Chava and @sun seeker I have recently started doing something similar to what you talked about...

How do you get past the sense of shame that so many of us feel? I know logically that I didn't do anything that should make me ashamed, and that if anyone should feel ashamed it's my abuser, but I can't help but feel ashamed and alone. Anyone have any insight on this? Why do I feel so ashamed...

I'm in Western MA so I'm too far away, but I'm surprised that the Boston area does not already have something like that. Or maybe they do and you want to start something a little different? Anyway, I do sincerely hope that you find what you need and are looking for. :)

I do not watch the news at all, partly because you can't control what you see. You are just presented with stories and information and don't really have a choice in what you see and don't see. When I want to look at news, I go on google news and search for things that I am interested in but...

Thank you all for your replies. Most days I feel like I should stay in the field, since my struggles are not harming my clients. But sometimes I feel as I described above, where I don't feel like I should be here. I am aware, as some of you have suggested, that many people choose to go into...

Hi @Bookoffee , thanks for your response. I was hoping that a few of the people who replied might also be in the mental health field, like you are. I find that I am sometimes triggered by people's stories, but mostly by treating actual abusers and not the survivors themselves. I think what I...

Hi @I am ..... , Thank you for the reply. I am both glad and sad to hear that you are also struggling with similar feelings. At least we are not alone!

Hi @JEKBreatheandBelieve, thanks for the welcome and for empathizing. It is really hard! I often feel like I am subconsciously making up the memories, like that is serving me in some way. I don't think that makes any sense in reality, but the memories can be very hard to believe. Also, I...

I have PTSD along with other issues, and I also work in the mental health field. I feel like I am leading a double life. I'm going to start a master's program in social work this fall and while there is nothing else I want to do more with my life, sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be in the...

I struggle with something similar. I am terrified of doctors/hospitals so I don't tell anyone except my therapist about the pain/body memories. There was a period of time where I thought that there really was something physically wrong with me and I considered seeing a doctor but I did not...

Hi everyone, I'm a survivor of child sexual abuse which took place when I was three or four years old. I am now 23 and a college graduate pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work and working in the mental health field doing outreach. I just began recovering memories a year ago, and it has...