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I'm like you. I want abusive and mean people to feel pain. When my father was alive, I had the same fantasy many times of showing up at his house with a gun, ringing the doorbell, and blowing his head off. It's very difficult for me to accept that they can't acknowledge what they did and the...

You seem very stressed. It sounds like a stressful situation. I found being on disability to be very stressful. I was not treated very well, as if I was trying to cheat the system. The bureaucratic nonsense they put people through is crazy, and not dealing with it adequately has serious...

I would love a dog too, but it's not feasible right now. Big cats are pretty great too, in the meanwhile!

After all you've been through in your life, I'm guessing maybe self-protective? But not abnormal.

Also, sounds like you need a big 'ole dog, once you're settled. And in the meantime, maybe a stuffed one to stay on your bed and keep bad guys away. I have a stuffed lion myself who makes a wonderful companion in this vein.

My mother never did this. My husband's mother never did this. Both women lived their entire lives with their abusers. They weren't strong enough (for many reasons) to leave. Whenever I hear about women who are leaving their abusers, however difficult that process, I am so grateful to the...

As everyone else has said, I wouldn't worry about this. I don't like hearing that you're feeling pressured from your professional helpers to cry. I don't cry that much about my personal story, though very bad things happened. But I bawl through movies. Especially when I actually watch the movie...

It took me awhile to understand dissociation in myself. I had what is now known as C-PTSD too, though that diagnosis wasn't available when I first sought help. I quite literally didn't experience my feelings in my body. I didn't know how anger or sadness "felt". As I got in touch with my body...

A spiritual or religious group, such as church. Of course you have to find the right group for you, but people there will be likely to share your values and be looking for community too.

Nebulustrix, also as others have said, sometimes you just have to deal with the trauma again. I hate it too. I had an extreme situation as my childhood was really bad, and I went to therapy for 12 years continuously to deal with it. I was so happy and proud of myself when I left therapy with...

Nebulustrix, I just wanted to follow-up and say that this is a very common problem in corporate America. Yes, you have issues related to PTSD, but your situation seems pretty normal to me. You're an excellent worker, thus you are promoted, but the skills that made you excellent at your previous...

Yes. I suffered fibromyalgia in my 20s bad enough that I was on disability, though now in my 40s it's in remission. Research shows a high correlation between trauma and fibro. There's also a correlation between childhood sexual abuse and fibro. I'm not sure "somatization" is the correct...

I think you're being really hard on yourself. It sounds like you've been doing a great job, which is why you were promoted; as you recognize, supervision takes a whole different skill set than what you've been using. You need to work on acquiring these skills - if you decide you want to (not a...

Well said, TimeToHeal. I so often have wished there was a quick fix. I think one of our greatest challenges is accepting that there's not.

Hi itchy, Do you have a copy of "Courage to Heal" by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis? I used to say that it was my bible for healing from PTSD. There's a lot more information available now about recovery than when the book was published, but I still think that "Courage to Heal" is foundational. It's...

Get "Allies in Healing" by Laura Davis. I think it will be very helpful to you.

Notsowild, One thing at a time. You don't have to figure it all out this week. You just need to keep your appointment! Plan something nice for yourself as a treat after your appointment (a special cup of tea, a chocolate muffin, a walk through the woods, an hour reading a novel, whatever feels...

Nick, I strongly agree with Solara. An untreated survivor who is unwilling to get help shouldn't be in a relationship. I know it sounds harsh, but the survivor won't have the self-awareness and personal stability to offer her partner the caring and support that we all deserve. When I read your...

Also, I wanted to say that I feel for you. There is nothing about this situation that is fair to you. I'm sorry you have to confront it. Yet, you also seem to me to be quite brave. You have gotten to a point in your healing where you can see how abusive your parents are, to yourself and now to...

ladybug, I think your sister needs an adult to intervene. Given how you describe your parents, your sister has likely lived with abuse her whole life. She sounds as if she has a lot of denial about what's going on. That's understandable, since it's allowing her to survive a horrible situation...

ladybug, This is shockingly disturbing behavior by your parents. You may not realize just how disturbing since you grew up with these people. Our families feel normal at some level, even if we can know intellectually that they are dysfunctional. But when I read this, I was shocked (and I've...

izmo, I enjoyed your post about self-care. I adopted one of your suggestions: I have started listening to sounds of nature online. I listen to the Amazon rainforest while making my supper ; ) It's very comforting.

Wow ... everyone sounds so healthy. On a bad day with PTSD, I have trouble leaving the house because of the struggle with dissociation. I self-isolate, and don't want to see anyone. Even if I call a friend, it's hard to talk because of the dissociation, which scares me. It comforts me to be on...

Britt, I feel that way about leaving the house sometimes too. : )

This is an interesting question. I too go to church, and struggle with how much to reveal there to people. Members of my congregation cherish the idea of vulnerability and openness with each other. However, people can be ignorant and judgmental about things they don't understand. When I was in...