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Yes, "normal" is something I've been struggling with, lately. What is "normal" by society's standards and requirements, vs. nature's, are two very different things. :) Please take care of yourself, which is the most important thing. I will be here. :)

After reading through this thread, just have to say how moved I am by what everyone here is going through, and how y'all are fighting so hard to deal with it. I am ever grateful for, and humbled by, the incredible people I encounter on this forum. There is a theory -- and I stress theory --...

This study created memories by non-traumatic means. I believe there is evidence that memories created during, and suppressed due to, trauma are formed and/or stored differently than other memories. Trauma memories are often not fully processed. For non-traumatic memories, or memories that...

Yes, "shadow" is a good word. I'm far enough along now, though, to know that this is not some fantasy or made-up pipe-dream. I don't know what happened, but something happened. That's terribly sad. One of the worst things a parent can do. I don't know if my parents did that; haven't thought...

OK, so I'm not the only one. ;) I've had experiences like that as well.

I keep wondering the same thing. I think even just a month off would do me wonders. But that's hard to do -- not just because of the need for income, but, even harder, trying to convince an employer to allow this. And possibly finding your job gone when you get back. ;)

This is also my go-to, last resort coping mechanism. Don't tell anyone :sneaky:, but there have been some days at work, where I've been so emotionally unstable that all I did was type in my private journal attempting to keep my sanity. I always feel irresponsible doing this as well, but...

Here's what I've learned from my therapist and others regarding "inner children". This is all theory and may have nothing to do with your situation, so take it with a grain of salt. :) There are those "inners" that are the wounded children -- those who carry the memory of abuse. Then there...

I've always been self-conscious about this as well. But this has never been a problem on this forum. You are in good company. :)

I often wonder whether I am truly dealing with "trauma" -- I think many, especially those who don't have explicit memories, go through this. But reading this list of symptoms makes it clear that something must have happened with me, since I have had, or still have, nearly all of these. I don't...

One consideration regarding what is considered "trauma". There is the concept of "neurosis", which, in general, is a disturbance in one's thought patterns that causes fallacious and/or narrow perception of certain aspects of experience. Outside of any physical neurological issues that may...

Regarding diagnosis: psychology is problematic in this regard. Diagnosis of physical problems is often traceable to a specific cause. Symptoms help determine the cause, and then the cause is treated. In psychology, however, we often can't identify a specific cause -- all you get is...

This is exactly my story, with a few small changes: music instead of visual art, I didn't throw everything away (I don't throw anything away -- also a problem ;) ), my primary sensory experience is sound, although I'm also highly visual. I can't say that my parents were as bad as yours...

I used to think very much like you do. Which means I have perspective from both sides. Others have already made some excellent comments regarding this, so I'll go with an example. Consider a person dying some terrible disease which has put them in enormous pain. They've tried every remedy...

It's likely both derived from genetics and environment. For those of us here, it likely became a survival skill. There used to be a show on in the US called "Lie to Me". It became one of my favorite shows, because the premise of the show was a company that could spot liars, largely through...

I found myself wondering the same thing -- what, exactly, is the dividing line between "flashbacks" and "delusions"/"hallucinations"? I can say that I've had "interesting" experiences with mild flashbacks, where I feel like I'm caught between both the past and present. I've also had...

I don't think this is unfathomable. I think there are many people like this, those who do not want much company from others. I am quite introverted. I don't need to socialize all that much, especially if it means some kind of superficial public events. I think I am naturally this way, but...

Exactly! No more empty or one-sided relationships, with anyone!

Wolves can show-up anywhere, can't they? Especially for the vulnerable, for whom there seems to be no refuge, sometimes. This kind of victimization is abominable and disgusting. It makes me furious.

At the moment, this forum is the only place where I feel really comfortable, and not because it's "anonymous" or impersonal, but because it's the only place where my life and situation are understood in full. I don't have to hide or pretend anything, here. If I could find a similar...

If I knew exactly what this meant, if I could visualize, in my mind, exactly what constitutes this, or what I'd need to do to make this happen, I'd do it. :) Still waiting for that "aha moment" that will provide this understanding.

Wow, this is a tough one. Will be interested to see what everyone has to say. My sense of belonging, and of identity, is only starting to emerge/re-emerge, I think, and, at best, is still very immature.

I'm appalled at the way your therapist handled this. Unprofessional, uncaring, and had the potential to put a patient in great danger. As many here have indicated, there are a lot of unqualified practitioners. Many therapists simply sit there, let you talk, and expound common sense. There's...

This is often a coping mechanism for dealing with abuse -- a learned behavior for survival. Obviously, it's not ideal, but it's not something that changes overnight. It takes a lot of work and therapy just to recognize and accept that the dynamic is occurring, let alone to change it.

@Tympre, very sorry to hear this. :( Not sure where you are from, but, in the US, laws regarding such crimes are made at the local level, and, therefore, different all over the country. And, as demonstrated by your situation, some places are still very backward -- by decades, at least. I...