Search results

I did not grow up in a pastor's home but I was sexually abused by my devout Catholic neighbors. Can you explain what your trauma was?

Everything is going my way, but I'm scared to let myself be happy. My trauma anniversary is June 22nd, & that's always been a HUGE trigger for me. The last time I was "happy" was this time 3 years ago. That's when I let my guard down... All of my hard work is paying off, but I can't let...

I'm right with you. My trauma anniversary is June 22nd & every year it's been a huge trigger. I've had so many self harm urges & I feel like I'm doing everything to keep them at bay, but they're still pushing their way out. My support system is cracking too. Have you found anything that's...

It's easy to stop going to therapy or stop taking meds, for some people, when you think you're "better." Continuing therapy even when you're generally improving helps you maintain that trend, rather than crashing & burning after the high. You're in a really tough spot... I guess all you can do...

YES. yes yes yes yes. I started Prazosin in January for PTSD nightmares & since then I'm constantly cold. My feet, hands & nose go numb (not asleep) just from being so cold. I actually had gotten used to it but now I started to notice it again. edit: It really helps with the nightmares...

@Solara It definitely could be triggering, but reading it was worth a bit of anxiety for me. I got really emotional when I read it, but it was in a good way, sort of validating.

I can relate to a few individual parts of this, but not really the whole picture. I was sexually assaulted by a female & the first person I trusted enough to tell said something along the lines of "ew, that's disgusting, why didn't you just push her off of you?" It made me feel even worse about...

It's something that I am personally a victim of, & it happens more frequently than people think. I found this great article on the subject. If you're a survivor of woman-on-woman abuse, I strongly recommend checking it out...

You should exhaust all other options before choosing to go inpatient- that includes medication. I don't know what your therapist's credentials are but if they are just a therapist then they can NOT prescribe medication. But they could recommend someone who could.

Are you diagnosed? One of the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis is re-experiencing, which can show up as nightmares or flashbacks. Being "back there in it all" & then breaking down is definitely a flashback. As for dissociating, no one can really tell you whether you are or aren't.

You've put in a lot of effort to make your relationship work. Setting boundaries was definitely really good move on your part. It's really not fair of him to keep blocking you out while still having sex with you & telling you he wants to be with you. There isn't a set amount of time it takes...

I think you should only go about pressing charges if you can emotionally handle the possibility that you could be accused of lying, or that there won't be enough evidence for the police to do anything about it.

I've also experienced this... It just doesn't feel "real" when I touch people. I just feel the pressure on my skin, but it doesn't feel like I'm touching a real person.

I have been hospitalized 3 times in an adolescent psychiatric hospital for PTSD/Bipolar related issues. Typically you're admitted if you're at risk to yourself or to other people- not usually just for having a disorder. When you go inpatient, you do not come out on the other side as a shiny...

@ghotiff A mandala is really open ended, it's basically just any kind of art that's contained in a circle. Usually they have some kind of a repetitive border & a central image. I like them because they're confined within the circle, so they feel controlled.

Welcome to the forum :) Using this website has helped me hear other peoples' stories & realize that I'm not alone. It's also a good place to ask questions & vent your feelings. I hope it helps you too.

My regular therapist is an art therapist, & I see her weekly- so I can give you some ideas. The first thing is to stop worrying about making your art perfect. The goal is to get your feelings down onto paper- not to create a masterpiece (which may happen anyways). Sometimes with art there's...

Are you diagnosed with PTSD? If there are trauma memories, they will come back when you are safe & ready. There is no way to force them back, & trying to make them come back might only repress it more. EMDR could possibly be helpful.

Sometimes sleep paralysis can cause you to hallucinate when you've just woken up from a dream, or when you're falling asleep. I've experienced it on numerous occasions- the same exact thing, tinted shapes/silhouettes that seemed completely tangible. It's actually unrelated to PTSD- even...

careful with reading up on disorders on the internet. It's easy to get stuff stuck in your head, & all of a sudden you're acting out symptoms that you wouldn't have had otherwise. Leave the diagnosing to professionals.

Thank you all so much for your comments! @shimmerz I felt the same way, my brain was just turning in circles trying to avoid the actual flashback. What do you mean by did it resonate with me? @joeylittle I've tried grounding skills before, but my panic attacks go to zero to 100 so quickly...

Trigger warning. It was a really long but good weekend, & a few hours ago I was extremely tired & distraught. I started to have a panic attack- hyperventilating, crying, heart pounding, the usual. But it lasted for so long that I could barely see due to oxygen debt. I was hallucinating...

Careful with reading about mental illnesses on the internet & self diagnosing. It's easy to get it stuck in your head that you have a disorder & then you start acting out new symptoms that you don't really have. I'm glad that you received correct diagnosis though. Meds can be tricky, so...

I've never had fugue but I've definitely had dissociative amnesia. As a child I was sexually abused, & I was sexually assaulted at the age of 13. All of the memories of those incidents were completely wiped from my memory until about a year & a half ago, when they slowly started coming back...

Things might never be exactly "like they were" but that doesn't mean they will be worse- just different. Going through such a severe trauma like he did changes who you are at a very deep level, & makes you see everything in your life in a different light. Having your ideal for the present be...