Hi, I'm new, but I've been lurking these forums for a little bit. I have what I believe is C-PTSD. Technically I have been diagnosed with PTSD in the past by a psychologist, but she agreed it was on the atypical scale. Even my obsessive compulsive disorder and various other things I struggle with have been labeled atypical. I don't know why my brain reacts this way, which makes my symptoms ten times more confusing and scary.
I should start with my childhood. I was always anxious, had school phobias, etc. I was sexually abused by someone in my family at a young age, and many therapists have believed that my trauma response to this developed into digestive problems (food sensitivities, acid reflux, constipation, etc.)
There were many years where I was very sick. Spent most of my teenage years and early twenties in doctors offices, therapists, inpatient, outpatient, etc. Suffered from OCD, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and health anxiety.
There was a turning point after almost losing my life a couple years ago. I was severely malnourished and underweight and that experience in itself was pretty traumatic, but I healed and got a lot of help.
However, I've had a set back. My panic attacks have returned, my health anxiety is in full swing, I'm having a hard time leaving the house again, and things easily stress me out. I experienced a rape last summer that really messed me up. When I was first sexually abused as a child, it manifested with my digestion. I felt sick all the time, nauseous, had sensitivities to foods and drinks, and experienced many, many physical symptoms. After this new rape, it all came back, but in a new form.
Now, I'm experiencing nausea and gagging often. (The day after I was raped, I went out to eat with my family and threw up afterwards. I had to excuse myself from the restaurant and everything.) I'm having constipation issues and weird aches and pains. I've been to the doctors, they try to rule things out for me, but I'm never satisfied. The symptoms stay, I find new things to worry about, and my health anxiety has returned. After years and years of being sick as a kid, I'm being reminded of that time again and it's freaking me out. Is this normal? I've looked up the signs and symptoms of PTSD, and while I have intrusive thoughts, anxiety, hypervigilance, etc, I've never really heard anyone talk about feeling sick, nauseous and sometimes vomiting. Is it normal?
I'm back on medication, I'm back in therapy, and I'm finding a million different ways to heal. But I'm just wondering if trauma can manifest this way. Thanks for helping, I appreciate it.
I should start with my childhood. I was always anxious, had school phobias, etc. I was sexually abused by someone in my family at a young age, and many therapists have believed that my trauma response to this developed into digestive problems (food sensitivities, acid reflux, constipation, etc.)
There were many years where I was very sick. Spent most of my teenage years and early twenties in doctors offices, therapists, inpatient, outpatient, etc. Suffered from OCD, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and health anxiety.
There was a turning point after almost losing my life a couple years ago. I was severely malnourished and underweight and that experience in itself was pretty traumatic, but I healed and got a lot of help.
However, I've had a set back. My panic attacks have returned, my health anxiety is in full swing, I'm having a hard time leaving the house again, and things easily stress me out. I experienced a rape last summer that really messed me up. When I was first sexually abused as a child, it manifested with my digestion. I felt sick all the time, nauseous, had sensitivities to foods and drinks, and experienced many, many physical symptoms. After this new rape, it all came back, but in a new form.
Now, I'm experiencing nausea and gagging often. (The day after I was raped, I went out to eat with my family and threw up afterwards. I had to excuse myself from the restaurant and everything.) I'm having constipation issues and weird aches and pains. I've been to the doctors, they try to rule things out for me, but I'm never satisfied. The symptoms stay, I find new things to worry about, and my health anxiety has returned. After years and years of being sick as a kid, I'm being reminded of that time again and it's freaking me out. Is this normal? I've looked up the signs and symptoms of PTSD, and while I have intrusive thoughts, anxiety, hypervigilance, etc, I've never really heard anyone talk about feeling sick, nauseous and sometimes vomiting. Is it normal?
I'm back on medication, I'm back in therapy, and I'm finding a million different ways to heal. But I'm just wondering if trauma can manifest this way. Thanks for helping, I appreciate it.