Beyond PTSD Introductions - Who Are You?

[anthony]

My name is Anthony Parsons, I live in Melbourne with my beautiful girlfriend Nicolette. I am an electrician by trade, ventured into industrial electronics as my speciality. I am a qualified technician also, another one of those things I did in my spare time. I met my first wife at 17, had my first son Logan to her at 19. Joined the military at 24, about the same time I also went into computers. I got into marketing around 95/96 and learnt ever since whilst still in the military. Run my own business, been to many countries on operations. Lost the plot after my return from East Timor in 99, thus kicking out my wife early 2000 due to PTSD, though simply not knowing I had it. Continued on in life as we do, got into my next relationship way to fast, married and two kids. Regret everything except the two kids. I adore and love my children very much; all three of them. Discharged from the military end 04. She left end 06, met my lovely Nicolette in Feb 07 and haven't looked back since.

Done some very destructive things when ill, learnt a lot of hard lessons, done a lot of work to heal my own pain and bring myself to where I am today. Now studying in the accountancy stream, lots less time on the Internet realm nowadays, more just helping others here and furthering my own education.

 

[Marlene]

Hi, I'm Lisa. Marlene is my middle name...so it's really one of my names. I was born and raised in Southern California but have lived in Florida for the past 15 years.

I met and married my husband while we were both in the Army (California girl and Florida boy travel all the way to cold, northern Germany to meet!). We've been married for 21 years now. I have two beautiful daughters and my first grandson is due in less than two months. I've been lucky enough to travel all over western Europe and the lower 2/3rd's of the US while we lived the life of military gypsies. My goal is to continue to travel.

I love cooking and I'm always at my happiest when I'm creating something in the kitchen. I also enjoy yoga. Nothing like turning off your mind and letting your body do what it knows how to do. Reading, research and learning new things have always been high up on my list, too. I fence...love it! Where else do I get to play with swords and stab people and it's all legal? Great for working off stress!

Helping people has always been an important thing to me. For most of the last two years, I've had to be busy helping taking care of myself. But I'm finding as I heal, I want to go back to helping others. I'm still figuring out different ways to do that since a lot of my old ways are no longer open to me. One thing I've learned is that there's a lot more than one path to get me where I'm going.

Lisa

 

[Deleted member 93]

I remain veiled as I prefer anonymity. I am a Texan of 33 years and in the last year moved to the mid-west for healing.

I am married and have 4 children 16 - 4 yo. I used to be a hobby farmer. I heavily study what is of interest to me. When I decide to do something nothing stands in my way. I like being a SAHM but miss working.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Veiled

This was such a fine thread I hate to see it fall be the wayside. Besides, What does
SAHM mean?

 

[Lisa]

i love this post. I want more people to post about themselves. It's so nice to read about you all as a person, rather than a PTSD sufferer.

 

[upstream]

I (half) believed in Santa Claus until I was twelve.... !

Ha! Me too! My uncle made a video that "proved" he existed, had me fooled until about age 11.

My name is taken from the movie "Swimming Upstream" about an Australian swimmer trying to escape an abusive home. I took up swimming my final two years of college, and the idea of swimming upstream seemed like a good metaphor for my life.

Born, raised, and educated in the Midwest. Tall quiet kid who believed he was going to change the world and make it a better place. Likes science and athletics and helping people. Loves the water and the snow. Took everything apart to see how it worked, had a reputation for being able to fix things. Earned a degree in engineering, was a collegiate rower for a few years and made it to nationals. Known to be a really nice guy. Women (and some men) think I'm cute, though I'm not much for relationships. 24 years old now.

A recent hobby of mine has been the study of human behavior, I have a lot of books on the subject. The last one I began reading was "The Lucifer Effect: Understanding how good people turn evil"

Currently on the East Coast. I enjoy swing dancing (Lindy Hop and Charleston, trying to learn West Coast). Currently learning Muay Thai Kick Boxing. Applied to be a volunteer at the hospital. I keep trying to make it out to the slopes, but money always gets in the way.

Love the thread!

 

[nie]

Hi,

I just turned 28. I have been married for 7.5 years to a wonderful man. I am a Christian. I sing in the church choir and love to sing any time I am able. I teach theatre to 11 - 14 year old students. I am in the Midwest section of the USA. I have a Jack Russell Terrier, but no children of my own as of yet. I enjoy spending time with close friends and horseback riding.

 

[littledog green]

Hi,
I just turned 34 and I am married to the most amazing woman! We share our home with 5 amazing cats. I love art and have been making jewelry for many years now. I have gone back to school and want to study psychology so I can help people from a holistic perspective. I am a crazy vegan who loves living in rural new england.

 

[morgan]

It's nice to meet y'all. I use my real first name. I'm 40yo (going on 20). I am currently disabled and live with my parents. I was born in LA, Calif., lived there til I was ten. Moved to northern CA, Lived there til I was 19. Moved back to LA and from there joined the Army when I was 24. I am now a disabled veteran rated at 30% with a pending PTSD claim.

I tend to trust too easily which has in many cases led to trauma, so now I try not to trust at all. I am however working on finding a middle of the road with that.

I like painting bird houses, playing guitar and nature walks, but don't do any of them often enough partly because of my PTSD partly due to depression. I am however, working toward changing this fact one day at a time.

I am currently working on major lifestyle changes to help improve my quality of life. I am in therapy and on medications and both seem to be working well for me as far as managing my symptoms goes.

My goals are to move out on my own, lose weight and hopefully go back to school to learn a trade and get off disability. (Also, I would like to finish my dairy).

If I can think of anything else, I will post again on this thread.

Take care, Morgan

 

[Claire]

Hello, I really am Claire, I'm British, 36 (although in denial) and live in the south coast of England. I work as a graphic designer. I love the sea and the countryside. I'm a keen windsurfer and do loads of other sports too. I also own a young and energetic hooligan of a dog.

I used to play the sax but gave it up as after PTSD the noise scared me (and no, I wasn't that bad!). I'm planning on taking it up again soon.

I like this thread too. We are all more than just PTSD and this just shows it. :smile:

 

[Portabella]

Hello, I am Theresa, I got my ID Portabella because I LOVE Portabella mushrooms. (I actually love all mushrooms, but Portabella's are the best). I am 46 years young, have 5 children of which 2 live at home and one lives at home Mon-Fri now and goes to his girlfriends over the weekend. My youngest is 7 and he is the heart of our household, he is also sadly the last. Now I look forward to Grandchildren. I have 3 dogs and 3 cats which are like my children as well as 3 Goldfish.

I love animals, candles, a burning fireplace, watching wildlife, Long car rides in the Mountains/Country, NYC skyline at night, the ocean, untouched snow, a fresh box of crayons, observing insects, watching the blooming TV, and all kinds of music. I believe in having tattoo's and piercing's as a form of expression.

I worked Law Enforcement for 15 years, took off a year and now am taking a whack at breaking out of LE and am presently a Personal Banker. I have suffered multiple trauma's and also work daily towards healing.

I was born in NYC (Bronx), grew up on Long Island and now reside in Colorado. I have been to most everywhere in the USA while running from myself years ago and hitchhiking my way back and forth and up and down this great country of ours. I stopped running and now control the urge from time to time to flee, have gotten good at staying planted.

I must add I have very much enjoyed reading all the replies to this thread, its nice to see past the disease PTSD.

 

[Sapper]

I'm not here much but I'll give this a go.. My name's Travis, I'm 35, married, have 5 boys, one age 15 from a previous relationship, three little guys with my wife, and one who is actually my nephew and we are raising since my brother died. So a full house since my teenager came to live with us recently. And that's why I'm not here much.. I'm always changing diapers! (;

Evie/batgirl is my little sister, Jim and Kathy are my parents. I work for AIRCOM, the Canadian Air Force. I'm a pilot and an engineer. My wife is also works for AIRCOM as a nurse. Outside of work I like hunting, fishing, working on my motorcycle and spending time with my kids. That's about it for me.