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Sufferer C-ptsd Dx 5+ Years

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Soca

New Here
I've been searching for another venue for support for awhile. I made a better effort the last few days because I feel an impending meltdown coming and the suicidal thoughts have been stronger than usual and I am fairly nomadic with very poor health insurance, so finding a regular therapist is tiresome and frustrating.

A quick rundown of my history:
I had a terrible boss, who I eventually had to report for harassment. A few months later, I was struggling with life and decided that I should start therapy. About a year into therapy, I took the MMSE and received my complex PTSD diagnosis. My therapist wasn't a trauma specialist and I wasn't entirely sure what the diagnosis meant . Fast forward a few years (continuing with the same therapist all the while), I eventually left my job because I was struggling so much to let go of the past with the former boss, so I decided to pursue medicine, the career path I was on in college, but abandoned along the way. At my age and the jump in fields, I had to seek an overseas school. I thought the new career and environment would help leave the past behind - but my diagnosis followed me. I struggled a lot with my classmates and the school administration, had an fwb turn sour to the point where I attempted suicide, and finally date rape - that brought me to my lowest point about a year into my program. I took a leave of absence from school and went to a trauma center to try to figure out more to this PTSD thing and how to get my life on track. The center was helpful and I learned a lot from others in treatment. I also uncovered a lot of pieces to my past that had contributed to the development of the c-ptsd. I went back to school, spent most of my time locked up in my house avoiding the outside world and struggling to keep my focus and attention on my studies. I passed the first two years of school and I'm in the US to start years 3 and 4 for clinical rotations. As far as I've come, I'm still having a really hard time and am wondering what to do with myself or really just how much more I can stand feeling so weak and isolated. I have a hard time finding people outside of those that I met at the trauma center who understand me to the point that I often wonder that even the c-ptsd might be the wrong diagnosis (but I think that's too much of me stuck in my own head).

What I uncovered in treatment - many years of emotional neglect, abuse, and abandonment by my parents, sexual assault at a younger age with continued poor choice in emotionally abusive partners and at least another 10 cases of assault, lived overseas in a socially & politically volatile country under extreme conditions for 3 years, and abuse and harassment in places of work and study. I think that's the general picture without getting into too much detail.

As I've stated, I feel like I'm heading in the wrong direction and my emotional stress is back at an all time high. I'm trying to be proactive to avoid falling down the dark hole and into the vortex. For the past couple of weeks, (possibly months? years?), I'm feeling very alone in the world. That's my intro. Much appreciation and thanks for those who read this.
 
I feel like I'm heading in the wrong direction and my emotional stress is back at an all time high. I'm trying to be proactive to avoid falling down the dark hole and into the vortex. For the past couple of weeks, (possibly months? years?), I'm feeling very alone in the world.

Soca, you may feel like you are headed in the wrong direction, but I see something indicating you are actually heading in the RIGHT direction: You're "trying to be proactive to avoid falling down the dark hole and into the vortex."

Kudos for being far enough along in the healing process to know yourself, to see the danger coming, and be willing to proactively work to save yourself from the dark hole! I know you don't feel good right now but, really, this is huge. This sort of work on your part, even without a therapist, if need be, will take you a long way.

Have you done DBT work? Practical aspects of DBT, like mindfulness, grounding, and such, will greatly help.

Also, please know that you are not alone in this world. Although we appear to be solitary individuals, the lives of all humans are linked, and so no one is ever truly alone.

Ben
 
Many thanks - nothing has happened since I posted - earth shattering or otherwise, but was definitely feeling the downward pull. I don't know if joining the forum is what helped or maybe your thoughtful response... I had myself a little cry, laid down to allow myself to simply breathe and relax, and now a couple hours later - better (a little mini-mindfulness to just "be"). I had a bad experience with DBT due to the therapist who facilitated the workshop - I may be ready to try again. Anyhow - hope to see more of you on here and get to know the community a bit better. Cheers!
 
Soca, I hope you can 'hear' (see or read) the many positive aspects of your last post:

"...nothing has happened since I posted - earth shattering or otherwise" - In other words, you sat with yourself in the moments that followed, noted they were neither good nor bad in essence, and that you were successful in sitting with all of this.

"but was definitely feeling the downward pull." - This is mindfulness. You noticed and acknowledged you feelings, and you realized/recognized/acknowledged that you sat through the negative affect successfully. The world did not come to an end. You know that bad feelings do not automatically mean the end of the world.

"I don't know if joining the forum is what helped or maybe your thoughtful response." - You, even while in pain, are sitting with your feelings and evening acknowledging that there are things you can do (joining a forum, making a friend, reading positive material) that can mitigate your pain. You acknowledge that you have some power, and you realize, I suspect, that if these things can help you feel better, maybe there are even more things that can help. And, you have the power to find these positive things.

"I had myself a little cry, laid down to allow myself to simply breathe and relax, and now a couple hours later - better (a little mini-mindfulness to just "be")." - That was a WONDERFUL piece of work. You practiced mindfulness. You noted your feelings, allowed yourself to cry. You practiced breathing, relaxing. You were williing to just be in the moment.

"I had a bad experience with DBT due to the therapist who facilitated the workshop - I may be ready to try again." - You aren't writing off DBT. You realize there was a particular reason why that particular DBT series did not work for you. You recognize there is still hope for a positive attempt at DBT. You are willing to consider trying it again.

"...hope to see more of you on here and get to know the community a bit better." - What? Do I read 'hope'? My, my. :)

Can you hear yourself? Can you sense that almost 100% of your post was positively oriented?

I have high hopes for you, my friend.

Ben
 
Welcome! I feel we are always on the right path as long as we are still seeking and searching.
A lot of support here from many people on the same journey. You are not alone and we do understand. And since we are on this path, it is so comforting to know we are heard.
Hope we see you around. Many articles and threads that may help too.
Glad you found us and gentle welcome hugs if you accept.
 
I spent many years pursuing the wrong life goals (not bad, just not right for me). I would feel great when I started something new, took a break, vacation but then it always felt a little off in my studies. I knew it wasn't right but my goals were the most important thing in the world to me. My goals literally saved my life because it got me out of a terrible situation. After I was out of the bad situation through, my goals just got in the way of me taking care of myself. Please listen to your heart and know that you deserve the best.
 
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