Sufferer Hello I Miss Having Support

[Friday7]

I am 51. Although I had trauma as a child, I had never been diagnosed with PTSD before this year because I didn't exactly fit the profile. So I was treated for depression and anxiety. But I knew what I went through was so painful it caused me to change who I was. It changed the way I relate to people. Taught me to not trust people other than my family .
Anyay after about 35 years . I finally got into a program for Women's trauma. She diagnosed me with PTSD because she felt I had a complex trauma and she mostly diagnosed me to get me in the group even though some of the things, I didn't quite fit. Like it wasn't a life-threatening event and I didn't have nightmares about it. So I doubt I'll get the diagnosis again.
But when I got in this group it was so helpful. For the first time in my life my trauma was validated.
I found the group so comforting and supportive. And my feelings finally had a reason. It wasn't just me. It wasn't a personality defect. It was all of this trauma that happened as a kid.
They had trauma education. And that helped so much too.
But it was only an 8 week program. There's not other programs like that around here for people on Medicaid. I went to see a therapist but it wasn't enough.
Right now after my Mom 's death and being alone with no family of my own I need the support of a group a few times a week. I went to a new place but they don't have trauma groups. Just general stuff.
I'm just so scared that I got this help for the first time finally at 51 and now it's gone. Im so sad and lost. I miss my program. I feel like no one will ever understand again. I'm lonely.

 

[Dannyuk78]

Firstly welcome,

I hope you find what you are looking for here, as i can personally say that the group is so diverse and accomodating. Do not ever feel that our trauma is invalidated.

i hope you find some solace and comfort from the group.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

Glad you chose to become a part of the community. If it weren't for the services of a local domestic/sexual violence shelter, there'd be no options in this area, either. However, it's a free service and can be sporadic at times based on the emergent needs of others. Everything else made available that is ptsd related is strictly combat/war related.

I've found much comfort in seeking other nurturing and fun things that I enjoy, like drum circles, community learning workshops that are donation based, learning how to grow my own food and stuff, etc. I've found some of the most interesting opportunities and people that way. Welcome and I wish you well.

 

[Teasel]

Hi @Friday7 and welcome :)

That group sounds absolutely fantastic! I think I would love something like that so much. So I can absolutely relate to you missing it now. I wish there were things like that available all the time.

Really glad you found this place and hope you will get just what you need here :)

 

[Esterio]

Hi Friday7
Welcome to this forum. I'm glad that you found us. Lots of caring and supportive folks here. Seems like a safe place to come and share. Again welcome
Peacw be safe

 

[joeylittle]

Hi @Friday7 - welcome. You can look into EMDR therapy, to work through what happened to you when you were a child. Ultimately, the goal with any traumatic experience - whether it causes PTSD or not - is to work through it so that it no longer stands out as something that feels still sharp/painful/recent, something that affects our present-day lives even though it's in the past.

EMDR is a therapy that does that. It's probably lit up blue in my post, you can click it and get a definition. Our therapy sub-forum also has more information on it.

I'd suggest you also look up www.nami.org - the national alliance for mental illness. There are local chapters everywhere, and many different kinds of peer support groups and professionally led therapy groups.