I don't quite know how to do this self-intro thing but here goes...
Hi there.
Ummm... I live in San Francisco, where for the last 20+ years I have worked in technology and private equity investing. I have a history of being "accident prone" with resulting physical trauma. About 5 years ago this reached a head and I went to see a therapist where I was diagnosed with DESNOS (with additional associated issues). I just recently got off short-term disability, and am trying to re-enter the workplace as a consultant.
I'm in therapy, which is said to be going well. If I'm honest, it's hard for me to tell due to my issues around time, memory and identity.
Like most people with this diagnosis from what I can tell, my childhood was pretty non-standard. I was raised by a behavioral psychologist with severe ethical weaknesses who was a devotee of BF Skinner and used me as a research subject throughout my childhood. I was raised in isolation, without access to mainstream media or culture, until age 19. I experienced neglect, sexual abuse and physical abuse throughout my childhood and teenage years. I was thrown out of my home at age 19, and disowned by my family at age 20. I was homeless for 4 years in my late 20s and have a long history of substance abuse.
My anxiety symptoms are frequently overwhelming, and I suffer from serious to severe dissociation.
Despite all this, I'm considered to be high functioning. While I've never been able to keep a full time job for longer than about 2 years, I've been largely employed and successful in my jobs over the last 25 years. I am in a stable, long-term relationship.
I'm hoping that joining this community will give me greater understanding into my situation and my treatment - that it will give me permission to treat my issues as serious - and that perhaps I might be able to help others.
Hi there.
Ummm... I live in San Francisco, where for the last 20+ years I have worked in technology and private equity investing. I have a history of being "accident prone" with resulting physical trauma. About 5 years ago this reached a head and I went to see a therapist where I was diagnosed with DESNOS (with additional associated issues). I just recently got off short-term disability, and am trying to re-enter the workplace as a consultant.
I'm in therapy, which is said to be going well. If I'm honest, it's hard for me to tell due to my issues around time, memory and identity.
Like most people with this diagnosis from what I can tell, my childhood was pretty non-standard. I was raised by a behavioral psychologist with severe ethical weaknesses who was a devotee of BF Skinner and used me as a research subject throughout my childhood. I was raised in isolation, without access to mainstream media or culture, until age 19. I experienced neglect, sexual abuse and physical abuse throughout my childhood and teenage years. I was thrown out of my home at age 19, and disowned by my family at age 20. I was homeless for 4 years in my late 20s and have a long history of substance abuse.
My anxiety symptoms are frequently overwhelming, and I suffer from serious to severe dissociation.
Despite all this, I'm considered to be high functioning. While I've never been able to keep a full time job for longer than about 2 years, I've been largely employed and successful in my jobs over the last 25 years. I am in a stable, long-term relationship.
I'm hoping that joining this community will give me greater understanding into my situation and my treatment - that it will give me permission to treat my issues as serious - and that perhaps I might be able to help others.
