• We are a multilingual website again. Read the notice about this.
  • Understand AI use at MyPTSD: all AI use is explained in our AI help page. AI use is by choice here. It exists if you want it, but does nothing unless you choose to use it.

Sufferer Hope

  • Post starter Post starter DizzyDancer
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

DizzyDancer

My name is Tara and I'm new here, I suppose I will start by telling my story.

I'm 32 and was diagnosed with CPTSD when I was 20 for the majority of my childhood I was physically and emotionally abused by my step-brother. At the time it was disregarded as sibling rivalry until he began physically hurting me to the point of a dislocated shoulder. He was sent away to treatment when I was 14 where he was held in a hospital until the age of 21. I haven't seen or heard from him since I was 14.

That same year I was at a friend's house sleeping over when her adult brother climbed into bed with me. He was drunk. He started touching me and I completely froze. I couldn't move even though all I wanted to do was punch him. He did not rape me and to be clear what he did do most people have not associated with anything "bad" a lot of rubbing his hands where it shouldn't have been. But I will never forget the feeling of being helpless.

I sought treatment for a short time when I was 20 and haven't much since then. I did EMDR but did not find it helpful. When I was 23 I married a man who was very emotionally abusive and repeatedly told me I'm worthless . He pushed me a few times and threatened to kill me the day I left. I haven't been in a successful relationship since I divorced him 4 years ago.

I guess I'm here out of hope that someone understands what I struggle with daily. I constantly feel worthless and replay the abuse in my mind over and over. I know there are things about my childhood that happened that I don't even remember and I panic when I try to. I feel like my friends and family just don't understand. Although they know my diagnosis they only know it as letters and that it has to do with trauma.

They don't understand that sometimes I feel so disconnected from the rest of the world, that I over analyze every thought, conversation, look, smile and always somehow turn it into a negative in my head. That to me these feelings of worthlessness are real and in my darkest moments I believe every negative thing ever said about me. I guess that's why aim here to talk to people who truly understand me.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My name is Tara and I'm new here, I suppose I will start by telling my story.

I'm 32 and was diagnosed with CPTSD...
I am also new to the group. I have a very large loving family and not a one truly gets me. I have found so many articles through "myptsd" that has helped lead me into more positive thoughts and also literature to share with my family. I'm glad you searched for guidance. .. You are very brave in sharing your story. I still haven't had the nerve to introduce myself. ♡
 
I'm sad and angry that you have a reason to come here.

The adult brother of your friend violated a normal expectation of safe behaviour, and your fear at the time seems perfectly justified to me. If that happened to me, I'd want to find ways to prevent that situation from ever coming back into my life.

My therapist found out about EMDR for the first time 10 years ago, but didn't start using it until this year, because (for the first time) he felt confident that he could do it safely and effectively. If it comes up with a new therapist, I'd suggest talking through your negative experience, and seeing if methods have changed since your last attempt at it.

There are many people here (myself included) who struggle with worthlessness; helping each other helps us prove the worthlessness wrong. I'm glad you're here, even though the reason sucks.
 
Welcome Hope. I like your name. It was nice to type it, as when I did, I said, " welcome hope" in my mind and in some little way remembered what hope is.

@Hope and @BlueOrange @Linda6 Having PTSD is often hard. It affects my mind throughout the day, haunts me in my dreams, and causes exhaustion. With that being said, it has helped me be a more understanding person, has helped me save others lives, and has given me a chance to connect and hopefully help young lives before they end up traumatized.

No, I didn't see anything positive about PTSD for many many years, but as I have no choice about having it, I do what I can to understand it. Do I get severely depressed and ready to give up on bad PTSD days? Yes.

Reading through forums, reaching out to others, and journaling on the online diary has helped on those tough days. May you find the comfort and understanding here as well!

Welcome!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Donation drives

2026 Donation Goal

Goal
$1,800.00
Earned
$910.00
This donation drive ends in
0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
  50.6%

Trending content

Featured content

Back
Top Bottom