Hi Rebuilding,
It must have been awful to have lost that support at that crucial time. I know how important that is. You'll see many of us here who have been and maybe still are where you are. The good news is that if you could speak to yourself from a few years down the road, you'd hear that your struggle was worth it, your children respected what you did for them, He did not win in the end and you're still waking up in the morning 'free'. I still think that most days and it's been 20 years since I left that horrible house. I don't mean to make it sound easy because I know it's not-I had 3 children and nothing also so 'not easy' is more than an understatement. It's sometimes helpful at the very least to have others know what you're speaking of and some here do, that's all.
This forum is a good place for a lot of what you're going through, if you have the energy to keep coming and checking in. The library of information on PTSD across the board is awfully helpful as is knowing you're not alone with this thing. The support is also genuine, and safe. Traumas which can end up causing PTSD are varied, of course, but you'll see a number of survivors of Domestic Violence here. Whether or not anyone chooses to speak of their individual stories is up to them but knowing others understand regardless is something I've always personally found just plain comforting.
Welcome to the forum, and take care,
Anni
