I thought of something - Coping with Trauma: Ethnicity, Assault, and PTSD

[CooCoo4CocoaPuffs]

Part of the reason I never go to therapy (besides mistrust) is that I’ve been assaulted for my ethnicity (twice) by another ethnicity ((different individuals) (also, bullied in school for similar reasons.) Part of my PTSD stems from the assaults (and even worse things one did) and I’ve had nightmares, ruminations, fantasies of revenge, flashbacks, triggers. Probably I’m preaching to the choir here.

Anyway, I’m Caucasian. I’m afraid I a. Won’t be believed, b. That i deserved it for existing, and c. I’m lying. Interesting, my “mother” had similar opinions of her abuse of me.

I kept my trap shut for decades and suffered in silence.

Hopefully, unburdening myself here, anonymously will let some of it go finally.

Sorry.

 

[Midnightmoon]

a. Won’t be believed, b. That i deserved it for existing, and c. I’m lying.

I wonder how much of this is actually all about...

Interesting, my “mother” had similar opinions of her abuse of me

This.

Your brain holding onto and echoing those horrendously traumatic 'truths' to you from your past to keep you stuck in the present? To stop you from feeling worthy of care?

A therapist will do the very opposite, they won't judge, they certainly won't think you are lying and they absolutely categorically will not be laying any blame at your door.

 

[somerandomguy]

I felt very much the same way as a male victim of abuse - that I wouldn't be believed, that it was actually my fault, and most especially that I deserved it since I am a man. But even my most unhelpful therapists never, ever questioned me or made me feel like they thought it was my fault.

Only the absolute bottom of the barrel therapists would do that - very few.

 

[Movingforward10]

I second what others have said. These beliefs you have you have made into facts. We all do this, on varying topics. But understanding it is a belief and you can change that belief, either instantly or through a lot of work, really brings about immense relief and healing.

Like others have said, why would a therapist disbelieve you? We believe you and we have never met you.

If you are worried about ethnicity, can you chose a therapist with the same ethnicity as you? For me, it was gender: I needed a therapist with a particular gender and a particular sexuality to feel safe.