Sufferer Long-Time Sufferer, Looking For Support - Sexual Assault & Bipolar

[thesophisticat]

Hi all,

I am thesophisticat and it's nice to meet you all! I've been a long time lurker and reading all your posts helps me feel less alone. That said, I'm ready to actually communicate with others who can relate. I'm a sexual assault survivor and have had my diagnoses for almost 5 years, but sometimes it still feels new. I've done a lot of work over that time, but of course, some symptoms still linger. Some days are good, but a lot of days are still filled with anxiety, flashbacks, and other nuisances that interfere with my daily life and relationships. I am also bi-polar with very high anxiety who can't afford therapy at the moment, which doesn't help. Sometimes I have trouble deciphering between what symptoms come from which disorder, but I'm sure it's a combo that is holding me back from reaching my full potential career-wise and school-wise (28 and still trying for my degree).

I hope to connect with others and maybe provide some positive input here and there. Anyway, that's me :) looking forward to your posts.

 

[Wendell_R]

Welcome to the forum! Your input is most welcome. I'm sorry you can't afford therapy right now.

 

[Invisible Fire]

Welcome. Thanks for posting. I also have a hard time figuring out at times what is PTSD and what is anxiety. Or both. I am glad you are working at being the best version of yourself at a young age. I waited until I was over 40 to start working on me. Again welcome and know you are not alone.

 

[EveHarrington]

Welcome!

 

[GinaB]

Um, maybe dumb question but what is a thesophisticat? Anyway, welcome and may you find tons of support and inspiration here. You are definitely not alone. Sorry you can't afford therapy right now but consider a support group or church pastor or counselor. I've gone to a pastor before and once or twice had someone unhelpful but the majority of times found gentle and caring support. Take one day at a time and you will grow stronger!

 

[Lucycat]

Hello @thesophisticat and welcome to the forum.

 

[Freespirited]

Welcome

 

[dDork]

Hello, @thesophisticat

I used to have a longtime girlfriend who is a sexual assault survivor. And I've often sympathized with her pain.

And when it comes to myself, I also have PTSD, and have a few comorbid ailments which blur the lines of figuring out causality.

I've found that each of these have some distinct lines of 'bodily events', and learned to identify many of these. Some begins with a combinations of certain shapes in the head, combined with numbness in certain limbs, etc. One of the good tricks is to find the very starting point, so one can halt any incoming flashback or internal cognition.

Hope this is of help :)