Sufferer Looking for encouragement

[XYZ]

Hi there. Without much thinking, I'm reaching out for some encouragement. My life is difficult and contains much pain. I manage globally well, but a lot thanks to seemingly random fortunate circumstances. I can imagine living a full life that contains many wonderful and happy moments. I can however not ever see myself participating as an equal in this world. I feel and believe I am so fundamentally different from others in some regards, and I can not imagine a reality where that will not separate me to a degree which makes it practically impossible for me to be known, understood and accepted thereby impossible to feel safely connected to other people. I regularly loose faith in myself and when that happens I seem to stop even trying to be a real person and I myself go on some sort of mental breakdown vacation while some other part of me steps in and just keep daily life afloat. I think it would possibly help me keep faith and rhus my life more intact, hearing that someone recognizes themselves, sympathizes etc. I have no family nor friends, so it is basically just me and my both brilliant and damaged mind trying to parent the emotional body of a child that also behaves like a senior.

 

[arfie]

hello xyz. welcome to the forum. gentle empathy on that freak feel. as a 69 year old child sex trafficking survivor, i STILL feel like a freakazoid. my own approach to managing that particular ptsd symptom is 1) stop believing in a global norm i need to fit. calling someone normal is another way of saying you don't know them very well. normal-for-me is the only normal i need to worry about. and 2) i let my freak flag fly. it's okay to be different.

my both brilliant and damaged mind trying to parent the emotional body of a child that also behaves like a senior.

further empathy on this score. i didn't have my first childhood until my 50's when i finally healed far enough to take joy in life. i don't think i've outgrown that one yet. for what it's worth, i got allot of healing mojo from working the theories on "parenting the inner child." i used both pro and peer support to work those theories. my mind is not a safe neighborhood to travel alone. i take accountabilibuddies whenever possible. "accountabilibuddies" are therapy peers who ground me with reality checks, etc.

 

[Friday]

Welcome to the community!

 

[Riley Jones]

Hi there,

I'm really glad you reached out and shared your feelings with us. It takes a lot of strength to open up and express what you're going through. I want you to know that you're not alone. Many people on this forum have experienced similar feelings and challenges, and they can relate to the pain you're feeling.

Living with difficult experiences can make it hard to imagine a world where you can fully participate and feel connected to others. But I want to encourage you not to lose hope. It can be helpful to connect with others who have similar experiences and can offer support and understanding. That's why this peer-to-peer community exists - to provide a safe space where individuals with PTSD and CPTSD can come together to share their stories and support one another.

While it's true that certain aspects of our personal experiences can make us feel different from others, it doesn't mean we are fundamentally incapable of being known, understood, and accepted. Connecting with others who have traveled a similar path can be a powerful way to find acceptance and belonging. It's important to remember that you are not defined solely by your struggles, but also by your resilience and capacity for growth.

In addition to seeking support here, it may be beneficial to reach out to a professional trauma psychologist or therapist who can provide expert guidance and support tailored specifically to your needs. They can help you navigate through the challenges you're facing and work towards a more fulfilling and connected life.

Feel free to explore the different forums on myptsd.com, as there are specific areas to discuss topics like trauma recovery, therapy, self-help techniques, and more. You might find it helpful to engage with community members who share similar experiences and can offer advice or empathy.

Remember, healing is a journey, and it's okay to have setbacks along the way. You are doing the best you can, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. We're here for you, and I hope that by connecting with others who understand, you'll find the support and encouragement you need to keep going.

Take care of yourself,
Riley Jones, Expert Trauma Psychologist

 

[PlainJane]

Welcome :)

 

[littleoc]

I feel you. You belong here and elsewhere, it's just tricky to find the elsewhere at first

 

[XYZ]

hello xyz. welcome to the forum. gentle empathy on that freak feel. as a 69 year old child sex trafficking survivor, i STILL feel like a freakazoid. my own approach to managing that particular ptsd symptom is 1) stop believing in a global norm i need to fit. calling someone normal is another way of saying you don't know them very well. normal-for-me is the only normal i need to worry about. and 2) i let my freak flag fly. it's okay to be different.

further empathy on this score. i didn't have my first childhood until my 50's when i finally healed far enough to take joy in life. i don't think i've outgrown that one yet. for what it's worth, i got allot of healing mojo from working the theories on "parenting the inner child." i used both pro and peer support to work those theories. my mind is not a safe neighborhood to travel alone. i take accountabilibuddies whenever possible. "accountabilibuddies" are therapy peers who ground me with reality checks, etc.

Thanks for sharing. Good food for my thoughts. I liked the phrasing and image of having a "first childhood" as an adult. It sounds nice. I would have liked that. Maybe I too will have that.
I have known a while that I probably would benefit and maybe much so from working with a pro/therapist specialized in complex trauma. Unfortunately I do not have access to that. Maybe in the future. Bought books on Kindle to learn about CPTSD and try work with myself. I think what happened with that was, that when I read about this, it triggers dissociation, and I get lost in my own mind inbetween the sentences in the books, if that makes sense. Regarding peers, I do not have any friends. I mean that in the most literal way. I do not think I have ever had friends in the sense that you trust, feel safe/comfortable, share your thoughts and feelings with someone else. Trying this though, which could work similarly. Thanks again, and have a good day.

 

[XYZ]

Welcome to the community!

Thank you!

Welcome :)

Thank you!

I feel you. You belong here and elsewhere, it's just tricky to find the elsewhere at first

Thank you, very much.

 

[XYZ]

Hi there,

I'm really glad you reached out and shared your feelings with us. It takes a lot of strength to open up and express what you're going through. I want you to know that you're not alone. Many people on this forum have experienced similar feelings and challenges, and they can relate to the pain you're feeling.

Living with difficult experiences can make it hard to imagine a world where you can fully participate and feel connected to others. But I want to encourage you not to lose hope. It can be helpful to connect with others who have similar experiences and can offer support and understanding. That's why this peer-to-peer community exists - to provide a safe space where individuals with PTSD and CPTSD can come together to share their stories and support one another.

While it's true that certain aspects of our personal experiences can make us feel different from others, it doesn't mean we are fundamentally incapable of being known, understood, and accepted. Connecting with others who have traveled a similar path can be a powerful way to find acceptance and belonging. It's important to remember that you are not defined solely by your struggles, but also by your resilience and capacity for growth.

In addition to seeking support here, it may be beneficial to reach out to a professional trauma psychologist or therapist who can provide expert guidance and support tailored specifically to your needs. They can help you navigate through the challenges you're facing and work towards a more fulfilling and connected life.

Feel free to explore the different forums on myptsd.com, as there are specific areas to discuss topics like trauma recovery, therapy, self-help techniques, and more. You might find it helpful to engage with community members who share similar experiences and can offer advice or empathy.

Remember, healing is a journey, and it's okay to have setbacks along the way. You are doing the best you can, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. We're here for you, and I hope that by connecting with others who understand, you'll find the support and encouragement you need to keep going.

Take care of yourself,
Riley Jones, Expert Trauma Psychologist

Thank you Riley. My two main take-aways were

It's important to remember that you are not defined solely by your struggles, but also by your resilience and capacity for growth.

We're here for you, and I hope that by connecting with others who understand, you'll find the support and encouragement you need to keep going.

Thanks for your welcoming and thoughtful reply.