New To Forum, Abused As A Child

[Mary]

Thank you both for replying.

I really appreciate the encouragement, Intothelight.

Sherry, I am also getting stronger with practice around reframing my thoughts. Harder is relaxing my system once I am really triggered.

I have always quickly asked for help when it wasn't about Mom, so for me, I actually do a lot of work on sparing my loved ones my desperate questioning, "Am I ok?" "Am I safe?" "Are we ok?" I'm trying really hard to develop my own copes for when people just aren't available during a bad moment.

Mary

 

[WhiteFlag]

Hi Mary,
Welcome! I am fairly new here too, but felt compelled to respond. You sound like a very VERY intelligent, resilient and determined person; I know from your posts you probably don't see yourself that way but you have incredible gifts and strengths (and also trials). It is not easy, this road we share, but we will overcome. I am so glad to share my world with survivors like you for a few reasons; it shows we have hope, we have strength, and we can stay on to fight our demon shadows.
All of my best wishes to you- you are definitely not alone!
WF

 

[Mary]

Thank you so much for that, WF!

I have found a huge key to my recovery has been to surround myself with supportive people, including other survivors who are as determined as I am to orient myself toward healing. Most helpful has been a close friend who herself has PTSD. We met in Tai Chi class! :)

Our way of approaching healing is similar: try stuff; share our ideas; talk about what works and what doesn't and why; learn, learn, learn. When we discuss a painful experience we are going through we talk about how we feel and we also frame the experience in terms of brainstorming new coping strategies and assessing successes and failures. Our similar thinking-styles and attitudes have yielded a tremendously hopeful and useful friendship, especially as we have watched each other make some real gains.

It's great to meet you!

Mary