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Sufferer Starting my life over - abused by father

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InBloom

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I am officially diagnosed, but because my insurance does not cover therapy, I have only visited enough to get prescribed meds to avoid additional expenses. I also have no immediate family or friends who understand my situation, so I am basically on my own.

I don't remember a time prior to the trauma. I was born into an abusive house. Only 24 hours after I had been taken home from the hospital after being born, my mother told me my father would scream at me when I started crying (as babies do). He once nearly chucked infant me into the floor because he was so angry I needed another diaper change. My mother told me she actually feared for my life and didn't know what to do.

It's been like this for almost 20 years now. I've known nothing else.

I was rarely allowed out of the house, nor was my mother. My dad postponed me getting my first job or driver's license. He scared away any friend or romantic interest I had. He also acted abusive and rude to my mother's friends, to the point they were scared of him and no longer wanted anything to do with her.

We were isolated.

I suffered with symptoms of multiple mental illnesses, and never could receive help. My dad had the money, but never let me go to the hospital when I needed. At the time, therapy was free. He just didn't want me to go because he feared loosing his job if the therapist found out about his behavior.

He denied me ever having problems and put the blame on me as to why there was so much tension in the house. I blamed myself for the anger my dad felt toward me and my mom, somehow. I, as well as my parents and teachers I came out to at the time, convinced myself that my problems "weren't really that bad." I was exaggerating. I don't really have a mental illness (even though I thought about suicide as a child and purposely crossed the street without looking, hoping to be hit by a car). I just need to get over this crippling gut wrenching feeling that follows me everywhere I go. Not being allowed to go to a birthday party or ride a skateboard is normal. Having your dad snag your pencil while writing because you spelled something incorrectly is normal. Not sleeping at night is normal. Living in fear of your dad is normal.This is normal.

It's not.

That took me years to figure out, and it's still something I struggle with because of my urge to forgive. He promised to change, but his behavior is the same, in different way. All I hear are excuses, somehow something I did provoked him, therefore I deserve being lashed out on. He's "always good to me" and doesn't understand why I ask him to stop screaming at his wife who came home 20 minutes late.

I don't want this anymore. This was never my family. I never felt like I belonged. When I was at home, I wanted to be at school. When I was at school, I wanted to be home. I never had a safe place to go, and I'm tired of living that way.

I'm emotionally numb from all of the abuse, and I don't know who I am. So, I'm changing my name, moving away, starting my life anew, as far away as possible from you.
 
Hi @InBloom and welcome.
My father did stuff to me that I tried for years to convince myself was normal. Well it MUST be normal because fathers don't do stuff to harm their child do they?

It was many years later I acknowledged the truth, as you must do. Not all parents are nice people. They don't all do what society expects. Then, we must protect ourselves - both physically and emotionally.

I hope you are able to get help to deal with this. There are many others with similar experiences waiting to 'hold your hand' through this long journey to recovery.
 
The problem with a geographical cure is wherever I go... there I am...

I'm not saying you don't need to get away (because I think you do) I'm just saying I think you need so much more than this...

I'm sorry you had to go through this growing up, but I'm glad you found us; welcome to the forum, this is a safe place. You will find support from peers and supporters here.
 
Welcome, so glad you found us.. So many here, myself included relate to what you shared. Lots of people here who understand. And hope your moving provides you with access to a therapist, and you won't be alone on this journey... we are here for you.
 
Welcome!

Even without therapy, there is much you can do to help yourself heal.

I think that the urge to forgive may stem from (subconsciously) not wanting to feel those negative emotions. If I forgive? All is well! I feel fine. But, unfortunately it doesn’t really work out like this.

I’m not sure where you are in your healing....are you struggling with coping? Are you struggling with socializing and interacting with the world?

There is so much you can learn from the posts here on the forum, and there are a number of good self help books out there that can help you cope with ptsd better and help you understand the nature of this beast!

:hug:
 
I think that the urge to forgive may stem from (subconsciously) not wanting to feel those negative emotions.

At first, my intent by forgiving him was out of my own good nature. I really believed everyone deserved second chances. Later on it was guilt. I was gaslighted a lot. I believed I was a bad child for not allowing people to abuse me through warped thinking. I was once a deeply religious person. I was raised to believe that I was supposed to be subservient to a man. I felt like an abomination to God who would go to hell if I didn't relinquish my wants to appease my dad's. He told me many things, like how I was only good for cooking, cleaning and having children (so did my grandmother). A woman cannot be raped by her husband, etc... Unfortunately it came with a lot of self esteem issues.

I choose a male dominated field and my biological family puts me down and does not respect me; my uncle makes frequent sexist comments because he's in the same field. My dad does not believe I am intellectual enough, in comparison to males, to pursue a degree in the sciences. I can't live with unsupportive people like this any longer. My dad goes on religious tangents about how demoralized people are, people don't know their place, etc. and they're going to hell. It triggers anxiety attacks and flashbacks to when I was sexually assaulted. It would take a while to explain, but his words always make me feel to blame for what happened.

I’m not sure where you are in your healing....are you struggling with coping? Are you struggling with socializing and interacting with the world?

I'm not quite sure either. I thought I was over it, but I feel like this is the beginning. I've been physically numb for years, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. I really have no strong emotions and feel stoic all of the time. I thought I would be gone by now, but I was hospitalized a few months ago. I'm beginning to think I may be subconsciously repressing my emotions out of fear of provoking my father. My dad is out of town this weekend, and reading responses from you all is quite calming. I haven't really felt this before. Usually I feel on slightly edge.

I'm coping with I feel rather well; the negative feelings are never something that's bothered me. Socializing in itself isn't difficult, but I usually have nothing to talk about. Most people talk about their hobbies and passions, but I obviously have none since I was locked in the house and prevented from joining school clubs, sports, etc. It's hard for me to keep a conversation; sometimes my mind "blacks out" for a few seconds while talking. I find it hard to speak anymore; years ago, I was always a few sentences ahead and knew what I wanted to say. Now I struggle to form an opinion of more than 3 sentences.

When someone asks where I want to hang out, or what food I want to eat, it doesn't matter because it's all the same to me. I have no opinions to share with people. If it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't. I feel dragged along for the ride.
 
I think it is a good idea to get away from your toxic family! You can’t outrun your issues/struggles/symptoms, but getting away from the source of the trauma will enable you to start healing.

I think that once you’re in a safer environment you’ll be able to start diversifying your life, finding out what interests you, getting involved with hobbies and social groups. You’ll be able to have ideas and opinions of your own instead of feeling like you’re just along for the ride.

Healing takes time, so don’t feel discouraged if things don’t progress as quickly as you’d like them to. You’ll get there!
 
I hope you can find therapy, a safe place. I am a survivor of long-term incest, stranger rape, multiple molestations. It took a long time before I would admit my father was a sick man. I've been hospitalized and am now in a medical study (major depression/PTSD, treatment resistant depression) and I get esketamine from them. It's not on the market yet but it, with the counseling has really helped. I hope you can get as much help as I have received and even more!
 
There are really great people here. We all understand in varying degrees to what you have suffered and are trying to cope with. I understand why you feel you need to move away and start over with a new identity. But, that does not mean that your pain and coping difficulties will change right away, if at all. I would hope that therapy would be available to you, in some way. I wonder if there is a PTSD support group that you could join, locally? Also, as Eve mentioned there are some good books to read that could help you, as well as online information. I am glad you have joined us.
 
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