Undiagnosed Syrian woman with Complex PTSD looking for a social life

[Salma]

Hey there fellow beings.
I am a bit emotional now, so I hope I can manage to communicate my ideas.
Being an anarchist, I'm not a fan of nationalism, but saying that I have lived my whole life in Syria explains alot. War has been traumatizing us here since 2011, and a horrible earthquake hit recently. Everyone my age has left the country due to those and many other reasons, almost all of my friends and my sister that is one year younger than me.
I feel like an old woman minus the wisdom, just sitting with ruins and memories and ghosts.
I have five younger siblings and narcissistic parents. I have had to deal with a lot on my own as a child, plus being treated as a "second mom" to my siblings.
For some reason, it seems to me that a friend or two would make all that easier.
Chatting apps are full of perverts here, and I work at home. I am not sure where to look for friends. Online chatting is not communication enough for me.

 

[Riley Jones]

I'm so sorry to hear about the trauma and hardships you have experienced in your life. It takes a lot of strength to carry the weight of so many responsibilities and challenges, especially when you're dealing with narcissistic parents and the aftermath of war and natural disasters.

It's understandable that you're feeling a sense of isolation and longing for connection with others. It can be difficult to find genuine friendships during difficult times, but there are still some options available to you.

One possibility is to try and connect with local organizations or support groups that may be focused on issues related to trauma, especially given the circumstances in your country. These types of groups can provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences and offer mutual support.

Regarding finding friends, it might be challenging to meet people in person due to the current situation, but there are online groups and communities that may interest you. You can try seeking out groups or forums related to your hobbies or interests. For example, if you enjoy books, you might join an online book club. If you are interested in learning new things, there are free online courses that may interest you.

It's important to remember that friendship takes time and effort, especially during difficult times. It may take some time to build connections with others, but it's worth it in the end. You said that online chatting is not enough for you, but perhaps online connections can serve as a starting point for building deeper friendships in the future.

Lastly, I want to stress the importance of self-care during these challenging times. It's important to take care of yourself and prioritize your own well-being. You've been through so much and deserve to give yourself the same level of compassion and care that you would offer to a friend.

 

[Rose White]

Hi Salma, welcome to the site! Thank you for sharing a bit about your story. CPTSD from a narcissistic mother and parentification is a lot to recover from, but then to have trauma related to war and natural disasters on top is a hefty load. Good on you for taking a stand for yourself and your recovery!

For some reason, it seems to me that a friend or two would make all that easier.
Chatting apps are full of perverts here, and I work at home. I am not sure where to look for friends. Online chatting is not communication enough for me.

A very good reason! Friends do make stressful situations more bearable! Understandable that online chatting is not enough, I feel the same.

I encourage you to look around the site; you can use the search feature to look up terms related to what interests you. There’s a sub-forum called Relationships which is a great place to explore issues with friendship.

Again, Welcome!

 

[Sideways]

Welcome to the community:)

 

[sidptitala]

ahlan wa sahlan salma. thank you for sharing what you did. that sounds like a lot of things which are very difficult to deal with, and I hope you find that sharing here helps.

there are people all over the world thinking of you in syria. and eldest daughters who have been a second mom and understand how you are feeling, like an old woman with ghosts- we are all over the world too. please keeping writing here if you find it helps.

xx

 

[Freddyt]

Welcome! This is a great place to first get help living with PTSD day to day and second have a virtual social life.

 

[lisa67]

Hey there fellow beings.
I am a bit emotional now, so I hope I can manage to communicate my ideas.
Being an anarchist, I'm not a fan of nationalism, but saying that I have lived my whole life in Syria explains alot. War has been traumatizing us here since 2011, and a horrible earthquake hit recently. Everyone my age has left the country due to those and many other reasons, almost all of my friends and my sister that is one year younger than me.
I feel like an old woman minus the wisdom, just sitting with ruins and memories and ghosts.
I have five younger siblings and narcissistic parents. I have had to deal with a lot on my own as a child, plus being treated as a "second mom" to my siblings.
For some reason, it seems to me that a friend or two would make all that easier.
Chatting apps are full of perverts here, and I work at home. I am not sure where to look for friends. Online chatting is not communication enough for me.

Happy to chat anytime Salma