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Teacher Assault = PTSD

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kriskats

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Hello, I am so very happy to have found this group! I have been searching for books, web resources, professional help since July of this year...why is it so hard to find qualified mental health professionals who know what ptsd is and who are skilled at treating it???

15 yrs ago I was assaulted by an 8th grade male student, I was 6 months pregnant and newly married at the time.

I had trauma to the fetus and gave birth prematurely, almost 4 weeks. She developed a host of illnesses, some of which were life threatening, but is a sweet almost well adjusted 14 yr old now, LOL.

However, I was diagnosed as having PTSD within a short time of the assault, and withdrew and eventually had to go on anti-depressants although I fought it, as I wanted to nurse her. Although I was home for 6 years, I had 4 miscarriages and another child and went back to night school to attain my graduate degree in counseling.

I was told I had to return to work as a teacher (or find another type of job), as I only had 6 years of Workman's Compensation...this was by my private attorney...idiot!

During the next several years, I was in a major car accident (was out of work for 2 years), got divorced, returned to work and had my life threatened by a student who had hit a teacher the previous year...

2 yrs later...

I broke up a fight in my classroom (no male admin came anywhere near my room to assist) and after I left to go home and hibernate under the covers (my female student was having her head bashed into the cement wall in my classroom and no one helped), I later found out the girl who assaulted her said that I called her a bitch. So, her mom came to my classroom (yeah, safe school, huh?) and threatened to beat me within an inch of my life. It took all 3 male admin who refused to help me, to get her out of the school. Did they call the police, no. Did the teacher in my classroom write out a report of what happened, no.

The last and final episode was this past year when a female student wanted to come into my classroom and I told her to go to the office. She then head butted me in the shoulder, came into the class and told me that I shouldn't have stood in her way????

My own union refused to give me a lawyer...yes, trust issues abound with me. The first one I chose, was because he seemed kind on the phone, yes, I was an idiot...as I needed a lawyer who is ruthless in court and kind to his clients (oxymoron anyone???)

He at least told me that I could apply for a work related accidental disability pension, but I had to fire him as he was unbelievably disrespectful towards me, something I cannot tolerate, plus I don't think he knew what he was doing????

I have been to a day treatment program...with little success...had numerous court battles, as I was not granted workman's comp until Nov....from the incident in May...had to stop seeing two therapists, as they were billing my insurance, not workman's comp and have yet to find one who will take workman's comp...

and life goes on, as I have had a couple of other traumatic things happen at the end of last year...I say good riddance to 2009!!!

I am on the wellness track as I AM IN CHARGE OF ME!!! :smile:

Thanks for taking the time to read this diatribe...good things moving forward...

Jennifer
 
Hi Jennifer,

Welcome to the forum. I live a little north of your tiny spot on the map! I am so sorry that all of that has happened to you. That assualt when you were pregnant ...how frightening! I'm glad that things are good with your daughter though! I went through a similar thing with nursing and fighting taking antidepressants. I didn't take them and continuted nursing my son (who is 16 now) and became psychotic. The doctors said I had post partum pyschosis. Anyway..I'm getting off subject here.

You've found a great place with lots of very useful information and some really wonderful people. I look forward to hearing more about you.

Jen
also 45 :)
 
Hi Jennifer,

Yours is the kind of story that pops up in the news once in awhile, there seems to be momentary attention to how-to-protect our teachers, then it gets dropped again until the next one. Geesh.

My sister and brother-in-law are high school teachers, and your story has really familiar elements! They are both within 5 years of retirement and counting the days because of the lack of protection, increasingly hostile students and parents and just zero community support. Yes, there are some enlightened districts but not many. It sounds like your district is incredibly tolerant of violence!

I'm sorry you've had such a terrible time of it. Betrayals by those whose job it is to supprt you-as in plural, on top of repeated traumas sounds like a lot of what got me here to the forum also. It's a great place to be. There are huge amounts of resources, plus the genuine comfort of knowing you're not at all alone with all this dreck.

Hope to see you back, and take care,

Anni
 
LOL hi Jen...my neighbor!

Thanks for your support. While I didn't become phsychotic, I did have two friends who did. One thought aliens were after her newborn. Frightening, to be sure.

I thank God I have found this site, as I don't have much support here in Little Rhody. I feel so much better already, knowing that there are people out there who can comprehend what I have been going through.

Jen... your neighboring twin, lol
 
Hello Anni,

Thank you for the warm welcome and validation that I am not crazy. Many who hear my story are incredulous and think it is unbelivable to have happened, in this day and age??? I wonder what shell they live in?

I'm glad to see you here and know that we've both been able to find support from people who care.

I'll definitely be back.

Enjoy your weekend,

Jennifer
 
Golly, you are a walking movie of the week! With a the storms you have weathered you are one heck of a swimmer. Way to go! Please keep on coming here and never ever ever loose your sense of humour. Sometimes it is the only thing that keeps us going!
O
 
LOL That was just the tip of the iceberg...thanks onebravegirl, I am definitely calling this place home!
 
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