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Sufferer Was Held-up, Tied Up And Beaten

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madmax

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My name is Mark.

I find expressing events that led to my PTSD numbing yet angry at the same time.

I was employed by a transportation company who began doing business with a new company.

My director of safety asked me to record all licence plate numbers of the numerous vehicles that would show up with this new company's stock that would be off loaded at our dock and moved out on our trailers. This went on for two more years with questions being asked by my staff through out this ongoing process.

2 years later one group of delivery individuals were robbed by a rival "gang" something I found out two months latter. A couple of months later my clerk, a customer and myself were hog-tied after having 45's,9 mm's and sawed off shotguns put to our bodies. I was pistol whipped, my customer lost his bowels when they closed all the dock doors down and then chambered there weapons and asked us if we ready to die (while they were laughing). They obviously did not pull the triggers.

The real crummy thing about this comes down to the fact our company was knowingly participating in a FBI and Joint Counter-terrorism sting that we as terminal personnel knew nothing about. Much more could be said but I think you get the idea. I was offered no therapy, basically the culture was tough it out shit happens.

I turned to martial arts and for two years focused my anger unproductively at my dojo. I began drinking and drugging to escape something I had know idea or conceptual understanding of what was happening to myself family and friends.

I left work on disability which turned into SSDI. I have not been able to concentrate or work any where near the level I once took for granted. PTSD seems to have a pretty bad stigma associated with the diagnoses to boot.

This is my introduction it's not a question it's just venting and I am feeling pretty ill at present.
 
Hi Mark,

Welcome to the PTSD Forum. You are in a good place.

I suffer from PTSD from multiple traumas, myself. I've been pistol whipped before when I was younger. Had to get a new cheek bone and plastic surgery after they got me back together again. They did other things as well, which I won't detail at this time. But lets just say, I remember that type of laughter. It took me years before the nightmares stopped. Under certain triggers, I still have flashbacks to that time period.

This forum has some wonderful, supportive people in it. We all "get it". I am so sorry you went through all you did. It really sucks that they didn't get you the help you needed after it was over. You'd think because of who they were, you'd have gotten the correct type of help. Shame on them. I hope you have found a good trauma therapist now to help.

You are welcome to vent here any time. We all understand. One suggestion though. Please, put double space between your paragraphs. It's hard to read this way.

Nice to meet you.
 
Hi Mark,

Welcome to the PTSD Forum! :)

Being held at gun point and convinced that you are going to die is something that is really difficult to just "suck up". PTSD does impact a persons life at so many levels, but it is something that can be managed. With the right therapy, information and support, as person can heal.

I hope you find this site beneficial as you work on reclaiming your life.

Debbie
 
Hi Mark, Welcome to the forum! Anger if properly directed and processed helps put things in perspective.

You have been through a horrible experience. Great job on beginning your journey to healing.

It takes time but you are worth every bit!
 
Hi Mark,

Wecome to the forum!

I can only imagine how outraged you were that such a terrible thing happened. I know a friend who was held at gunpoint while out during a holiday in New Orleans. The gunmen jumped out of van, threatened the group my friend was with, and then laughed and jumped back into the van and left. After that, she left the city... she returned later as it is her hometown but it really upset her to the core.

Like many posts I read, the experiences are very specific and I am shocked and dismayed for the people who write them that they experienced such abuse. I read about senseless violence and see how deeply it affects people. What I can do on this forum is offer my support in share with my experience with PTSD. I find although our experiences differ, the effects of PTSD and the struggles we have bring us together. I find the posts on this forum resonate deeper than I could ever imagine when I joined.

Having been around violent people I can say that I really do not like getting angry. On top of my PTSD and depression, it feels like too much to carry around.

My therapist specializes in violence. One day meeting with her I realized I was upset, angry and agitated at the way I was being treated.

I learned from my therapist that day that anger is actually an energy you can use, if guided properly.

Do you have a therapist that you can do good work with and respect?

It's nice to have you here. I look forward to seeing your future posts.

LL
 
I have a therapist that has gotten to chummy with me. Our conversations are aimless at times. Just this past Tuesday I shared a very dysfunctional situation involving my father getting "loaded" and coming to my neighbors house looking for me dressed in full metal jacket munitions strapped over both shoulders. He began knocking on the outside windows with his 9 mm. I let him into the house he then told me he was going to kill me today and asked me what I had to say about that. Figuring he was just a crazy old man that had to much vodka, I just laughed and told him to do it. I walked up to him while he stood in my neighbor's kitchen up until the muzzle was buried into my stomach and called him a ..ssy My father ended up sitting on the floor of my neighbor's office and crying like a baby.I had left sometime prior to this DE escalation.

Sorry for the winded narrative;so my (T) says you got to be shitting me. Enough said, don't you think?
 
Hi Mark,

Yes, I have to agree, it does not sound like things are quite right with this therapist you mention. I do know what you mean, some T's act more like life coaches instead of doing psychoanalysis and providing you with much needed support! The therapist I see with my father once said to me, "One day you will look back and ask yourself, what the eff was all that about!"

Have you thought about shopping around for a new therapist? I chose mine because she specialized in anxiety, depression and non-violence. We have very proper boundaries although I do call her by her first name. She does not work miracles, but overtime I have seen great strides in my recovery. This T is far more intellectual than the one I see in joint therapy. She also studies constantly and discusses new developments and studies that may relate to me and my issues.

What I really like about her is her knowledge about violence and the seriousness with which she approaches her therapy. Every T has a different style and I have found that having a pal or buddy does not work for me, personally. I'm hoping that you could perhaps find a therapist that is more suited to help you and hopefully one that is connected with non-violence centers and studies. You may check if there is a center for non-violence in your area and see if you can get a list of T's from them. I always call around and have a short phone discussion before making an appointment. When I spoke to my current T for the first time, I felt like she may be the right fit and just booked an appointment. Now that you know what you do not like, it should be easier to narrow down what you are looking for in a therapist! As for the therapist that I go to for joint therapy, I find I have to go in very calm and usually come out more agitated than when I went in. Check out my posts in the Things You Would Never Say to Your Therapist, post for that nonsense! He has helped, but honestly he has helped the other person more than me as of late.

Good luck!!
 
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