Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
I've experienced a lot of shit. I can think of 12 (unconnected) things/events that would be considered traumatic, which I think is an impressive amount of bad luck for my humble 18 years of life. (That's what most of it amounts to. Bad luck. Wrong place, wrong time, that sort of thing.)
Now, the interesting thing is that *I* don't consider all of them traumatic. In my head there's two cotegories: Traumas and Aggravating Circumstances. The former are the ones I consider the cause of my PTSD, the latter are the ones that were stressful but without lasting effects. Only 4 are listed under 'Trauma', but some of the AC's were just as bad.
What I've been wondering is why some affected me so much more than others? Worst case scenario: Is it that my mind just hasn't gotten around to them because it's still processing the others? Or am I just that messed up that it doesn't seem so bad (because to me somehow it doesn't)? Is there another reason? Is it just random?
Has anyone else experienced things that *should* be traumatising but somehow just ... aren't?
Example:
*******TW*******
When I was 9 I was in a buildig when the ceiling collapsed. I was lucky, got away with a few scratches and bruises. Luckily no one died, but I and 11 others were stuck under the rubble for several hours. No lasting effects, no claustrophobia or fear of darkness or anything.
Another one:
When I was 7 a boy who'd been bullying me for months tried to cut my throat. He was a few years older and I have no idea if he could've killed me, but I'm pretty sure that was his intention. I headbutted him, grabbed the knife and ran. Had a small cut on my neck, but it didn't even scar. Again, no lasting effects.
Both were f*cking terrifying, but they didn't really affect me for some reason.
Thanks for listening!
Now, the interesting thing is that *I* don't consider all of them traumatic. In my head there's two cotegories: Traumas and Aggravating Circumstances. The former are the ones I consider the cause of my PTSD, the latter are the ones that were stressful but without lasting effects. Only 4 are listed under 'Trauma', but some of the AC's were just as bad.
What I've been wondering is why some affected me so much more than others? Worst case scenario: Is it that my mind just hasn't gotten around to them because it's still processing the others? Or am I just that messed up that it doesn't seem so bad (because to me somehow it doesn't)? Is there another reason? Is it just random?
Has anyone else experienced things that *should* be traumatising but somehow just ... aren't?
Example:
*******TW*******
When I was 9 I was in a buildig when the ceiling collapsed. I was lucky, got away with a few scratches and bruises. Luckily no one died, but I and 11 others were stuck under the rubble for several hours. No lasting effects, no claustrophobia or fear of darkness or anything.
Another one:
When I was 7 a boy who'd been bullying me for months tried to cut my throat. He was a few years older and I have no idea if he could've killed me, but I'm pretty sure that was his intention. I headbutted him, grabbed the knife and ran. Had a small cut on my neck, but it didn't even scar. Again, no lasting effects.
Both were f*cking terrifying, but they didn't really affect me for some reason.
Thanks for listening!
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Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...
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Hey all, i know its been quite awhile since i posted on here. Its been a summer all right. Its been something else........... You know how they say not to open the can of worms? Well a few months ago i decided to find out what my due date would have been for my first baby, the one conceived by r***. My baby would have been due on March 4th of 2006. They would be 20 years old. I was R**** on June...
(TW) For me, being raped simply confirmed what my abusers taught me, and I basically shrugged it off compared to what most people would have gone through if they'd been in the same situation. People think I made this amazing recovery, but for me, it was just one more shi* day in a shi* life and like a beaten dog I took my beating and limped on my way, essentially.
My psychiatrist said being abused primes us to view later events as traumatic, because we *expect* to be blamed and that adds to our stress form the event. For what that's worth. Yet it can, perversely, do what it did to me---neutralize some of the stress of a traumatic event, b/c there's so much else going on that it's just a drop ina bucket, not the bucket itself. (This sounded better when he said it, I promise!)
And I think even DNA may play into it. I could always handle injuried people or animals without getting grossed out, but my hubby? Turns green, and has to go lie down. Yet he watches horror movies, and those trigger my PTSD like crazy!
Sometimes I think th emost insane thing is how any of us manage to be sane.
Sorry, went off topic, just... I've discussed this with ap sych doc, a neuro, etc., and it all comes down to: a million tiny factors, maybe even the flap of a butterfly's wing for all we know. There's great research on it, but no real answers to say, "Ah, here is a sliding scale of trauma severity to use as a predictive diagnostic tool".
Hugs as you ponder.
i hope you are feeling better today xx
One of the more mind bending/debatable traumas on that list is discovering that what is downright pleasant in a kiddie whorehouse will send most of the world into a hysterical frenzy. Aggravating circumstances vs. outright trauma? That is only one example on my very long list.
You most assuredly have my vote for this as a highly pertinent wonder, Neo. Thank you.
My therapist tells me with my EMDR treatment the triggers will lesson and I have noticed that. Still have a mountain to climb but at least I am on the mountain lol
DOn't be hard on yourself,the brain does what the brain does and it is so quick you just go with it. Like being on a slide sometimes. I think the secret is to notice when you are triggered and use the skills from your therapist to bring you back to normal where the whole brain works again.
Big hug to you