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'm trying to break my isolation and forcing myself to go out and try a few things. I volunteered and got bullied out. A few weeks ago I went on a harbour/island seniors day cruise where I felt a bit of a leper being the only woman on her own. Last night I decided to try a hotel where people might be a little friendlier and the only thing a woman on her own can do really is play the pokies. Despite the other patrons being mostly older and probably lonely people also there is absolutely no interaction between them. You wouldn't dare interrupt their intense focus on those machines. Oh those machines, OMG! How does anyone get addicted to them? Boring, boring, boring. And so loud. I know the psychology behind how these machines are set up so maybe that's why they annoy me rather than entice me. I made a friend of a neighbour who has a pathological need to compete with housework and attention from men, she's 62 not 16 btw so its a bit creepy and she can be quite hurtful. She's playing the game by herself but it doesn't stop her from being triumphant.
So I've tried quite a few things to meet people in this town I've moved to. I seem to fall through the cracks, too working class for the middle class, too middle class for the working class and not enough social skills to overcome it.
-
I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
-
First, I hope everyone is doing well, and continuing to fight that good fight! Keep up the great work on yourselves; I'm rooting for all of you!So, I started doing therapy at the beginning of the year, when I was in my most depressed state, but with my therapist, I made big changes and steps in the right direction. But, over a month ago, she couldn't take my insurance anymore, and I had to stop...
Maybe we'll run into each other some time. I promise I won't bully you. People in this city can be quite rude, though...
Dunno. . . This social klutz is currently studying up on being patient with the process while I shoot to figure out realistic expectations.
When they decided we should live overseas I went to the only good English speaking school in tiny Uruguay, South America. It turned out to be a British prep school where the country's president (a nasty dictator) sent his kids, too. So there I was, a kid who wore vinyl shoes to school because my family couldn't afford leather ones, going to school with kids brought to the school door every morning in a limo. I didn't fit in at all, not ever.
But after that, when I returned as I have now to teach community college in Appalachia, now THAT has made me too "middle class" for the working class hillbilly town I live in (again, a fact, not an insult). Try as I might to fit in, I speak Spanish now, you see, and that ain't country.
So I don't fit in back here now, either. Folks from here play those slot machines at the local casino--no thanks. There's one movie theater two towns over where the shows change once a month, and then you wait. Otherwise, it's thank goodness for Netflix. And DS PTSD friends.
I hear ya, I really do. Isolation abounds. Thanks for what you said about working class and middle class. Not many people speak up about that here in the USA, where folks pretend such class divisions don't exist, though they do. I oughtta know. You're not alone, my friend.
I want new friends too, not the the old are bad but I just want more connections to people to learn more about someone other than myself. I've met great people but generally if I'm talking to new people it means I'm in a good state, the norm however is eyes straight ahead, big glasses on and as minimal conversation as I can then back home. Even phone conversations have to be short or i get antsy.
How do you meet people like that? I'm seriously wondering.
Wow Muji you have had such an interesting life. I know it was a little too interesting for comfort but it makes a great adventure story and you tell it well.
I know its easy to make assumptions about people being hopeless and helpless that have tried nothing but..
I have about a 2 hour span that I can concentrate on classes before I get twitchy nowadays, partly because of my chronic pain, and my adult life has been about education and updating when I could. I've even been to university, first one in my family to do so.
Craft classes make me want to scream unfortunately, remind me of school plus I'm an outside person.
Arfie and jenny, thanks for your wisdom. I do understand friendships don't happen instantly but I have been here 18 months at Christmas. Only getting sick of the process now. I have persevered with my neighbour ignoring her hurts for quite a while, but she just amps up the behaviour because she can and she thinks she's winning. I do have people I talk to at times but its shallow surface stuff and nothing to hang my hat on. Just feeling grumpy and twitchy today I guess and sick of groundhog day. This too shall pass (I think). I'm grateful I can come here and talk about things though.