Hi, I am not around your age, but just wanted to say hi, and wish you the best in unfolding your past and your feelings.
There is something call Complex PTSD...but maybe you already know that. I just heard the term this past year by a therapist. I had a young p-doc actually laugh at me once, when I told him I had PTSD...because I had NOT been in a war. He was an ass. or just really stupid. or both. Anyway, I knew I had ptsd...but CPTSD is more accurate. It refers to prolonged stressful situations or trauma, as opposed to just one incident.

Hi. I'm 27 and have CPTSD from non-military issues. This is a good site to talk.

OK, I don't fall under anything you are looking for.. I am middle-aged and though my PTSD is not from a combat zone, most of it is from the Army. Though I have learned since being here that not all of it is. That I was actually broken long before I went active duty.

All of that said, welcome! This is a great place to learn, to vent, to laugh, and to just hang out.

yadlim

I am so far from your age that I feel inappropriate even responding, but...

On all other scores, this is an excellent place to talk it out. I am not so sure PTSD is any great respecter of age.

We are here and we care.

I'm 21 and have ptsd from non-military issues. This is great, supportive site to talk out your emotions. I hope it helps you.

Welcome !

17 years ago or not ... I'm really sorry about the loss of your dad. Wow !

I'm 50, but ... for the last five years ... I've aged like a dog (roughly 7 years for each 12 months).

But one of the things that I've found here is ... while it's definitely nice not to feel alone ... by finding somebody with MORE things in common (like our age) ... all of us DS-PTSD'ers have one very significant thing in common: our diagnosis of PTSD/C-PTSD.

So we tend/try to focus on what unites us more than on what divides us.

And we gather strength from that.

I hope you do, too.

a bit older than you. my CPTSD is from childhood trauma. and yes they look at ya funny when you say you have it and you're not a vet. there's a push in the psych community to only label vets with PTSD. however as any of us here know a war zone doesn't have to be a place with guns and battle cries.

this place is a great place to find support and info.

personally i/we are here off and on. if you don't mind the frequent unpredictability of my presence of mind and appearance here we are more than happy to share.

Wow I am floored by the responses I have gotten already. It's nice to know I am not alone in this disorder.
Like I said in my previous post, I have repressed a lot of the pain I feel and I find it hard to have fun and be social. I'm there but disconnected and come home feeling nothing, rather than full of happiness from a fun night. Any advice on this?
I am also here to listen to people here if they need it

Tactile experiencing is my most effective tool for dissociation or feeling disconnected. All my physical senses, really, but touch seems to be the most effective when I find myself disconnecting. Simpler is better. The feel of my sweater fibers against fingertips. Tickling my face with my hair. Massaging my gums with my tongue. Whatever... It gives me a gentle focus in the here and now, hopefully while soothing my urge to run away from whatever is causing me to dissociate. I may still need to leave the source, but I can shoot for doing so with dignity. Leave instead of running???

There are lots of other tools. Gentle support while you find the one that works for you.

arfie i find it cool you mention tactile stimulation for grounding when dissociating. i rarely go anywhere without one of my dozens of stuffed animals. it has helped me soooo much. i do get asked a lot why i have them cause i will be walking around in stores or places just letting them tag along right out there for the world to see. but they are life savers when the stress and panic hit.

Stuffed animals help me a lot. Lately i have been putting one in my purse or bag to bring to work and just knowing its there helps.
Mental health issues already have such a stigma, it is such a shame that therapists/counselors don't take people seriously.
i went to a primary care physican and I told them about my medicine and ptsd. When my doctor was looking over my file, she asked what I had PTSD from. I said my dad was killed in a car accident when i was 9. She asked did i witness it and I said no. I thought did I have to witness the accident for it to be traumatic:?? Def did not understand the thought process.
Overall i am doing better in dealing with my feelings but it can be hard. I hope all of you are hanging in there/doing your best/insert cliche statement

I wish I was 20 something but 16-20 is when I started with PTSD symptoms. It's only recently at 40 something that I was finally diagnosed. It was from rape trauma and assault as a teen and young adult. This is a great place with understanding people.

I did also want to say that I totally understand the going numb and not feeling the good either. That's what I'm working on now. being able to feel. It really helps when you're getting a tattoo though.

I am sorry for your loss and for the problems you are experiencing now with PTSD. It is not fun, but welcome to the group, together we find ways to support each other.

Personally I think we get to hung up on how we got PTSD, what I have found is it does not matter how you got it, the symptoms are all the same. For that reason I think you will find lots of people here to talk. I know I did and I had been having trouble finding people who understood me.

Hope you find what you are looking for here

Hello and welcome :)

I am double your age but still available to chat. I have CPTSD from non military too. I think there are different types of war in our world and some we fight at a very young age.