Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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My aunt is the type of person who would love anyone no matter how terrible or awful they've been. She fostered kids who were abused, she did a humanitarian project for clean water in Africa, she took care of me while I was very young (like 4-6 yo), and even when she betrayed me and my mom she would still have contact and share the family love. Her husband was terrible and had been abusing her since the day they were married and when she had my cousins she had to have a C-Section and he hit her so hard that her stitches and incisions broke open and was hospitalized.
Yesterday I was informed that she went on vacation to California to have "fun" with her family. But while they were packing to come back she did something that scared the crap out of us. She slit her wrists and had a rope around her neck hanging from the ceiling.
She's currently in the ER getting treatment and they want to keep her longer. I never thought she would do this it's not like her at all. I look up to her as a role model because of how beautiful and kind/respectful she is all the time.
I don't know what to say but I'm sorry.
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
From my point of view? (And I've been suicidal, lost family to suicide.) We all have hidden stories inside us. Give your aunt your continued love, if you can. Gentle puma hugs to you.
i'm going to pray for your aunt too if that's ok with you and i think it is really good that she is in the hospital for a bit. maybe that's good if she stays for a little longer, maybe then she'll get some extra rest that she might not take if she went home too soon.
And then, after 5 years, she committed suicide and was gone.
I'm Community Leader her on this PTSD site for Daily Strength, so I bear that in mind every day when I log on. Leaders are human just like everybody else, and we need support just like everybody else does. If we don't ask for it and receive it, the result can be sadly catastrophic.
That's why I give support here and watch over the group as a CL is supposed to do, but I also post here asking for support when I need it. I did that over Father's Day, for example, when it triggered PTSD memories of abuse I grew up in.
When my birthday was approaching, I prevented that from happening again by asking for support in advance.
https://www.dailystrength.org/group/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/discussion/it-s-coming-1
Then I printed that support off and gave it to my psychiatrist before my appointment this past Thursday for more support from him. From what I learned from losing my face to face support group leader like that, I cover all the bases.
I hope you reach out for a psychiatrist or a therapist for the support you need for us to back up with our support as a group, and that your aunt does, too, with a fresh start from so much pain. You're not alone.
Thank you for the warning.
What I see is what I also felt when I was in a trapped abusive marriage, your discription took my breath away as a survivor of spouse abuse , I remember all to well the fear of even coming home from work, crying because I was doing it. Coming back from a place where people were mostly smiling, like her vacay with family, to a home that had an undercurrent of anger and fear of what might happen. The odds were that I would face him already drinking and ready to flip the pain switch on....then blame for it happening.
That you are aware of some of the damage says alot, since this usually happens behind closed doors. In the open the abusive spouse can fool others most of the time. And they may also trivialize the damage they caused, or strike out because of displaced shame/guilt. They make the reasons in their mind to justify their actions no matter how implausible, to their self and their victim. Then me and your aunt get to a point of believing it and losing hope it will ever change. A vacay that shows examples (the fun, happy couples, considerations by strangers) that this is not true can trigger an action to escape, anyway possible...
Your aunt needs the space and time to learn that this is not the only way to get out. Then she will need a lot of support, especially if she stays. Abusing spouses will go to therapy to show family and friends that "they are doing the best they can for the victim" even if they deny any of the cause.
My story is long and triggering. But I could no longer carry children as a result and have numerous bone that were broken, while prevented from getting treatment, by my "loving" spouse. It took a few tries and even then I tried a form of action your aunt did, because he stalked me.
Prayers again. If and when she speaks of why...hug her and let her know that you believe her. Then help in any way she may hint at, or her councilors might set up for her.
Jewells