PTSD Support and Recovery

I have scoured books, read so many survivor stories, and taken so many college classes just trying to understand how it is that a roommate of only a few months can still cause so many flashbacks years later. Just one selfish terror of a person can leave someone so jumpy and angry years after they not only have been removed from my life but are even removed from life entirely of their own accord.

I know now that not everyone is going to develop a mental disorder from stressful experiences, and many will in fact, develop resilience from it. Unfortunately, I guess I'm just one of the unlucky sensitive people who got to spend most of their life as a target and gets all the fun experiences that comes with it.

I don't get the "pleasure" of having normal PTSD, but of course it is "complex"; something that develops over years of repeated traumatic experiences that I never learned to deal with and can't seem to recover from.

Every time I hear hard footsteps I panic, and I think about if I should climb out a window, or if something terrible is about to happen. I know I'm not the only one who has had to plan the times they leave their room over when someone is in the areas they are traveling to or from, but that kind of high alert is not something that can simply be turned on or off. I try to tell my nervous system that just because someone is walking hard doesn't mean that they are about to barge in your room and yell at you or start an argument with you full of verbal abuse if you dare to enter the same room they are in. My nervous system laughs at me because it has evolved over millions of years to keep me alive and it will not be reprogrammed so easily.

Unfortunately, my fear of heavy footsteps extends past one bad roommate, but includes past partners, and other roommates who had the same behavior. Of course, everyone seemed great at first while they were wearing their masks, but after they befriend you they just slowly start chopping away at your sanity and self-esteem until the same pattern repeats.

Yes, the damage to your self-esteem and agency causes you to continue to put up with bad behavior from other people that causes these problems in your life. I broke the cycle, but the wounds still remain.

#PTSDSupportAndRecovery #healingjourney

Hi, my name is April. I'm here because navigating the intersection of chronic illness and complex trauma is not something anyone should do alone.

After suffering for many years, I've finally started getting answers about my physical health—I was diagnosed with psoriasis a year ago and psoriatic arthritis a few weeks ago. I'll be starting new a medication soon, and I'm hopeful for some relief.

Managing these physical diagnoses can be overwhelming, especially as a CSA and SA survivor also living with grief, PTSD, AuDHD, and many more ABCs! As an expressive arts facilitator, I've found that storytelling is my safest way to process it all.

I'm working on a series of short stories based on my lived experiences with childhood trauma. The first piece, A Childhood Secret: The Piano Lesson, was written under the pseudonym Michaela Parker—a protective mask I needed at the time. It's currently out, and readers have called it "a beautiful testimony."

Finding spaces that understand the combined physical and emotional toll this takes is so important. I look forward to connecting with you!

#MightyTogether #PsoriaticArthritis #PTSDSupportAndRecovery #PTSD

I’ve done different kinds of therapy in the past- but I’ve been hearing more about somatic therapy. As someone with a very heavy trauma background, I think it could be of help if done right. Has anyone done this type of therapy and if so what are your experiences with it? #PTSD #PTSDSupportAndRecovery

I don't know what to do. I've worked so hard to heal myself of 20+ years of trauma and now I am being asked to stop taking my medication for 60 days in order to keep my job. #help #Singlemom #Depression #Anxiety #PTSDSupportAndRecovery

No matter what I have to give myself a chance. Instead of killing the seed underground due to fear of others, I owe myself to nurture , put in efforts and Give myself an honest chance to allow the seed of my dreams to atleast grow. If it blossoms..that is awesome, if not at least I gave myself a whole-hearted effort.

#PTSDSupportAndRecovery

I hate it when people say " you had to face so and so person and look it has made you stronger and better."

No.. toxic abusers took away my joy, made me doubt myself, slowly erased my personality, took away my confidence and self-esteem. It was me who chose to not give up, to endure, to show up in any way I could, to watch vedios which healed me.

It was my efforts which made me stronger. It was holding on to drop of faith despite no hope which made me stronger. It was Faith and endurance which is making me a better and stronger person.

The abuser/toxic person doesn't get to take credit.

#CPTSD #PTSD #PTSDSupportAndRecovery