Please stop, these boards are destroying my health

You appear to be misreading the thread (as usual) F4.

OP has PTSD. She is finding it impossible to step away from these boards which are triggering her PTSD. (In a way the fact that it's about the trans issue is neither here nor there. It could be rape, it could be exiting prostitution, it could be domestic violence. There are a whole number of issues which are both traumatising and likely to trigger PTSD incidents on a personal level, and also politically important from a feminist perspective and thus in need of discussion.)

OP has had sympathy and some excellent advice. However, she doesn't get to shut down political debate on any issue of importance to women just because she is struggling with it.

It’s gettin more and more obvious that these “trans terrorists” are using more and more devious ways to try and shut down opposition.
The fact that someone can take a scenario that could actually be very real to someone and twist it to their own agenda is disgusting.
Meanwhile the people who suffer? Women and genuine trans(persons).

Stoptheworldplease2018

Are you aware of The Freedom Programme?

They have been very clear about their position.

They have a helpline:
Freedom Programme to those who need it. Help 01942 262 270 [email protected]
freedomprogramme.co.uk/

They may be a good starting point for you to find meaningful support.

Reported.

I really do think transactivism is truly affecting the mental health of many women. There is a heavy layer of anxiety that weighs me down almost every day that I know is in direct relation to my knowledge of males trying to force their way into the category woman and lesbian.

So true. I post here but I have the FWR boards hidden day to day and only come here when I feel strong enough to deal with the anger and anxiety this realisation causes me.

Not everyone can cope with it, many more can only cope sometimes but those who can, when we can must, must, must keep talking and doing or the reality of our everyday lives will be so much worse for us all.

Why would the likes of Mind etc care whether the assailant was male/female/purple/alien?

In a personal therapy session, they wouldn't.

First rule of counselling is showing 'unconditional positive regard'. That means that however unpalatable you find what is being discussed, you don't invalidate the client by being affected by it.

It's one of the reasons counsellors/therapists are receive counselling.

OP if the boards are your trigger it's up to you to ignore them, not all of us to change the subject.

I had a panic attack on my own in a cafe in Bulgaria when I read a MN thread that described a rape very similar to my own. It was terrifying. I didn't know anyone and I couldn't speak the language. I was helpless.

It was not MN's fault, or the poster who shared details about her rape, looking for support. I would have no right to tell her that she couldn't have that source of support.

it’s likeyiuve become addicted to it but at the same time it gives you no pleasure but you can’t stop. If it was alcohol you would not be able to get shops restaurants and bars to stop selling it and you wouldn’t be able to stop others drinking but you can take steps quite easily to minimise your exposure to this without expecting everyone else to stop talking about it.
Hide the feminism board, hide threads with titles that relate to it, unfollow anything on Facebook or twitter etc that upsets you. Focus on something completely different. Take steps to block this from your life, stop feeding your obsession if it upsetting you. Deprive it of oxygen.

I don’t understand this whole thread.

Surely you can talk to a therapist about the assault on you without particularly dwelling on your opinions on trans ideology?

I understand about being triggered. I have suffered from PTSD in the past. Kindly, you’ve got to take some responsibility for your own healing and find ways of not clicking on things that aren’t safe for you at whatever point in your journey.

I am not convinced about the authenticity of where this poster is coming from

Shut up women you are harming me is a familiar refrain I am afraid

So I don't look completely heartless I recommend op asks HQ to give her a temporary "ban". They will do that I believe, if using the site is detrimental to an individual

I’m being dense but surely the OP needs to get therapy for the assault. Why would the likes of Mind etc care whether the assailant was male/female/purple/alien?

Something doesn’t smell right here.

As for the whole trans (?) agenda - I find it appalling that women have to give up so much to appease a small group of men when there’s other options available.

What Fermats said.

Sorry about your PTSD.

But, in a nutshell.

1. Hide FWR.

2. Find a good therapist and talk through your use of social media in general and strategies to step back from message boards which are detrimental to your mental health.

For everyone else: remember the first rule of anonymous internet boards. Not everyone is who they say they are (not saying this about OP, just as a general thing), and so never invest more time or emotional energy, or give away more personal information, than you can afford to lose.

OP has been listened to, has had people express sympathy for her mental health problems, has had some good advice, so I suggest this thread has served its purpose and we now let it go.

I really do think transactivism is truly affecting the mental health of many women. There is a heavy layer of anxiety that weighs me down almost every day that I know is in direct relation to my knowledge of males trying to force their way into the category woman and lesbian.

Yes this. It is genuinely frightening.

Op I can only say I feel for you because you should be getting support. It isn't appropriate for a huge group of women to stop talking about this very serious issue online in an open forum because it's upsetting stuff. But I do understand your desperation.

If I was you I would pick three lighter areas of MN and bookmark them then visit them directly. Reward yourself if you stick to just those each time because the brain does respond to lots of praise and enthusiasm. If you stay away from Active threads, stick on the happiest music you can find on YouTube and have a dance around the room. Be as over the top in encouraging yourself as you can. There is still lots of good out there and lots of joy.

What hobbies do you have? Are you managing to get outside. I think doing something creative every single day, however small, gives you something meaningful and positive to focus on. I am a strong believer in gardening too. When the world feels like it's going down the drain, planting some seeds and watching some growth is very very good for the soul.

Take care of yourself. And I hope you find some real life support soon.

OP I am so sorry you are going through this. You've been seriously traumatised by an assault, and the gender identity ideology is serving to compound the trauma when you try to get help. This is fucking awful, it should never happen.

I know it does though, because I'm having a very similar problem - young niece with issues caused by biomum's wholesale acceptance of the narrative, niece really needs professional help, but if the professional help buys into the narrative then the professionals will be repeating the exact same thing that's messing niece up. It's just a mess all round.

The thing is, though - if everyone stopped talking about trans issues here, you might feel slightly better (though it wouldn't solve your shitty current circumstances), but I'd be feeling a damned sight worse, because the conversation here gives me the tools to see exactly what's being done done to my niece and more importantly why.

All of which is to say: this ideology is causing a lot of women mental health issues, but this board actually functions as a way to help women with these issues. I am sorry it's not working for you at the moment, but it is not fair to suggest taking this space to talk away from the women who do find it helpful.

You dont solve the problems that women face by not talking about them.

They can be horrendous. But that's precisely the reason why they must be talked about.

Some people might find it difficult to do so. They need mental health support and to take time out from the internet if it's affected them.

Women being asked to shut up because it's nicer for a tiny minority who have been failed by mental health support just means we should push for better mental health not shut up.

Suffering in silence helps precisely no one in the end.

Op I'm sorry you are finding life tough. Anxiety is the bane of my life. I understand how hard it can be, but life don't stop happening around me. I just find ways to cope with things I struggle with in life as best I can.

People are talking about things because they care. Not because they don't care about the well being of women.

I'm really sorry you are feeling this way . This whole situation is completely demoralising. I have also got teary and emotional, and frankly have had difficulty sleeping. A lot of these responses are giving good advice, everyone at some point needs to step away from parts of the internet. Personally I'm beginning to feel the black cloud of depression starting to creep back and am planning different ways to help bring back positivity in my life.

I'm sorry that you feel your pleas for help are being ignored by the very institutions we are encouraged to contact when we feel overwhelmed and in crisis. Sadly even in countries with good healthcare, mental health care is underfunded and under resourced.

Please put yourself first. Take some time for you. The benefits of exercise, healthy food and a good nights rest can't be underestimated. Obviously if you are feeling overwhelmed, just small changes little by little. Baby steps. Finding something creative that you enjoy or you've always wanted to learn can be really beneficial because we are engaging a different part of our brain. Creativity helps to express emotions. No need to sign up for a class if you're feeling anxious. Look for books at the library or check out related YouTube tutorials.

You'll get there. Have faith hugs

So you want to shut down the one and only place you would be 100% supported? What about the abused women that need that support?

Telling us all to shut up and go away because it hurts your feelings is exactly what the TRA do.

I'm probably wrong but this is just another attempt to silence women and place the responsibility for other people's happiness on women.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse

I wondered that too. Making it look like women are harming other women with these discussions; making women responsible for how other women feel.

If they claim to care about women so much...

When I was healing I turned to women’s arts as the help I was offered made things worse. If you don’t know how to do them, go to your local library (yes, I know they are closing, but there is usually one in a big town).
Doing a bit of crocheting can teally help and due to the attention needed can be really distracting