PTSD

[Felinefancier]

I'm seeing a therapist who thinks I'm displaying symptoms of PTSD as result of childhood abuse (physical) my father was the main perpetrator.

These includes dissociation - the ability to 'leave' one's body to avoid feeling overwhelming pain as the childhood abuse was too much for me to bear at that young age. There are also incidents which I have blocked out and cannot remember, I only know they happened because (my siblings) have told me about them.

It has left me susceptible to abusive relationships as an adult as I have a very high 'emotional pain threshold' and stay in damaging relationships much longer than I should as I have great difficulty identifying abuse due to ability to dissociate.

Can I ask if anyone else is suffering from dissociation or any other symptoms of PTSD and if yes how you are dealing with it.

Please don't go into detail about the specifics of actual abuse if possible as I find this triggering, if you do need to go into detail please give a trigger warning.

Hi there. I have symptoms consistent with PTSD ( not from abuse).
After a trauma therapy session I have been detached for 1 to 3 days , drained, on automatic pilot which the psychologist has said is mild dissociation. Mainly I just have episodes of severe anxiety after sessions and have feelings of agitation or as if I can't cope which is totally different from before the session.

I know what you are talking about , abuse as a child , teen , then susceptible to abuse as an adult ..I was raped as a child but blocked that memory until therapy for a later gang rape at work ...yes that is right ..it was the ultimate power play..guess what, I was moved , the perpetrators got off Scott free. It haunted me for 20 years then I had a mental breakdown..now I try to live but I am suffering and there is no cure for PTSD

Hi Felinefancier, yep, me too, although I think complex PTSD fits better. I'm sorry for what's happened to you, good to hear that your therapist seems to get it. What helped me was working hard in therapy, educating myself by reading (Pete Walker is a good place to start if you're interested), and doing whatever I can to find non-destructive things that self-soothe. For me, that includes yoga, fiendish sudoku & hot baths. I still have a way to go but things are much much better than they were. I wish you well.