PTSD help?? need comfort??

I know it won't lessen the suffering but the main reason im going through with this is coz I want what happened to me to be acknowledged as the abuser got found not guilty so this is main reason I am applying, just purely to hopefully have some acknowledgement that this did happen to me......

I listen to music which sometimes helps or pat my cat but other than that I struggle

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@NigioC wrote:

Hey @vampireprincess 

 

First of all, congratulations on being so incredibly brave and strong in your willingness to pursue compenation and going through this process, I'm sure you know that it's worth it in the end but, as I'm sure you also know, that doesn't make the pain you have to go through any less.

 

Finding things that help you self-soothe can help manage the anxiety associated wth PTSD. This story is about how a hammock is the place this girl goes to self soothe. She describes how important it is for everyone to find their version of the hammock. Do you have something llike this? Something that calms you or soothes you?

 

ANd what about having a debrief afterwards with someone you trust and feel relaxed ith? Do you have someone like that?

 

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hi @vampireprincess 

I dont personally know much about PTSD but after your post I thought I would look a few things up.

If you check out this to a Reachout page on PTSD at the bottum there is a further link to more information. Its a really good PDF type format from Beyondblue with heaps of information organised into good little subheadings. 

Ehead Space is also a good place to go to talk to someone and get advice about tough issues.

P.S. I attached the beyond blue document

Hey @vampireprincess just remember that you are strong and that you are a survivor! 🙂

It took my a few years to even admit to myself that I was sexually assaulted. When I first started counselling, I would spend an hour or 2 just sitting on the beach watching the waves roll in and out. There was nothing that would relax me more than the sound of crashing waves and the smell of salt in the air. I guess it helped that my clinic wasn't too far from the beach.

Then I started counselling specifically for my SA. It was not near the beach. 😞 After my second session there, I felt like I was left raw and exposed. It took me a bit over a week to get back to my then normally functioning self, which wasn't very functional at all. But I told my counsellor about it in the next session. So she rang me the following day to make sure that I was okay.

I think the only difference between the 2 sessions was that the first one mentioned, I caught the bus home, but the second one, I walked home. And every session after that, I would walk home or if I wasn't ready to go straight home, I would head to bunnings and browse the garden section. I would then dream of my perfect garden.

Moral of the story, you've just got to keep searching for the one thing that gives you a little time to yourself to process what has happened in that session without being in a stressful environment. Some people, like @NigioC suggested like to process it by talking with people, I found being with nature helped me. Just find what works for you.

Goodluck with your VoC claim. Perhaps you could draw whatever comes to mind when you are listening to music. 🙂

If you need someone to talk to tonight, then call or visit the website of 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). They offer telephone and online counselling.

Take care of yourself,

stonepixie