Topic Tuesday // How do you cope with trauma? // 16 Aug, 7pm AEST

[Former-Member]

I know there has been some mention of seeing psychologists, but I'm wondering what your experience of seeking counselling/therapy for your traumatic experience has been like? Have there been particular therapy approaches that you have found helpful?

[Former-Member]

i saw a counsellor when i was 10 and was referred to a psychologist was my only experience with counsellors

[j___________]

Content/trigger warning

My professionals want me to try EMDR. Tried nearly everything else.

[SGW]

@Former-Member i do not know about anyone else but personally i do not trust anyone beyond a superficial level! I ahev draged myself up from the bottom through univ ersity and now to stable fulltime employment. I feelthis is due to my need for justice and to be validated through it! With my experiences it would be very hard fro me to do so especially law encforcement or some people in mental health. I unfortunally am all alone and i used to have a massive problem with this but in being on my own i have learnt to enjoy my own company even to the point of liking myself. People come and go (hoepfully not using me or causing damage on the way out) i will always have myself and i know i can rely upon myself.

[Bonny]

Thanks j 

A friend reccommended I keep a journal but I feel the same way and it just feels like too much effort at the moment. Plus I'm not ready to rehash all the crappy stuff or intricate events in my thaughts.  A gratitude diary is something I can do and it is positive and can be short.

Maybe by starting this eventually i may journal.

[Okay]

My perps were executed- and it was good.

[AussieGirl]

I will never see a psychologist or talk to a doctor ever again.

[Bonny]

Exactly SGW I feel I am better off alone and more stable and can achieve greater things.

However I am mindful of isolating and I believe in order to heal one day I will gradually begin to soften and slowly let down that brick wall.

Trust will be priority.

[SGW]

@Former-Member i want to be respectful and i achknowledge that not all councilers and therapists are the same. However my experiences to date have mostly been negative to the point i am now of the understanding if i am to heal i will need to do it myself or pay proiatly. I have asked for councilers to give me what i need (exactly like it going to court which i am fighting for currently). My experiences have been there is a push of masking or distraction with little talk about incidences or validation. The wounds cannot heal nor can the cycle be smashed and ground to dust speaking openly occurs. I do not want to live in a zombie half life existance where i am struggling to exist because i am medicated so much i can not lift my head for fears i may offend someone with my experiences. Nor do i want to pretend it did not happen. I won't share specifics but if you are curious i am happy to share the document i made with the timeline of my experiences. Medication is often given as a first resport and there is never any review or actual work on the trauma. Not all but this is my personal experiences and i have been trying for around 10 years.

[Former-Member]

@SGW, I'm sure your not alone in not trusting others beyond a superfical level.  I can understand that your experiences have made it hard for you to do so.  You have done well in working your way through uni and achieveing stable full time employment.  Being alone definitely is something that takes getting used to and the fact that you can enjoy your own company and like yourself are both great accomplishments that many people can struggle with, myself included!