[Trace14]

Physical abuse? Sexual abuse? Neglect (Physical and Emotional)? Life threatening events?

Has your opinion of what trauma is changed since you have been diagnosed? It has for me. Really opened my eyes to all the different ways a person can me traumatized.

There's really so much to learn.

[Wild Coyote]

I find the DSM guidelines very helpful in defining trauma.

Yes, there are so many potential sources of trauma. Wow!


WC

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I find the DSM guidelines very helpful in defining trauma.

Yes, there are so many potential sources of trauma. Wow!


WC

This is great having you stop by so often

[Wild Coyote]

Thanks, Trace.

It's good for me, too.

My depression is lifting a bit; I feel I can branch out a bit, so to speak.

You've crossed my mind a lot.


WC

[Shazerac]

Trauma can come from so many different events. It's a little overwhelming.

Things can occur to you at weird times too. I'm 62 years old and about an hour ago I had a huge panic attack that hit me out of the blue. I suddenly realized that I'm terrified of obese people. Intellectually I don't feel any prejudice, I don't think obese people are bad people or lazy. I couldn't figure it out. Then a childhood memory slammed into me. We had a neighbor family that lived 2 houses away. The entire family was obese and they bullied me horribly. They would throw me down and sit on me. spray me with a water hose when I walked by their house. Call me a skinny beotch. I was skinny but so what?

Anyway, why it took me 62 years to remember this I have no clue.

[TishaBuv]

I think trauma is an event that repeats on you causing you panic attacks. Sometimes the trauma reaction can be dull, like you go into shock, and the panic attack is more haunting than hysterical.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Thanks, Trace.

It's good for me, too.

My depression is lifting a bit; I feel I can branch out a bit, so to speak.

You've crossed my mind a lot.


WC

Glad you are feeling better and you know you are always welcome here. Seems like this place is like home for some of us. We have grown a lot together. But to me this place is even more, it's my support system. Not something the T wants to hear, but it's a neutral system that will not just tell me what I want to hear to make me feel better. And it's from people who have traveled a similar road. I guess the T wants know , close by person to be a support system....maybe one day....maybe

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

Trauma can come from so many different events. It's a little overwhelming.

Things can occur to you at weird times too. I'm 62 years old and about an hour ago I had a huge panic attack that hit me out of the blue. I suddenly realized that I'm terrified of obese people. Intellectually I don't feel any prejudice, I don't think obese people are bad people or lazy. I couldn't figure it out. Then a childhood memory slammed into me. We had a neighbor family that lived 2 houses away. The entire family was obese and they bullied me horribly. They would throw me down and sit on me. spray me with a water hose when I walked by their house. Call me a skinny beotch. I was skinny but so what?

Anyway, why it took me 62 years to remember this I have no clue.

It was buried deep inside. Took that trigger to pull it up to surface. I hate when that happens. Makes you wonder how much more is buried that needs to be dealt with, and do we have time on this Earth to make peace with them all. I'm 58 so I can relate.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

Trauma can come from so many different events. It's a little overwhelming.

Things can occur to you at weird times too. I'm 62 years old and about an hour ago I had a huge panic attack that hit me out of the blue. I suddenly realized that I'm terrified of obese people. Intellectually I don't feel any prejudice, I don't think obese people are bad people or lazy. I couldn't figure it out. Then a childhood memory slammed into me. We had a neighbor family that lived 2 houses away. The entire family was obese and they bullied me horribly. They would throw me down and sit on me. spray me with a water hose when I walked by their house. Call me a skinny beotch. I was skinny but so what?

Anyway, why it took me 62 years to remember this I have no clue.

Surprising, isn't it?
I've had some memories come back this year with the smallest triggers.
I was initially shocked even though I could recall once things did surface.
I guess I was "ready" for the memory to present itself.

I'm sorry you were bullied like that!


WC

[Trace14]

In the beginning I thought PTSD was only for veterans. Never had heard about CPTSD until I was in one of the forums. Never been to therapy until almost 4 years ago. One incident threw me into a tailspin and a deluge of past traumas started spinning around me like a vortex. I was in the middle and couldn't get out. 2 out of 5 therapist have been helpful, medication has helped. But what is more surprising is how many ways a human can be traumatized. How it doesn't bother some people and some it devastates and disrupts life as they know it. Makes you question who you are and all that you have stood for. You don't recognize yourself in the mirror. A shell of a person moving quietly through life as a ghost.

[SoupDragon]

I used to think it was physical stuff only. But have learned how it is not the event per se, but the individual's experience of the event and that emotional abuse can be very traumatic.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

I used to think it was physical stuff only. But have learned how it is not the event per se, but the individual's experience of the event and that emotional abuse can be very traumatic.

Well put Yes, it's been a real eye opener.

[reb569]

I define trauma as physical, sexual, emotional abuse and/or neglect and witnessing physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by reb569

I define trauma as physical, sexual, emotional abuse and/or neglect and witnessing physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

But what if they witness something horrible like an accident?

[reb569]

Originally Posted by Trace14

But what if they witness something horrible like an accident?

Yes that is trauma. I guess I was thinking in relation to CPTSD rather than PTSD.

[Amyjay]

I think trauma is any external event that negatively impacts or interrupts the normal course of human development. So it can be physical (e.g. a broken bone) or psychological (emotional abuse). It can be a one off event (a car accident) or ongoing (bullying). It can be healed (emotional nurturing protection and restoration after abuse) or it can b permanent (head injury). It can be simple (a physical injury as a a result of an accident) or it can be catastrophic (severe ongoing abuse from early childhood that impacts every area of the individuals psycho social development).