[NeedHelp104]

Found out at 23 that I have complex PTSD stemming from childhood trauma, where my emotional needs were not met. Instead of helping me cope with anxiety, I was thrown into a bunch of developmental/special-education classes which led me to doubt myself, perform worse, and convince myself that I was a cognitively deficient. Led to toxic shaming and perfectionism as this was never dealt with, among other things. This has seriously affected my life. I know many here probably had things like sexual/physical abuse, but being told as a child indirectly that the way you process and learn information is inherently wrong when the real cause of it was anxiety was traumatic for me. I'm getting over the hump, but it's seriously depressing and traumatic itself to realize that a lot of the defenses I put up are related to fight/flight response. I really told my doc I didn't know who I was because it hurt me so bad...I know you all understand. It's like how much of my personality was suppressed from this, as everyone else my age 'has fun' while I am trying to heal the past. Just venting .

[Fuzzybear]

I was in the ''top stream'' in a snobbish all girls school, however I also was not helped to ''cope with anxiety'' but was labelled with various unhelpful things... including by ''my doc'' who utterly failed at ''his'' job, which was to listen adequately. and to treat me with RESPECT I'm sorry you're suffering in this way. I very much doubt if you are ''cognitively deficient''

Respectful regards