[Hiding]

we were wondering about this cuz we never have got or found a clear answer about it.

Is it possible to have PTSD from years of Emotional abuse and coerced sexual abuse?
i may need to explian the 2nd one to make it more understandable.. if I need to just ask.

The reason i ask this is because we suffered these things for 8 and half yrs in ourfirst marriage. And it does seem to affect us still in our current marriage.
We often worry and get scared and very distraught over things that in our current marriage remind us of our 1st marriage.
Here is an example..
Our first husband.. say he lost the car keys.. he would yell at us blame us and make us believe it was solely our fault.
there was a situation when we first were living with our current husband..where we (him or us) lost the car keys for about a week.
One day he asked us to search the car for them. We spent probably about an hour searching the car over and over ..frantically.. and kept thinking we had to find them or he would yell at us and blame us.
We nearly had a massive anxiety attack walking back into the house to tell him we could not find them.

Even though, we knew deep down that the current husband would not react as the first did over the keys, it was an automatic reaction to be frightened that he may.

we have been with im for over 2 yrs now and married a bit over a year. and yet just last night.. when he was awake all night due to his insomnia and he went to sleep right after we woke up..sarah (one of our bunch) automatically thought he did it on purpose so he wouldn't have to spend time with us.
( the first husband would stay up all night long on the computer and chat with other women and come to bed when we had been asleep along time in order not to spend any time with us)

Is it possible this could be PTSD?
Thanks
SADIE

[Evening]

It is possible to have ptsd or complex ptsd from emotional abuse yes, it is not often recognised in descriptions of causes though. I have ptsd from emotional/mental abuse and neglect, but when looking at information on ptsd it is rare that it will be listed, usually its sexual abuse and rape. C-ptsd is a little different, it is abused by prolonged emotional abuse and neglect. This doesnt mean you definitely have either though. Ptsd is diagnosed based on the amount of time since the traumatic incident occurred, and what symptoms you possess, for example nightmares, flashbacks, loss of interest in life and things you used to enjoy, avoiding things that remind you of the traumatic incident and anxiety. I would suggest looking into the symptoms of ptsd and complex sure to see how many symptoms you possess, and if it makes a lightbulb go off for you, see someone who specialises in it. The longer you leave ptsd untreated the more a part of you it becomes.

[Evening]

I will say though that getting anxious when getting asked to look for the keys does sound like a symptom of ptsd. Being blamed for bad things happening even if you werent even remotely responsible is nothing new to me, it really eats into your mind that you are somehow you are the cause of the loss of demise of any object or situation. My mothers ex used to always tell me my negative thoughts were creating negative energies which in turn made bad things happen to us, whether it was someone stealing from us, using us, or the car breaking down. I was a manipulator, selfish and a drama queen who played mind games with others to control them and get my way. All at the tender age of 13. That was 10 years ago and you bet it still sits in my mind and reappears every time something breaks down, like my laptop, or something bad happens to me or a relative.

[Open Eyes]

Ok Hiding,

I have been one that has been diagnosed with PTSD. Unfortunately Complex PTSD is still only just being considered, but really should be more strongly recognized.

I have learned more about PTSD by coming to PC and reading different things on my own. Well, I have to say I am pretty pissed as I displayed many red flags in my search for help through therapists. And I was also very misunderstood and even handed other diagnoses that were not me at all. And those other diagnoses only were based upon my moments of shear anger and confusion and search for validation.

Now, what you are describing within your new relationship where you do have things occur that you feel may result in being denied and blamed by an old relationship IS COMPLEX PTSD. When someone endures certain reactions and treatments or responses over a long period it really does effect the brain. I am really certain of this now as I have tried to overcome very similar abusive, almost bullying for many years and was constantly trying to work around it, point it out and it was always my fault, my imagination. But it wasn't, and it is now very well known and
I am pretty angry.

I know exactly what you are describing and yes, you do have a hard time expecting reactions that were constantly put upon you in your past. You are now hard wired for this so to speak. No, its not you, it is years of being mentally abused.

http://www.bullyonline.org/stress/ptsd.htm

This is a study done by Dr. Scaer, please read it and on page 9-12 you will see you for the first time.

Open Eyes

[Hiding]

Thank you both. We've been wondering about this one for a while now. Lately it seems we just keep realizing e have more and more issues =/

I wish it would all just stop ,go away and everything would just be ok and normal.. sigh..
but well
normal and ok dont seem to be a part of my life anymore =/
thanks

[Open Eyes]

Hiding, there is no such thing as normal. Everyone has something they deal with.

Yes, it would be nice if it would stop and go away. But now that you know you can consciously remember that the situation is different. It takes time just as it took time for you to get conditioned to a different response. At least you know the answer now, that is half the battle, not a question of your imagination anymore.

Hiding, I am very sorry that you had to experience your past, very sorry to the depths of me. I hope you can find peace in your life and try to leave the past behind you. It sounds like you have a much better man now, try to enjoy him. I hope he understands you and is good to you, you do deserve that. Please remember that you deserve to have a good life and that you are a good person.

Open Eyes