[PeacockAngel16]

Hello. I posted an introduction in the New Member thread, but I will post one here to. I'm not sure if this is the thread I need to be on (if not, could you point me in the right direction?). I live with severe PTSD due to emotional and sexual abuse and seeing violence and threats of violence, all as a child. Right now, as a 28-year-old woman, it is completely incapacitating me. I can't work. I can't sleep without taking Unisom or something to knock me out. I keep having flashbacks. Sometimes I completely shut down. I also live with OCD and the obsessions I have have to do with the violence I had seen and am terrified of, which triggers flashbacks, panic attacks, and also completely shutting down. I can't even leave my home without my spouse being right beside me. Things are terrible and I'm not sure what to do. I am in the process of trying to find a counselor who gets it, but I'm flat broke and am trying to find pro-bono intern counselors who are still learning. I had one that was really good, but I had to move for my spouse's career and so now I'm starting over. So here I am in the meantime, trying to deal with it and get help from others who do understand.

Thank you for your time.

[Hobbit House]

Welcome. I understand where you coming from. I too suffer from PTSD because of physical and sexual abuse. It's difficult I know, but there are some counselor, who charge by income.... at least there are where I live. Good luck, I hope you find everything you need!

[Open Eyes]

Hi PeacockAngel, welcome to PC and the PTSD forum. There are members who understand how debilitating the symptoms of PTSD can be, so you are not alone. Take it one day at a time and learn to be very patient with "self". You actually "can" learn to manage the sypmtoms better with patience and time and practicing "self care and self soothing".