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YOUR TRAUMA STORIES
Have you had a traumatic experience that’s left you struggling to cope in certain areas of life?
Have you been robbed? Physically or sexually abused? Been the victim of domestic violence?
Have you watched your house burn, witnessed a tragic accident, or experienced medical trauma or near-death experience?Have you endured the pain of abandonment or neglect?
Have you experienced or witnessed a catastrophic accident or natural disaster?
Have you experienced job-related trauma as a law-enforcement officer, fire fighter, war veteran, or in some other form of employment?
We’d like YOU to share YOUR story.
How did your experience influence your life?
Have you suffered from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and what steps have you taken to address those symptoms?
Have they been effective?
How would you describe your healing process?
Are you hopeful about life and your future?
Thank you for helping us create a community of hope and change for those who have experienced trauma and its related symptoms. We are NOT medical professionals or counselors, but a network of individuals who have experienced trauma and found hope and healing. We are excited about the opportunity to help others find answers and resources.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our site. Please share it with those you think will benefit from the stories, networking, and resources here.
–Shelly
** If you haven’t downloaded your COMPLIMENTARY copy of our e-book, The Truth About Trauma, here is a link to the download page. Great information and a valuable resource. Download your COMPLIMENTARY copy today!
I’ve been struggling for about 30 years with PTSD. I was raped at the age of 13, 15, 17 and 26. I dropped out of school in 9th grade, was placed in a children’s home on my 16th birthday. I’ve had horrible night terrors, night sweats, suicidal thoughts and attempts, overwhelming anxiety, angry outbursts, I push most people away in varying ways. I did go to college, I chose my studies to try to fix myself. I got my bachelor’s in psychology and then went further and successfully completed my Master’s in Substance Abuse Counselong and I specialized in Trauma. I married an abusive alcoholic and April 23, 2009 he beat me so severely, that the progress I had made seemed to just vanish. Our divorce was final in 2012. I explain all of this to ask this question, I’m finding myself fighting to keep living. Death does not scare me, but living has me petrified. I don’t have a support network in my life. I have limited contact with my family and friends don’t stick around very long when they see how damaged I am. I mostly stay to myself. Are there any resources or support groups from non military PTSD?! I’m in desperate need of help, and I can’t seem to locate it. I’m getting very scared because I want to live, but yet the suffering is so great and humiliating.
Regi, first of all, let me say that I am so sorry for your many painful experiences. Your story is very, very similar to my best friend’s story. I can tell you that there is hope.
First of all, call a suicide hotline to receive immediate help (1-800-273-8255). If you email me privately, I can see if I know of local resources for you.
I would also encourage you to call Intensive Trauma Therapy (traumatherapy.us) in Morgantown, West Virginia, immediately. There is the therapy clinic where my friend Wanda received life-changing treatment in just days. She had struggled with symptoms that took her to the brink of suicide for decades. ITT helped her find new life in a matter of days. Their intensive approach accomplishes remarkable change in a short period of time. We recommend that people go there because this clinic saves lives. Literally. We are two women with full-time jobs, but our passion is telling people about hope and healing for PTSD, and the fastest way we know how to receive effective treatment is to send people to ITT.
Please let us know how you are doing. We care and want to know you are okay.
When I was eight years old my mom, step father, and I were on the highway when we crashed. I saw my mom go through the windshield and I broke my hip. I was raised in a violent household. When I was 19, the car I was driving was hit by a city bus and I sustained a severe brain injury. When I was 29 and still recovering (but my husband and I were pregnant with our fourth child) my mother and half sister lied about my family and kicked me out of their extended family. I tried to tell my family in law about what my mom had done, and they accused me of lying and said I was “ugly inside” for years, which I didn’t argue with because I have survivor’s guilt…and my oldest daughter says that I lean on the ‘excuse’ of having PTSD and I’m not in the military.
Of course, a diagnosis of PTSD is not dependent upon military experience and is linked to many other types of injuries, including accidents. I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you. Its just hard when sometimes people who are supposed to be the closest to me are not supportive at all and only point to their perception of negative things about me. I also hope your friend Co-founder Wanda Sanchez is well through her eye procedure.