Out of the Storm

Welcome to OOTS - New Members Please Start Here => New Members => Please Introduce Yourself Here => Topic started by: Kizzie on May 07, 2015, 05:41:29 PM

Title: WELCOME TO OOTS - PLEASE BEGIN HERE
Post by: Kizzie on May 07, 2015, 05:41:29 PM
Out of the Storm (OOTS) is an anonymous discussion group and resource site for adult survivors of ongoing relational trauma (abuse/neglect) who suffer from Complex Post Traumatic Disorder (CPTSD) as a result.  (Note: You do not require a diagnosis from a mental health professional to join.) Members come from all around the world (https://cptsd.org/forum/index.php?topic=13653.0). 

Please note that members are not medical or mental health professionals, and the forum is not intended to be a substitute or replacement for professional therapy or mental health services. If you are in crisis, please do not wait. Reach out for help - it's out there for you. Call your doctor, go to the nearest Emergency Room, call a hotline or look for some assistance here. (http://www.outofthestorm.website/emergency/) 

If you are a child or youth experiencing abuse/neglect and don't know what to do, please go to Child Helpline International (https://www.childhelplineinternational.org/child-helplines/child-helpline-network/), and call the number of the help line closest to you.  These organizations have trained staff who will listen and support you, and if you want they will help you figure out what to do.  Please don't wait, pick up the phone. You can change the ways things are with help and support!

If you are an adult , OOTS is a community of peers who share information about our understanding of and experiences with CPTSD, and support one another as we move forward in learning, healing and recovering.  Non- survivors are welcome to read but may not join the forum.

GETTING STARTED

Read the Member Guidelines - Please begin by reading through our Guidelines for Members (http://outofthefog.net/C-PTSD/forum/index.php?topic=1616.0). We do try and keep the forum as safe as possible; not following the guidelines may lead to being banned so it is important to read them. 

Read about CPTSD - Please have a look through the web page section (http://www.outofthestorm.website/) of the site, in particular the section  "About Complex PTSD."    There are also a number of useful forms in the "Resources" section under "Downloads"  (http://www.outofthestorm.website/downloads/)that you may wish to print out, in particular the forms "Symptom Tracker" and "Causes of CPTSD." These forms can be useful to take to  your physician or therapist. 

Begin Posting - Once you're ready, please post about yourself and your situation in the Introductions section (https://www.cptsd.org/forum/index.php?board=10.0) so that members can begin to get to know you. As per our guidelines please avoid being overly graphic about your experiences, but sometimes because of the trauma we've been through we venture into territory that may be triggering. The words "Trigger Warning" in the title of your post will help alert members so they can choose to avoid reading disturbing posts they may not be willing/able to hear about at their stage of recovery. If a post is too graphic it may be edited or removed. 

If you're a bit nervous making that first few post, not to worry it's a common feeling and for most of us that eases. One way to start if you're not quite ready to talk about your trauma and CPTSD is to post in the "What's in a Name" (https://cptsd.org/forum/index.php?topic=14107.0) thread.  We're always interested to know why members chose the usernames they did  ;D

Again, welcome and we hope you find the information you need to move 'out of the storm' that is CPTSD.