Hi peeps,
I've just come across this board and think it might be helpful in me helping my wife. I hope!
We have been thinking for a long time that she has been suffering from PTSD, however her latest counsellor has suggested that this is not the case and has talked about extreme stress. After a bit of looking around the net we have come across what we think she means - C-PTSD.
a little history
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My wife was physically, emotionally, psychologically and sexually abused by her mother and then father figure for the majority of her childhood until she found the courage to run away and became a ward of court.
now - 20+ years later and after lots of counselling (this ongoing) she has found the courage to take her abusers to court and they are facing six (at the moment, though it may increase) charges each. they have plead not guilty hence it is going to crown court imminently. this is bringing on feelings of hopelessness, though at each stage she was expecting things to be dropped by the police and the CPS.
the big thing for me is how to support her. she is becoming more and more insular and is thinking she can hear her abusers when she goes out and is expecting to see them (especially her mother) around each corner. this is despite them living in different counties. From what she has told me about her mother she fits the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist) and he has flown through Finklehor's model (used to explore the stages of sexual offending) very efficiently.
whilst there is no definitive diagnosis of C-PTSD for her, looking at the various definitions she fits the majority of the criteria (except alcohol/drug abuse as she wants to remain in control!).
Any help will be greatly received and if people want to know more please ask. I know this is a very quick potted history!
Thanks,
Tiggerpsych
I've just come across this board and think it might be helpful in me helping my wife. I hope!
We have been thinking for a long time that she has been suffering from PTSD, however her latest counsellor has suggested that this is not the case and has talked about extreme stress. After a bit of looking around the net we have come across what we think she means - C-PTSD.
a little history
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
My wife was physically, emotionally, psychologically and sexually abused by her mother and then father figure for the majority of her childhood until she found the courage to run away and became a ward of court.
now - 20+ years later and after lots of counselling (this ongoing) she has found the courage to take her abusers to court and they are facing six (at the moment, though it may increase) charges each. they have plead not guilty hence it is going to crown court imminently. this is bringing on feelings of hopelessness, though at each stage she was expecting things to be dropped by the police and the CPS.
the big thing for me is how to support her. she is becoming more and more insular and is thinking she can hear her abusers when she goes out and is expecting to see them (especially her mother) around each corner. this is despite them living in different counties. From what she has told me about her mother she fits the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist) and he has flown through Finklehor's model (used to explore the stages of sexual offending) very efficiently.
whilst there is no definitive diagnosis of C-PTSD for her, looking at the various definitions she fits the majority of the criteria (except alcohol/drug abuse as she wants to remain in control!).
Any help will be greatly received and if people want to know more please ask. I know this is a very quick potted history!
Thanks,
Tiggerpsych