Messages

Welcome to the forum! 

Hi Blueberry,

Thank you for the welcome.

😃

Hi Notalone, thank you for replying and the 'big up'  😃

Hi everyone,

My name is Nate and I'd like to introduce myself.

I never know how to refer to my cPTSD, do I suffer from a condition, do I have an illness, anyway, like everyone here I have cPTSD add I hope you don't mind but I'd like to share my story.

My PTSD is complex for various reasons. I suffered various types of abuse and over a long period of time.

At the ages of 3, 7 and 9 I experienced sexual abuse from different people.

As a four year old I lived through the very aggressive and traumatic break up of my parents.

From 4 till 8 I lived in a very neglectful environment while struggling with behavioural problems associated to the sexual abuse.

From 8 until 16 I lived with my father and his wife. My step mother physically and emotionally abused me while my father physically and psychologically abused me.

At 16 I left home and if I'm honest, since then I have survived, often only just. I've struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for many years, which certainly added to my condition.

I'm 48 now and 4 years ago I was lucky enough to be referred to the Sue Lambert Trust. After 3 years of weekly sessions I'm quite a different person. I still suffer everyday from various physical, emotional and mental symptoms but I have been able to grow the confidence and self belief to function pretty well.

I think the biggest change has been that instead of living day to day, hour to hour, I'm now able to make plans, live week by week and month by month. I'm managing my relationship with alcohol and have no desire to go anywhere near drugs.

Anyway, thanks for listening or reading. I hope in joining this group I might be able to alleviate some of my loneliness.

Nate.