trauma

At its core, trauma can be thought of as the psychological wounds that persist, even when the physical ones are long gone.

A Tale of Gaslighting
When I was young and dumb, I met a guy that I immediately moved in with after knowing him for about three days. Now, "young and dumb" meant about two years ago since I'm still young, and still really dumb. I took this kindness as a stranger trying to help me out, then as a lover trying to do what's best for me. There was more to it, though, a predatory motive that, in hindsight, I should've seen right off the bat.
By Amanda Batson8 years ago in Psyche
Living with PTSD
Let me start by saying that I get it! I understand now that living with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a continuous daily challenge. Nothing but an uphill battle, and I have struggled with it my entire life. What I am about to confess are things that no one else knows, so secret is out now I suppose. Everyone that I surround myself with all assumed that I had no real issues. My mother even told me at one point that I handle myself very well all things considered. However, they don’t know what demons I have to battle on a daily basis underneath the surface. But is that not always the case? No one ever really asks what is going on… and if they do… do they ever really care?
By Alyssa Horn8 years ago in Psyche
POV
While writing a new chapter in my book today, I was aware of a new twist: walking away from abuse and abusers for so many decades I eventually had no abuser to escape outside myself and that was when I had to stand still and see my truth.
By Gabriella Grace8 years ago in Psyche
How Yellow Shoes Almost Cost Me My Life
It was just like any other Saturday in Danville, Kentucky. Still being the only child, I often had a very exciting weekend planned, as a three year old. My parents decided that they were going to take their favorite only child out on the town to the local home and garden center to find new flowers to plant around our mailbox. Little did I know that, 15 years later, that day would still haunt me.
By Emily -8 years ago in Psyche
Rantings of a Mind Trapped in Purgatory
I met a one legged cricket today and understood its place, as it is mine just the same. He too must’ve cheated death and is now my only companion left behind here to remain, surrounded with suffering in purgatory! Neither alive nor dead, neither of us a purpose any longer and made to witness our own demise. Cursed to die a little everyday. Cheating death is no blessing, it’s not disguised to be one either, although we seem to take great comfort in telling ourselves otherwise.
By Tisha Skipworth8 years ago in Psyche
How Trauma Is Hidden in Plain Sight, & Why Nobody Does Anything About It
These days I have been reflecting on what might be scary concepts for some people: emotions and trauma. Everything started when I caught a few symptoms of emotional imbalance in the erratic behaviour of some people on TV.
By Grace Evelyn8 years ago in Psyche
Journal of a Car Accident Victim
Recently I was in an extremely traumatic car accident. There was a total of five of us: my best friend, our boyfriends and our other friend. We all just graduated high school and we’re on a trip to the lake. This was a weekend that we had been enjoying because it was our last trip altogether before some of us went away to college. We had an amazing weekend and it was the day we were heading home. The morning was spent going out to breakfast and our car spent the morning at the lake one more time before leaving. The car was all packed and we hit the road around noon. We were all listening to music and talking and enjoying ourselves. My boyfriend and I were sitting all the way in the back while my best friend and her boyfriend were sitting up in the front with my best friend driving. Our other friend had the middle row to herself. We were all awake and decided we wanted to listen to a podcast. Side note, if you have gone on a long road trip to the desert you know that the roads are very long and appear to go on for miles. The sides of the road also are kind of steep. Anyways, we were all listening to the podcast and my boyfriend and I fell asleep along with my best friends boyfriend and our other friend. At this time it was about 2:00 PM. The next thing I remember was hearing my best friend screaming and we were going off the road and rolling. Next, I remember waking up on the sand seeing someone running towards me and picking me up. I had been ejected from the vehicle. My boyfriend ran out of the car without shoes causing the desert sand to give him blood blisters on the bottom of his feet. I was sitting in a women’s RV until the ambulance arrived. Two different people stopped to help us out. I don’t remember much of the waiting for the ambulance but I know I talked to my mom on the phone and I remember being in an ambulance with my best friend. Everyone else was fine but me and my best friend. We were the two traumatic cases. I was taken in a helicopter to the closest trauma center to us. My best friend was supposed to be airlifted as well but hers was canceled due to a monsoon. I don’t remember the helicopter ride but I remember pieces of that first night in the hospital. I remember being taken for scans and tests. I also remember my best friend coming to see me. They had me in a neck brace overnight. Everyone kept saying it was a miracle. At the time I didn’t understand why because I was in a lot of pain. My entire right shoulder and arm were swollen and I couldn’t move it. I had road rash all down my back and my left leg. All my nails on my left hand were broken and my hands were torn up. But looking back at it now it was a miracle. Because it is four weeks later and I am up and walking with minor injuries. The only major injuries are my shoulder and upper back. Which will take time to heal. I’m only 17 and since my mom didn’t know our boyfriends were there I’ve been grounded ever since. So mentally I’m not doing so good. I told her this wouldn’t be helpful for me to move on and I was right. I now have PTSD and the depression has returned along with my anxiety being more severe than ever. But that’s for another story. I haven’t been with the other four people altogether since the accident. And we need some form of closure for all of this. And I’m hoping to get that soon. I just needed a way to talk about what happened because I have haven't got to talk to anyone. Finding this way of sharing is probably the best way for me to share the facts about what happened. Thank you for reading.
By Lo☆🌻8 years ago in Psyche
Facade
Life during the case was horrendous. Everyone had a side of their own. We tried to pretend that we weren't all scared to death of the results of the case. The hostility was still there. When I returned home, things were different. I couldn't go a day without my mom showing fear towards me. She coddled me, but not for my sake, for her own. The social workers had threatened to take her kids away, but she was more worried about my brothers than me. After all, I had started this mess, would it be all that bad if they took me away?
By Brianna Valenzuela8 years ago in Psyche
How Trauma Has Impacted My Life. Top Story - July 2018.
The Attack The air in my lungs freezes. I can no longer breathe. My heartbeat is beating out of my chest. I can't seem to stop shaking. The thoughts in my mind screech to a halt, slamming into each other.
By Chalyn McCarter8 years ago in Psyche
Foolproof Guide to Break the Cycle of Abuse
Have you ever felt like you don't recognize the person you've become? Or trapped in a situation, circumstance, or relationship?
By Silena Le Beau8 years ago in Psyche
Drowning
I stood by the water admiring the little ripples in it; even if there were a bunch of kids swimming in the small pool, it still looked beautiful. The noisiness made me feel so alive. I bent down and scooped up some water, splashing it in my face. It felt so nice in the blazing heat of the Arizona sun. I smiled, thinking how this is how it should always be, the cool water on my face in the warmth of the sun. It calmed me to think of this. As I was watching the water, I felt a kick in my back and I flew head first towards the water. I screamed. I felt as though no one could hear me. I couldn't swim. I shrieked in terror as my body smacked the water and I felt a painful sore in my body. The water no longer seemed so pretty as it did before. It was filled with grief and darkness. It was no longer blue and full of shimmer and sunshine, it was black and murky. I gasped for breath. The playful sound of children, the crashes of people splashing in the water, it was all gone. I closed my eyes knowing this could be the last of me, and let all that was before sink into my soul. I woke up in the hospital with my family surrounding me. They were all so worried about me and that made me stress. I took a deep breath and thought of the water to relieve myself, but I could no longer think of it the same way. For, it had pulled me into it's miserable arms and sank me. It drowned me.
By Michaela Weiss8 years ago in Psyche
The Struggles of Being Young With Illnesses
At the age of 9, I was diagnosed with PTSD, and subsequently also anxiety and depression. I had been sexually abused for years, and when finally reaching out and going to therapy, a slew of problems were brought up to my parents; concerns about my mental health. I was taught things a young child should never have to be taught; how to properly manage a triggered PTSD attack, how to get your body to rest when you cannot sleep, how to calm yourself after a flashback. I was told that while it will get better, it will never go away.
By Briana White8 years ago in Psyche