For the last year I have been experiencing varying intensities of chronic pain due to past trauma. My doctors have started shrugging me off. Since I cannot get a referral to anyone else is there anything I can do to make it more bearable on my own? (Trigger warning: Sexual abuse)
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posted by kanata
on Mar 26, 2013 -
33 answers
I've been Googling and looking through different lists of recommended books (including some recommended by orgs like RAINN) about healing from sexual trauma, but I'm looking for 1 or 2 good books that are reasonably-priced. (Many of these books seem to be out of print and therefore expensive.) This is about an assault that happened to me as an adult, so books about child abuse are out.
What I don't want: hokey, religious, new-age, preachy, textbooks, "workbooks"
My ideal book would deal with many of the symptoms of Rape Trauma Syndrome, including having "body memories" of the assault.
Hope this is descriptive enough.
posted by anonymous
on Jan 20, 2013 -
5 answers
Daughter's father no longer in our lives, unexpectedly, after some sad times. Daughter (5) now a stressed little kid. Therapy coming up, but… ?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 3, 2012 -
12 answers
I was in a traumatic event a few years ago which was followed by shock and near complete amnesia. Recently I've been getting memories back, and, following different triggers, experiencing physical and emotional exhaustion. Help me understand what to expect, and how best to deal with it ? (More specific qs after the cut)
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posted by EatMyHat
on Aug 23, 2012 -
11 answers
I've started to date again after the end of an eight year relationship. The good news is I've met an amazing woman and we're starting to develop a more serious relationship. The part I (male) need help with is that it turns out she was physically, sexually, mentally, and emotionally abused in several previous relationships over the course of about 15 years. How do I support her as a new relationship partner? Can you recommend any good resources for me to read?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 1, 2012 -
11 answers
Some random jerk threatened my partner in public a few days ago and he's still pretty shaken, and can't stop thinking about it. What resources can I offer to help him cope?
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posted by rhiannonstone
on May 29, 2012 -
18 answers
Is this dissociation? I would really like to learn more about my slightly peculiar experience of living life, and what it means, if anything. I've been suspecting some form of dissociation, but I'd love some pointers to books, articles or sites, or informed experiences that might help make things clearer.
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posted by lizwykys
on May 19, 2012 -
12 answers
Having grown up in an abusive home where every move of mine was watched and controlled like a hawk, and I had to anticipate reactions in order to survive, I ended up molding many of my desires around those anticipated reactions. So now, as an adult of advancing age, how do I learn to know what I want, and act on those desires with honesty and integrity? What are some steps I can actually take? Books I can read? Simple thoughts to repeat to myself?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 19, 2012 -
27 answers
My SO went through trauma. They are starting to open up a bit and I don't know what to do, or even if I should do anything.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 17, 2012 -
13 answers
I'm the boy who cried wolf! (or 'ouch'!) Help me stop, especially in light of the fact that this behavior has been positively reinforced at some points.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 9, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm looking for poetry with a feminist leaning and/or covering a certain set of topics.
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posted by kanata
on Mar 23, 2012 -
30 answers
Our indoor cat got outside, maybe tangled with a feral cat. He came back inside and is now growling and screeching in the bathroom. Bad situation. This is a long story.
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posted by bobbyno
on Feb 19, 2012 -
23 answers
After nearly 11 yrs of marriage my husband is talking of possibly finding his own place and at the very least separating for awhile to see if he can "get himself together". We have been a couple nearly 15 yrs. I am looking for experiences, resources, advice...
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posted by snuffyrat
on Dec 27, 2011 -
21 answers
Seeking ideas for the types of professional & social resources or services (organizations, agencies, providers, etc.) that would be included on a list of potential referrals to help people across the social spectrum deal with various forms of trauma, catastrophes & highly stressful situations.
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posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy
on Dec 16, 2011 -
6 answers
Some years back, I got out of a really bad(/abusive/weird) relationship. My life is so different and so much better now, and I truly thought it was behind me. But recently, out of nowhere and eight years later, I keep getting this itch to talk/think about it all in gruesome and miserable detail. What's going on?
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posted by smockpuppet
on Dec 16, 2011 -
21 answers
So, I've been joking for a while that I need, like, boot camp for how to be an adult. Help me find something? Maybe like Upward Bound for grownups meets finishing school plus...something?
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posted by tulip-socks
on Dec 10, 2011 -
15 answers
I have a very emotionally intense job, which combined with my natural introversion and lack of formal training in this field, has always been a challenge for me. Now I'm six months pregnant and crying at my desk every day. What are some resources for learning how to deal with difficult emotional work? How do social workers and crisis intervention workers learn to handle the constant barrage of tragedy? How do I get through the rest of my pregnancy like this?
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posted by arcticwoman
on Dec 2, 2011 -
15 answers
Is it possible to let go of past injuries? My parents were abusive when I was growing up (both physically and emotionally) and I have been dealing with depression and anxiety ever since, with medication and therapy. Now, though, they have changed (really), and I'm trying to figure out how to let go of what happened and have a good relationship with the people they are now.
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 7, 2011 -
16 answers
How do I cope with being constantly triggered while job-hunting? It's severely impacting my ability to apply for jobs.
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posted by divabat
on Sep 10, 2011 -
16 answers
Is there anything I can do about after effects of a (relatively non-horrendous) car accident in my 7 year old daughter.
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posted by alcahofa
on Sep 4, 2011 -
19 answers
Where can I find resources on complicated grief, especially with regard to grieving something that never was?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 8, 2011 -
6 answers
Advice needed on: birth control; gynecologists; and confronting the first two as a sexual abuse survivor. Therapist and gyno recommendations in the Seattle area also sought.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 7, 2011 -
28 answers
Some things happened to me when I was a child and I'm not sure what to call them but I think they were abusive?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 5, 2011 -
20 answers
How can I learn to untrigger myself? I have post traumatic stress disorder due to being sexually abused by my dad for twelve years.
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posted by overglow
on Jun 1, 2011 -
20 answers
I had something traumatic happen a little over a week ago. I need my brain back. When do I start to worry and what do I do?
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posted by slow graffiti
on May 1, 2011 -
17 answers
How do you cope with other people finding your life strange, depressing, or kind of disturbing, especially when you don't feel the same? I'm really tired of having to choose between everyone telling me I'm "hard to get to know" because I don't share a lot of personal information or floods of tears on my behalf.
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posted by kittenmarlowe
on Apr 24, 2011 -
49 answers
Somatic Experiencing is a method of recovering from emotional trauma-- I'd like to hear about experiences with the system because
In an Unspoken Voice describes it as dealing well with the paralysis aspect of trauma, not just the intrusive memories and explosive emotions, and I tend to be pretty stuck.
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posted by Nancy Lebovitz
on Apr 22, 2011 -
6 answers
I am a journalist trying to find a way to locate people who were
passersby at 9/11. Not first responders, mind you, or folks who escaped from the towers -- just people who happened to be around when it happened. And despite their non-direct involvement, may have been in some way affected. Thoughts?
posted by It ain't over yet
on Apr 19, 2011 -
21 answers
I have numbness after a nasty fall directly on my right knee. Saw a doc and had x-rays done (pelvis, knee, ankle). Nothing broken. Now my knee, plus half my thigh and half my calf are quite swollen and bruised. How long can I expect the numbness to last?
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posted by kathrynm
on Dec 19, 2010 -
8 answers
An old friend of mine's 18 year old son just attempted to kill himself with a shotgun blast to the head.
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posted by mrhappy
on Nov 16, 2010 -
12 answers
How would you react if your long-term boyfriend/girlfriend told you they have a past history of extensive physical, sexual, and emotional abuse? Or do you say anything at all? Relevant details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 19, 2010 -
31 answers
Book Recommendation Filter: Please recommend books about recovering from trauma and reintegrating back into normal life and society. Experiences like cults, prison, war, abusive relationships, etc. where the person feels isolated from "normal" people. I'm looking for fiction especially but any genre is helpful.
posted by Dilemma
on Aug 16, 2010 -
20 answers
Is there a system of therapy that releases trauma like body psychotherapy, but done in groups or more inexpensively?
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posted by Not Supplied
on Jun 4, 2010 -
10 answers
I'm doing my creative writing thesis as a collection of short stories about people struggling to come to terms with intense childhood experiences. What kinds of experiences could I be writing about?
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posted by joyeuxamelie
on Mar 7, 2010 -
27 answers
What and where should I be looking to deal with and help a person who went through severe childhood trauma?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 19, 2010 -
8 answers
I am looking for resources to help me deal with the growing realization that I was abused, physically and emotionally, by my older brother for the better part of 20 years.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 8, 2010 -
25 answers
What can I do to let go of the fact that no matter what I do, there's no way I can ever make up for a crappy schooling experience? (long ramble follows)
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posted by divabat
on Jan 3, 2010 -
23 answers