How to deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

I was raped a year ago and since I've been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I have trouble falling asleep at night and I wake up in the middle of the night very upset and scared. I'm constantly tired from lack of sleep which is caused by horrible nightmares. I have vivid images in my head of it happening that I cant really control. And some words will set me off such as rape or fiji (the men were from there) and I have an intense fear of brown men unless I know them well.


Its slowly getting better but its been over a year now and its still horrible, I try to force myself to move on by telling myself they are winning if I let it bother me, but thats only skin deep. I havent told any family memebers about it and I'm only 17 so without them knowing professional help is out of the question. I also recently started going out with a guy and sometimes little things he does scare me and I cant tell him that without explaining why.


I sometimes have panic attacks and..........

How to deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
okay well, i'm 20 and this also happened to me? i'm in the same exact boat as you. umm, what kind of things trigger you. touching? if it is that's normal. sometimes i don't like it when friends touch me.


i've read stuff and it says you never really get over it. i was also sexually abused when i was younger and i'm not over it. i still get set off and feel unsafe and get dreams but with time you get over some things. they're just not as strong. i think it will be like that...i hope so





but from expereince it will take years and therapy. i'm starting treatment now. maybe you can tell your parent's. MAYBE. my parents don't know because i know them they won't be supportive. maybe your parents are different? if you feel like they will be supportive do it. if not, then don't. it can be pretty damaging when they're like that. you should tell close friends but be careful some friends might not take it well. some of my friends, who i don't talk to anymore, didn't. but other friends will. they are your real friends. how long have you and your boyfriend been together? you could tell him. if he really cares for you he'll stand by you.


as for treatment you can look online. i'm not sure but can't you talk to a therapist. you can try to find a guardian or something. tell a close teacher? and aunt? older cousin? sibling? yes, i remember i signed a paper needing the sig of my guardian if i wasn't old enough.


don't try to take it all away with getting high. it doesn't help, i haven't done that but like all things like that it just pushes it away but it's still there and as heavy as it always was. you need to deal with it eventually when you are ready.


do what you want. but try to deal with it. it NEEDS to be dealt with


when you have panic attacks try to breathe. stay away from the triggers as soon as you can. for a while i guess.


please, just talk to someone you trust. good luck! God Bless...
Reply:you are dealing with a lot of depression... If you go and find a therapist uhh nvm LOL


Maybe you should just trust in your mind and soul and try to forget... go find something that will make you forget
Reply:you need to talk to your parents and tell them so you can get some professional help.
Reply:Oh my gosh girl! I'm so sorry that happened. You really should have went to the police about that. I dont know if its too late or not. Im no specialist but i must say don't try self medication with those illegal drugs. Trust me that will just make your life a whole lot worse. I know this is not what you want to hear but i would say that you should tell someone you are really close to and that you can trust. Also you should definitely seek professional help. ptsd is a serious psychological disorder. I know it will take lots of courage to do all this but im pretty sure nothing else will help. Good luck and the best of wishes.
Reply:Find a real Psychiatrist and they may provide counseling in the direction to go.
Reply:YOU MUST FIND SOMEONE TO TALK TOO,PLEASE DON'T KEEP THIS TO YOUSELF,THE WOUND CAN GET DEEPER AND DEEPER,AS ACHILD SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME AND I SUFFER FROM THE SAME AND OTHER MENTAL ISSUES BUT I AM ON MEDS IF YOU CAN FIND A MENTAL HEALTH PERSON TO TALK TO,FOR THEY MUST KEEP THIS PRIVATE AND TELL NO ONE OR MAYBE A TEEN HOTLINE BUT TALK TO SOMEONE SOON.
Reply:It's not at all strange that you're still upset, scared and confused a year later! What you went through is very tranmatic! and it wasn't your fault!!!





you need to talk about this to someone. If you can't tell your parents, talk to a relative, the school counselor, or even look for an online support group. But you should really tell your parents. Keeping this in isn't good for your health.
Reply:Perhaps if you tell them you are having issues with depression and would like to seek counseling? You needn't tell them about your experience if you really don't want to-- and what is between you and your therapist will stay there. Maybe you can talk to a counselor at school about a next step. I think you need to work this through. This kind of emotional stress is serious and dealing with it now is going to help you live the rest of your life in peace. Be good to yourself instead of putting more demands on yourself for example- 'they are winning if I let it bother me'. There is no longer a struggle with 'them' . Your struggle now is with dealing with these feelings, be kind to yourself! Something of this magnitude bothers you because it bothers you- not cause you are 'letting' it. Consider finding a way to get treatment.- that's the best way to get the right tools to get past this is an effective, healthy way.
Reply:I am a middle aged woman and I had a similar thing happen to me when I was young. I also tried to self-medicate with drugs. It didn't really help, it just made my life duller.





A few years ago another tramatic situation happened to me that was totally unrelated to my childhood experience. It triggered something in me. I've been dealing with PTSD ever since.





I have a great therapist and psychiatrist now and things have gotten better.





I am so sorry that you are going through what I can only equate to a horrible nightmare.





Please tell your parents, they CAN handle it. The sooner you get help the better.





I would hate to see you still suffering years from now.
Reply:g please do not medicate yourself . Please self medication is not a good thing. When help is needed please seek professional help . I know that this is hard to do because it costs money to get help the system sucks.
Reply:Therapy and medication combined have both worked best for me. I hope you can find a good therapist and Psychiatrists very soon. Marijuana believe it or not will only cause more anxiety when trying to withdraw so it can be worse to use in the long run. I hope you are feeling better soon and I am very sorry you have gone through all this~
Reply:go to a counsler i cant belaive how young u r and u r using drugs u need real help girl.