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Feeling trapped

Bear00Senior Contributor11 July 2025, 7:59 pm AEST

Feeling trapped

I feel so trapped with my cptsd.

so many has changed since I last posted. I got discharged from the psych ward, quit my job at the student accommodation I used to live, I moved out to my friend’s apartment, and I got a new job.

Those are good change but I feel so burned out. also I feel so overwhelmed by the deferred exam coming next week Saturday.

and in addition to all, there is always my cptsd.

i just want to live pretending that nothing traumatic happened in my past. I had enough of this. I tried to imagine containing all of my trauma into a locked box but I don’t even want to carry the box in my imagination.

sorry for the messy sentences.

I am not okay but I don’t want to drain my friends and don’t know where to ask for help. I don’t know what to do

14 replies

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In response to: Feeling trapped

Till23Senior Contributor12 July 2025, 9:48 pm AEST

Re: Feeling trapped

Sorry @Bear00 I am an old person - does "rn" mean right now?

I am so glad you have someone you can connect with when things are not good as well as when they are. Sounds like your bestie is nice.

As you say most of the things the negative voices say are BS but it is sometimes hard to completely ignore them

Do you have things you can do to interrupt or distract you from the voices?

Do you know grounding exercises like the 5 senses?

Does watching TV or a streaming service or reading a book help?

Do you have sensory objects like fidget toys?

In response to: Feeling trapped

JynxModerator12 July 2025, 10:01 pm AEST

Re: Feeling trapped

@Bear00 I do have to log off soon, but I will echo what @Till23 has said - it can be hard to completely ignore those kinds of thoughts and feelings. I try to remind myself that it is not the thoughts, but my reaction to the thoughts, that tells me who I really am.

Hope to catch you again soon 😊💜

In response to: Re: Feeling trapped

Bear00Senior Contributor12 July 2025, 10:15 pm AEST

Re: Feeling trapped

@Till23

no need to be sorry:) yes it means right now.

Yes I usually use TIPP skills to make myself calmer. and I do have a fidget toy so I could probably use them to distract myself as well. Probably for the daytime I could force myself to concentrate on study to distract myself from my thoughts.

and thank you @Jynx too…! It is a good reminder to tell myself as well when things are tough

In response to: Re: Feeling trapped

Till23Senior Contributor12 July 2025, 10:26 pm AEST

Re: Feeling trapped

Mmm not sure "forcing" yourself to study is going to help a lot @Bear00 of course it depends on the level of distress. Also it may affect your study if your brain is really on other things.

It's good that you have TIPP skills,

I was thinking of more basic things like

Name

5 things you can see

4 things you can hear

3 things you can feel /touch

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste.

Also the braething techniques like box breathing

I have to say that I use physical activity a lot. It can be more difficult at night but don't need much space for sit-ups, push-ups or squats

Some people use music as well

For study there is the Pomodoro technique of doing things in short intervals with breaks all timed

Or even a "chunk" of study followed by a chunk of time on something you enjoy, a chunk of study - repeat.

I'm logging off now, but hope to hear from you in future, if you would like that

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