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Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Hi everyone, I decided to join today after experiencing a new low with my immediate family, so here's some basics about myself and what I'd like to learn here.

I'm a 38yo queer woman who lives at home, and I'm 100% dependant on family and caregivers as I have a rare physical disability - I can't name it for safety reasons. Basically, I'm very similar to a paraplegic.

I've had medical scares over the past 5+ years but have had problems my whole life. I nearly died 2 years ago, not the first time. Anxiety, undiagnosed but suggested medical PTSD; Depression, likely autistic and.or ADHD. I've had 3 therapists & psychologists throughout my adult life, with the psychiatrist active at the moment.

NDIS has been a nightmare, but for the moment I have a good caregiver for a couple hours each day.

The problems bringing me here, is my relationships with family. Putting it short;

Mother: main carer, 70s, old-school mindset so she doesn't believe in therapy and resists attempts to talk about problems, my health, the overarching issue and insists on 'just ignore _____, you can't do anything about it'.

Sibling 1: the problem. same disability. Never seen a therapist, lies to her GP. Bedridden for years. Won't talk to a therapist. Likely narcissist: daily meltdowns, screaming, needling to get a reaction, mocks my therapy as well and regularly jokes 'So I guess your therapy doesn't work, huh? Go back to hospital! '. If you try to have a civil conversation, it turns into a screaming fight even if you stop responding.

Sibling 2: Older by a few years. Different health issues, isn't liked by Mother or Sibling 1 and is only tolerated for what assistance she gives.

Father: 80s. Doesn't help, doesn't do anything but watch tv, and he has done this for years.

Mother possibly has a couple mental health disorders, but she refuses to talk to a therapist, and she lies to her GP. (I've been present, she's told me things, and my elder sibling is aware and isn't happy about it either)

If I could move out to a reliable home I would, but I'm at risk of being assaulted because of my disability if I leave my family's care- and I've had caregivers who absolutely should not have become one.

I am beyond my limit, and I don't know what to do as 2 family members openly mock the therapy, and my attempts to cope, and they themselves won't change their own behaviours.. I'm going nowhere but backwards. It's like trying to swim but 2 bullies keep dragging you under.

My only hobbies and coping mechanisms is art and video games. I have ANC headphones, but Sibling 1 persists with bothering me. We share a bedroom and splitting spaces isn't possible.

I am trying to see my psychologist this week, but it's not enough.

Thanks for reading.

3 replies

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In response to: Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Re: Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Hi @ModernMermaid and welcome to the forums

It can take a lot of courage to reach and share in a new platform like this, so good on you for taking that step. I'm glad you've felt able to share some of your story here and I hope it becomes a safe space for you to continue to do so.

It sounds as though there is a lot going on in your household, with lots of different needs, personalities, and beliefs present which makes sound like a very challenging environment, especially when you're requiring care and support. What do you think are the things that have helped you to cope in this environment up to this point? I imagine you are a very resilient person but I wonder if there are any other factors that have made things feel a little bit more manageable, even just temporarily.

In response to: Re: Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Re: Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

My hired caregiver, and a relative who lives nearby, are my only sources of stability lately. They come 'with' their problems however, from no fault of their own.. My mother doesn't want to accept she's getting older and can't act as caregiver, but she takes over tasks from my hired help- and uses excuses to send away my relative. I get a really strong sense she feels she's being replaced, but I'm a realist: accept outside help when you can't do something anymore. I try to do other things with her, but there's always an excuse why it doesn't happen, yet she gets upset and sometimes angry if someone else does whatever it is I needed. eg 'why didn't you ask me, just give me time, you don't need xyz's help!' 'I've been asking you for 2 weeks already'.

I'm not coping with my art or gaming, it's not distracting me, I want tangible changes in this household but as my mother makes all the decisions it's hopeless.

In response to: Re: Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Re: Newbie; medical PTSD, anxiety & DV

Hi @ModernMermaid welcome to the forum.

Just you let you know that if you are responding to a person's message, you need to press the @ button and a drop-down list of people should appear. If the person you are responding to is there, you need to select their name. If their name is not there, start to type their username and their name should appear to select. That way you know the person will be notified of your message.

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