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Talking through trauma and PTSD

Complex trauma and OCD

Complex trauma and OCD

Content warning- negligence, trauma, abuse

I have the vague feeling that medication gives me. I know I've just suffered a major trauma. I know everything's on fire. But the medication just flattens everything. I have a real and rabbid fear that trauma will make me an abuser like my family. Apparently I have harm OCD which I was just diagnosed with and that means I have a severe and pathological fear of harming others. Apparently that means having Apparently that means I would never harm someone because OCD is the opposite of who you are. However, on Monday, I had my second session targeting what we call OCD land. And I was learning about how the thoughts that come from OCD land are generally not true. We were doing this in relation to a support worker I had, who I thought was really safe and who was good to me. At that time, I felt really concerned that this person was going to really rapidly up and leave because she had been in the past week quite flaky. We couldn't pin her down for any support sessions. I woke up the next day to find out that she had instigated a very severe traumatic event towards my dad and I. That the thoughts coming from OCD land were actually like pretty, pretty true. We're no longer seeing each other. And my psych has had to put in an emergency application into AHPRA to complain about her. I'm feeling my distress levels rising again, so I thought I would just express how I'm feeling and ask for some messages of support and not aloneness. I don't know if other people have experienced this, but sometimes I feel like things have been designed to cause me the maximum level of harm. I know that's not a positive belief, and I really don't want anyone pointing that out. It's what my experience has been. I just want people to trust that that experience is really real, and it's a very significant part of my trauma. I'm showing up right now in the hopes of connecting with some safe enough people where I can be honest about how badly I'm doing right now. I want to reach out to a couple of family friends to get some support, but I'm worried they're going to think I'm crazy. My mother has circulated that. I don't really want to talk about it. So I don't know if it's safe to reach out to her. I just feel like every pathway I could take to try and stabilise my life has been blocked. I'm now having to look at more practitioners to bring on. With the severity of the treatment trauma that I've experienced, it's hard to imagine anyone will treat me with respect and decency. Given the severity of the interpersonal trauma I've experienced, it's hard to imagine anyone will treat me with respect and dignity. I'm someone who's always been really optimistic. I was a motivational speaker for a while. But the constant erosion of trauma, wave after wave after wave hitting me, has left me feeling so broken that I can't imagine ever rebuilding. Not because I can't try, but because I feel that whatever I build is just going to be knocked down again. And so there's just no point in trying. It's just pointless. My dad is one the phone to local mental health services and they werent in the slightest bit trauma sensitive or trauma safe. My psych told me to contact them. I told her upfront I had severe trauma and her response was 'yep. So I have questions...' and then continued on. I can't believe it. I was brave. I reached out for support knowing what the system is like and I got treated like shit again. So if anybody has any words of comfort and support, I'd really appreciate them today as I run yet another marathon trying to find safety.

4 replies

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In response to: Complex trauma and OCD

Re: Complex trauma and OCD

Hello @RedSunflower

Welcome to the SANE forums. Thank you for showing up and sharing so openly and honestly. That's not always easy to do. It IS brave and I am so glad you chose to reach out for support and share some of your story with us today.

I am sorry to read that things are so heavy for you right now. It can be so hard to find the right type of support that feels safe. But I love that you are trying, that you've shown up here. I hear resilience, resourcefulness, awareness and strength in your post. I want to reflect that back to you.

There are lots of beautiful supportive people here on the forums. I'm sure others in the community

will jump in to say hello and offer support.

You're not alone ok?

Hey.....

You might like to check out the Recovery Club and take advantage of the free one on one support sessions. Here is the link for more information and registration: Welcome to SANE’s Recovery Club

RecoveryClub is a free, 6-month digital program that offers evidence-based recovery resources, 1:1 support, online groups, and peer support connections to help you build confidence and develop practical skills for your wellbeing and recovery.

Sending you all my best..

hopeful_hannah :)

In response to: Complex trauma and OCD

Re: Complex trauma and OCD

@RedSunflower

I want to echo what @hopeful_hannah said. Especially that it shows a lot of courage to post here when you’ve been so badly hurt so many times. I’m really glad you posted and agree with @hopeful_hannah that it shows resilience, resourcefulness, awareness and strength.

Have you tried reaching out to BlueKnot at all? Their whole purpose is to help people with complex trauma. Their website is https://blueknot.org.au/ if you want to check them out.

I also want to recognise how hard it would be to have that happen with your support worker while trying to work with your psych to challenge that narrative. I can understand why you would feel like things were being designed to hurt you. I can see how the OCD and trauma would reinforce each other, and I’m sorry you’re having to experience that.

In response to: Complex trauma and OCD

Re: Complex trauma and OCD

@RedSunflower, it may help to recognise that having an intrusive thought is not the same as wanting to act on it. You are in control of your actions, not your thoughts.

Grounding can help in the moment to gain some relief from distress: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/support-toolkit/techniques-and-guides/finding-relief-through-grounding-techniques. In particular, looking around the room, focussing on the present moment, and seeing for yourself that you are safe in that moment.

It doesn't treat the root cause, but it helps give some relief from the overwhelm that can make recovery difficult.

Unfortunately some people find medical-model treatment traumatic, and it can be difficult to find the right clinician. Peer support can help in your journey as you navigate this. Peers are online, in Safe Spaces/Safe Havens, and Medicare Mental Health Centres, depending on your location. There are also specific peer support communities for specific conditions/types of trauma. You've made a great start by plugging into the SANE community.

https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/your-recovery/helping-yourself/ may also be a useful resource.

In response to: Complex trauma and OCD

Re: Complex trauma and OCD

Darn, you got me going. You explain things that I feel sooo often. I hope we all can find lil hints n better ways of trying to get though each moment. Unfortunately, no helpful advice from me like I hope you get here, all I could say is talk to / hug a dog

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