I edited this post due to harassment

I edited this post due to harassment I have received on this forum.

This place sucks and is full of trolls.

Post Edited (orbitingaround) : 10/22/2020 11:59:53 AM (GMT-6)

Orbitibg around...I feel for you because I went through the same thing ten years ago. Was detoxing from opioids and boom...the trauma hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe it's the body reminding the brain that it has to heal as well. Try going on psychology today and doing a search for therapists near you. Write down the names and numbers of the ones that appeal to you and slowly work your way down the list. You will find someone. Keep the faith

orbitingaround, sending you the very biggest hug and a very deep breath.

The trauma of a major illness can be a very big deal all by itself. New trauma usually brings up old trauma, even if we've dealt with it fully in the past (which, to be frank, most of us have not). Unfortunately the link is very common and is part of what makes chronic illness so hard to heal from for some of us. However, being reminded that what you are going through makes sense does not make it any less hard!

RAINN is a network of the local rape crisis centers around the country, so calling RAINN directs you to your local rape crisis resources. Crisis hotlines are great for grounding, venting, answering questions about how trauma works, validating and normalizing feelings, and connecting you with folks who can help more long-term. Most rape crisis centers offer free, confidential counseling and can connect you with long-term counseling in your area. Calling would be a great idea. (I did rape crisis work for many years, ran multiple hotlines, trained hundreds of counselors, counseled hundreds of people.) They will be very familiar with how traumas can compound one another.

Unfortunately the search for a therapist is likely to involve a lot of people who aren't accepting new patients and other obnoxious roadblocks. It's crappy. But it's worth it when you find a good one. Again, if you have a decent crisis center nearby, then they should be able to provide you with short-term care while they help find a longer-term therapist who can help. They might also be able to direct you to a psychopharmacologist for a short-term medication, if that would be helpful. Unpacking trauma in therapy is intense, so it makes sense to cushion yourself as much as possible as you begin therapy.

Another therapy option is EMDR. People have noticeable relief in very few sessions sometimes.

Please approach yourself with a great deal of compassion right now. Be gentle. This is a hard process, but there are people who can help, and things will not always feel so hard.

Well that is the plan - that we get the load down enough so our immune system can start handling it.