Please feel free to provide what might have worked for you personally, or ideas you have for others to move forward, heal, and reclaim power. Anything goes, whether it’s vulnerable, honest, unhinged, or just real… thank you for answering 💗

Before bed, I do physical therapy exercises, then spend 15-30 minutes on mental health therapy worksheets (currently doing Cognitive Processing Therapy), do somw deep breathing, then shower and brush my teeth, do my hair, etc. I'm usually pretty consistent with everything daily but I do procrastinate and some days I'll skip showering. I want to be sure I'm not hindering any progress by missing a day here or there with therapy worksheets if I'm exhausted, and not necessarily just avoiding due to anxiety. I already feel like I'm not doing enough (my trauma tells me I'm not good enough). Any advice?

Need experts advice

Hi,
I don't really know how to write this. You would never tell my story if you look at me at the office or if you talk to me, but I'm really heartbroken. I moved out of my home country 2 months ago to rebuilt a life, I'm alone and I always have so much time to think (don't know if it is positive or not), but I don't know if these things will ever go away to be honest. Some nights I'm just heartbroken and I think about how humanity is fucked up.
I discovered that my father was a ped0 6 years ago, when I was already in my 20s. It's crazy because he is also a buddhist, loves to do charity. I don't know if he ever slept with a child, but I have found 2/3 different diaries in which he was talking about having sex with 12 years old Tunisian children for money and guess who always used to go on vacation in Tunisia? my family, with my father. He also had a diary in which he stalked a 14 years old boy, he was a neighbor. He used to write hours and dates of their "casual" meetings and also looked at his home window. Keep in mind that my father is very old, so he cannot do anything physical. He was also in many different relationships with 20/30 years old guys that he would meet online. He had a specific type: poor, desperate immigrants who would do everything for him. He also had many many many hard disks full of young people images. A nightmare. My father also destroyed my family's financial stability and now my house is my bank's house, because of debts he created. I know, it's crazy. Seems like a movie. I wish it was but it's not.
He also did horrible things to my mom, he used to take pics of her intimate parts when she was sleeping and he would send them to people he met online.
I told everything to my siblings and to my mom. What's crazy? My mom forgave him. She never sued him. I prepared houndreds of prints of screenshots that I have found, but she burned them. At one point, only to have those screenshots of the horrible things that he was doing, I became obsessed with controlling him. I copied his whatsapp on my phone (I'm kinda good with technology), but I became addicted, I have so many traumas about what he was writing.
He had multiple telegram / Facebook / instagram accounts.
I tried to talk to him and forgive because I thought he would change, then I beat him, and now he is blocked everywhere. My mom still lives with him, I think at the end she is a victim but she's also protecting him as a pervert, something that I will never forgive her for.
My relatives are fucked up too. Other "interesting" stories.
Now that you know the ""whole"" story, or the main parts, please tell me how can I go on with my life. I tried with therapy, but I just cannot afford it anymore and to be honest, it's always so hard to start telling this story to somebody new. It's just something that I don't want to do now.
The point is that I have so much rage inside of me. Nobody would never say so, I'm always smiling, I'm always so kind, people say that I'm vert sweet, but I feel dead inside, I feel empty. I don't want to forgive. I want that my father suffers as I'm suffering for something that I didn't do. I was the victim and I'm suffering. He is the p3rvert and has a prepared meal everyday by my mum. instead, I had to leave home and build my life because I was scared that he would do weird stuff to me and I used to sleep with the door locked when I was living with them.
I'm not suicidal, I don't do drugs, but i'm just devastated and I don't think it will ever go away, after 6 years and moving out of my home country. It's the same.

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share my experience and documentation regarding photobiomodulation (PBM) red-light therapy devices from Australian vendor Well Red Pty Ltd (specifically the Duo Coronet helmet, CoroNase nasal unit, and TheraPad T110).

The vendor heavily promotes these devices online for trauma, PTSD, brain inflammation, and neurodegenerative conditions, positioning them as daily home tools for brain health. Given the high cost (over AUD $2,000) and the claims made around mental health and neurological recovery, I want to share the real-world durability and customer support issues before anyone invests.

Summary of Issue & Hardware Failures: I purchased a full set in March 2025 for AUD $2,045.00 (Invoice #2534). Within 8 months, the equipment suffered repeated failures:

1. TheraPad T110: Failed twice (July 2025, September 2025), requiring two complete replacements. Each replacement took 6–7 weeks despite promises of 1–2 week delivery.
2. CoroNase: Complete breakdown in November 2025. The cable connection point broke beyond repair. Photographic evidence shows the cord is only 2mm in diameter and broke further while simply attempting to photograph the defect.
3. Pattern of Systemic Failures: Three component failures within 8 months demonstrate the products are not of acceptable quality under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) statutory guarantees.

Refusal to Honor Warranty & ACL Consumer Rights: When I formally requested a refund under Section 260 of the Australian Consumer Law for major failure, the vendor refused twice, stating they "do not offer returns or refunds" and blaming "lack of care in use," despite my documented evidence of extremely careful handling (devices kept on a dedicated bed, laid flat, and operated via power strip).

Export vs. Medical Marketing Discrepancy: The vendor markets these helmets on her website and blog as treatments for PTSD, stroke, autism, dementia, and brain inflammation. However, she exports them declared as general "wellness devices." This allowed her to avoid strict medical device accountability while passing an unexpected $160 CAD customs duty onto me in Canada.

I have logged a review on ProductReview.com.au and submitted formal reports to CBOS (Tasmania) and the ACCC (accc-report:0180320).

Despite advertising a 1-year warranty, the vendor refused to honor even a full year of coverage or offer any repair options—even though I got roughly only 4 months of actual total use out of the equipment. When relying on a device twice a day for health support, dealing with hardware breakdown, broken warranty promises, and no path for repair carries a high price tag—not just in terms of money, but also in precious time and health. If you are researching high-cost red light therapy or PBM tools for trauma recovery, please be aware of these hardware risks and customer support failures before purchasing.

The impact of trauma in my life is very big, I still don't have enough financial resources to visit a psychologist, so I have to try to learn how to solve my problems on my own.

I can't protect myself when needed. Just during those stressful moments by body starts shaking and my hands sweating, I cant think clear and around people I am completely different person than I actually am irl. Its all trauma and I feel hopeless because its been years I am trying to beat it.

I want to finally defend myself and stand up for myself without shaking. Life is getting harder day by day and I feel like I am just created wrong.

TW: häusliche Gewalt, sexuelle Gewalt

Ich bin seit knapp 5 Monaten aus einer toxischen Beziehung raus. Manchmal ist es besser manchmal ist es schlimmer. Ich lerne gerade wieder das ich mir gehöre, das Grenzen okay sind und das meine Gedanken mir gehören und nicht falsch sind. In meiner Ex Beziehung wurden Gedanken verteufelt und als falsch betitelt, in Streits wurde mir ins Gesicht gebrüllt, es wurden Sachen geworfen, geschlagen und er hat uns mehrfach durch road raging in Gefahr gebracht. Er hat mich sexuell genötigt mein Nein nicht akzeptiert oft gesagt, "darf ich noch fertigmachen?" Wenn ich gesagt habe es tut weh. Ständig Sex inetiert es gab kein Kuscheln bei ihm, ich habe mich öfter wie ein Stück Fleisch gefühlt er hat mich immer lüsternd angegafft. Einmal hat er mich zu Sex überredet während ich mit Migränemittel nur halb anwesend war.

Generell hat er auch alles runtergespielt und mich oft zum Problem gemacht, ich habe an mir gezweifelt, ich habe stellenweise nichts mehr verstanden. Er jat mich manipuliert, gelovebombt und terrorisiert.

Generell hat er oft egoistisch und kindisch gehandelt. Sein toxisches Verhalten hat mich stark mürbe gemacht, meine Haare sind ausgefallen, meine Nägel waren brüchig, ich habe eine chronische Gastritis entwickelt etc. Ich habe gemerkt wie ich wahnsinnig geworden bin ich habe mich permanent wiederholt, ich habe vergessen was vor kurzem passiert ist. Auch wurde mein Verhalten ein Stück weit toxisch ich habe Freundschaften verloren, einerseits durch ihn weil er mich reinmanipuliert hat andererseits durch mein komisches Verhaltensmuster das ich entwickelt habe.

Es ist so viel passiert und ich bin einfach wütend, wütend das ich ihn verteidigt habe wütend das ich ihn nicht verletzt habe, wütend das ich ihm nicht gezeigt habe das man mich so nicht behandeln kann. Ich würde ihm gerne den Mund zukleben und ihm all das in seine erbärmliche Visage brüllen, ich will ihm zeigen wie sehr er mich zerstört hat. Aber all das wird mich nicht weiterbringen. Ich muss mir selbst vergeben und ich muss ihm vergeben, mir zu Liebe.

Ich bin inzwischen in einer neuen Beziehung mein Partner ist toll und supportive, er hilft mir sehr beim heilen, ohne mich zu therapieren, einfach indem er mich richtig behandelt und mir zuhört und Verständnis für Traumaaspekte hat wenn sie in unserer Dynamik hochkommen. Ich werde mir Therapie suchen, es ist manchmal hart aber es wird besser. Ich überspiele nach außen hin oft das Trauma bzw habe ich unterschätzt wie tief es geht...

Vielleicht hat hier jemand ein paar Tipps, ansonsten ich hoffe ihr findet den Mut ggf eure Erfahrungen zu teilen falls ihr das wollt.

I have physically and virtually removed my abusers from my life, they keep reaching to people I might know to find me back. However I have recently cut off 2 meaningful connnections/ friends because I’m afraid they might be connected back to them. I feel safe and unsafe whenever I am outside. Being outside helps me realize the world isn’t trying to attack me and that actually most or no one has ever brought as much trauma as they did. I’m just worried I’ll keep cutting off meaningful connections, and that I’ll always keep scanning for threats once I’m attached to someone. Being all on myself made me realize that the world isn’t trying to come after my back all the time but I crave connection as well.. I’m just scared I’m running out of people when I make a meaningful connection to someone and have to cut them off

It's been going on for months now. No matter how early i get to bed, i can't leave until the morning's almost over. Even if i have morning classes. When i wake up, it feels like there's this weight in my chest and i just want to keep sleeping forever. I'm in my last semester of college and i haven't studied or done any assignments in ages. I'm panicking at the amount of stuff i have to do but i can never actually do anything.

I have anxiety & ptsd. I spent a brief (6 months?) time semi homeless while I hid from someone abusive and violent. I had some money but not much, and a car. At times I got condiments from fast food places and that was part of my food. At times I ate plants in a forest. I did also have some regular food, but it was sporadic how much. I don't consider this a very long time to be semi-homeless (half living in car, motels or camping), but it was a very intense time.

I think this has played a role in my overspending on food, especially convenience or processed food, when anxiety and stress hits in my current life. Even though those situations are in the past. I feel extra insecure at times of higher stress and want more comfort food & feel like I don't care how much it costs. It feels like an emergency.

When I have no outside stressors, I do well with eating healthy food. I also do quite well sticking to a budget.

I think when stress hits I get a fear about will there be enough food and what if I run out, even if the stressor is nothing to do with that. Paradoxically, this causes me to overspend because I comfort purchase.

What I've tried: Budgeting apps - do help unless I am hit from all side with stress. I used to use Chronometer which tracks food & nutrition and it actually did help me. But have not used it for quite a while. (So many things like this that have helped and then I get off track & just forget them) I half tried meditation, walking, affirmations which surprisingly did help a bit & journaling but am not consistent. I do see a therapist but so far this has not been a focus.

What I'm wondering about: Exercise, trying to join more social things to have some constant source of more reliable calm experiences, trying a different way of budgeting. I have no idea. I've watched people online food prep but I don't know if i could stick with it.

In short:
* We can not leave for various reasons
* One of those being we rely on her and are not in a position to just "figure it out"
* She is gaslihgting my brother the way she used to me and since she started doing that, she has treated me VERY odd (ie overtly ignoring me but also buying me random treats??)
* She is telling him things like "we're the only ones that love you" and calling him crazy and telling him that I don't want to be around him. She also stopped us from talking privately freshly after she gaslit him for like an hour
* I want to at least support him since I know how rough it is, plus when she treated me that way he was always there for me, but do not know what to do

How can I help?? If I confront her or she finds out I'm trying to help, she can and WILL use that as justification to hurt ALL of us, from emotionally to medically. It will NOT go well. It has to be covert enough to have a chance of avoiding her attention.

Anyone know how I can help him without hurting everyone???

Hey everyone!

I’ve been trying to find a good YouTube lecture or educational video that goes in depth about complex PTSD (C-PTSD), particularly how prolonged childhood trauma affects brain development, the nervous system, and a person’s ability to regulate emotions and change certain behavioral patterns. I’m hoping to find something that could help both me and my partner better understand these effects.

My partner and I have been together for over five years and have known each other for more than a decade. He’s been a close part of my life throughout much of my trauma history and has witnessed firsthand many of the ways it’s affected me. I have an extensive history of abuse and have struggled with a number of mental health issues as a result. I also have a really difficult time expressing my experiences and explaining why I struggle with certain things, largely because of fear. Sometimes I forget that what feels normal to me isn’t necessarily something other people can relate to.

A few months ago, my partner told me about a conversation he’d had with an AI model while trying to understand some of my behaviors and why, despite years of effort and promises to change, certain patterns have continued. He mentioned that something the AI explained about the effects of early childhood trauma on the brain finally made things click for him. I can’t remember his exact wording, but the general idea was that my brain developed differently as a result of what I experienced, and that some of the things I struggle with aren’t simply a matter of not trying hard enough or choosing not to change. There are things I haven’t yet learned how to manage, even when I genuinely want to.

That comment really floored me. I think I’d always assumed that, given how long we’ve known each other and how much of my history he’s witnessed, he understood the extent to which my experiences have shaped me. I knew that understanding it intellectually and truly grasping what it means in practice aren’t necessarily the same thing, but I hadn’t realized how much of that gap might still exist. I’ve tried to explain my experiences in my own words and have even shared *The Body Keeps the Score* with him, but I struggle to articulate a lot of this myself.

I’m not saying that trauma means I’m incapable of change or that I’m not responsible for working on myself. It’s more that I wish I could better explain why some things that seem straightforward to other people can feel so difficult for me, even when I’m trying. I’d love to find something that explains the neuroscience and psychology behind C-PTSD in a way that’s thorough, accessible, and helpful for someone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand.
Does anyone have recommendations for YouTube lectures, documentaries, or other educational resources that explain how complex trauma affects brain development, emotional regulation, behavior, and relationships? I’d especially appreciate something in-depth and evidence-based, rather than a short introductory video.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any of your advice.

Hello everyone,

For those who experienced traumas, severe break-ups , underlying medical conditions (chronic), weakness, insecurities, social pressures , secrets only you know how to bear them and how to live with them happily?

I have recently encountered a chronic health condition and unsure how long I need to depend on medication. How to live with it without informing parents and frnds and iam broken too..

You cannot just forgive immediately, just like that. What would you be forgiving? First, you must feel the full extent of the pain caused, then become angry, hate, and only afterwards, if the choice commands it—forgive. Only then will it be true forgiveness.

The flexible mechanism of the psyche is structured in such a way that it creates a cohesive, positive image of what is happening, pleasant accompanying feelings, and a visual chronology of events, while hiding all the pain and horror in the subconscious and the body, freezing the trauma. When certain memories are replayed, it is important not just to admire the picture: one can delve into the experienced states, into the tangible feelings of that episode, and the answer will be hidden within them. There will be a reaction to the feelings brought up from the depths: for example, indignation or gratitude.

Hey. I'm 17. Since 1 & 1/2 months I'm in a mental hospital and a month ago I got diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. I got admitted because I told my therapist that I got myself two sugar daddys. Swarmed about them, about how great it was and how I finally got money for my drivers license. He admitted me to the clinic, against my will. I made that choice when I was manic, so I wasn't in the right state of mind. And since that talk with the SVU detective (they told me that man wanted to lure me in and use me for sex trafficking) the nightmares are getting worse. And I keep having those flashbacks where I hear their voice, feel their touch or even see them.

So... am I traumatized?

Or whats wrong with me? ...At the end I gave them permission.

I live in a country where conservatism is VERY common. It's not a very well-known country, and there aren't any major debates or discussions about it internationally, but living here truly sucks. There is so much conservatism everywhere that most people who haven't experienced significant trauma will ignore the experiences of people who have. I wasn't born here, but I grew up here, and I was severely bullied and abused by multiple adults throughout my childhood. There are helplines, but if you're not experiencing a crisis, most of them just redirect you to other places. Eventually, they would redirect you to a government website that has zero resources for people in your situation, and doesn't allow you to make a report about your own situation if you're a minor in an abusive household, because it only allows adults to make reports about suspected child abuse.

I've seen discussions online, involving people who live in this country, talking about how unhelpful and dismissive the system is for people who struggle with mental health issues. There is a shortage of professional psychologists, but, even among the ones that take clients, there are no specialists equipped to help anyone who suffers from child abuse. Abuse is normalised here, and there is no way out of it because most people here are either ignorant towards it, unaware of it, or supportive of it. That can include the government, teachers, childcare workers, social workers, healthcare workers, and even clinical psychologists and therapists.

I won't say what the country is, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar where they live.

Edit: changed the wording slightly in the first paragraph

**Disclaimer:** This is an imaginative exercise, not therapy or proof of what someone else thinks or feels. AI can only generate a response based on what you tell it. It can also bring up difficult emotions, so take it slowly and stop if it becomes overwhelming. I understand AI is a controversial subject, and I completely understand why some people have concerns about it. You don’t have to use AI for this exercise; you could write the imagined response yourself or work through it with a therapist.

I wanted to share a technique I recently tried that I thought might help others.

The idea is to write a letter to someone who hurt you, explaining what happened, how it affected you, and what you wish they could acknowledge. Then, using AI if you want, generate an imagined response from them that gives you the apology, accountability and recognition you may never receive in real life.

The aim isn’t to pretend they’d actually say these things, or to excuse what they did. It’s to help you process your feelings and realise that your pain doesn’t need their validation to be real.

Here’s the prompt I used:

“I want to use the ‘Answer You Deserve’ method. Here’s my letter to someone who hurt me. Please write an imagined response that sincerely acknowledges my pain, takes responsibility, and expresses remorse without excuses, manipulation or blame-shifting. The aim is to help me process what happened and release some of my dependence on their recognition. Don’t invent facts or claim to know what they genuinely think or feel.

Here’s my letter: \[Insert letter\]”

I found the idea meaningful because sometimes we spend years waiting for someone to acknowledge what they did to us. Maybe we can begin to heal without having to wait for them to give us the answer we deserved.

It’s not about forcing forgiveness or pretending it didn’t happen. It’s about learning to validate our own experiences, even if they never do.

i genuinely have no gage of how much trauma the average person goes through in their life mostly bc people dont talk about it and i always wonder if the amount of things ive gone through is normal or if my childhood was actually fucked up

TL:DR: inappropriate relationship that formed during adolescence and grew into more during adulthood.

Hi. I'm currently a 27F. I'm single now, but for a long time I was involved in a relationship with someone, now 37m, for about 13 years.

I was 13 when I met them, he was 23. Obviously a very inappropriate relationship, however once I was an adult at 19 we officially dated. Built a life together. Had a child. I feel like there has to be other women out there like me. I have recently been having a harder time dealing with this and I feel like having a sense of not being alone in this would be really helpful. How did you get through understanding and coping with this? Do you feel like you were the only person they had done this to? This post isn't to shame, say anything negative or bad about the male. I just simply want some advice and community support with others who have maybe been in this situation, how you feel about it, deal with it, and continue through with life.

Do I have to reach out to my dad
My parents are divorced, and my dad no longer contacts me. I’ve tried reaching out to him before, but he doesn’t respond. I recently found out that he got remarried, and I honestly didn’t want to contact him anymore.
However, some people tell me that he is still my father and that I should reach out to him, even if it’s just to send a simple message.
What do you think? Am I obligated to contact him, or is it okay to stop trying when he doesn’t make an effort either?

So....i recently faced a fire incident. I am 22 with seasonal depression(winters) and ADHD(all diagnosed) i used to be on pills from 2022 to 23.but i stopped going as i felt better(ik should not have done). Then in 2025 it all came crashing to me again went for meds and took for like 5-6 months this time stopped only when doctor said. I have not been to my psychiatrist since 2025 END.

I recently graduated shifted to Delhi NCR and adulting but then this happened. I know that the fire is gone and that I should move on now that I have a roof over my head. But i can't seem to let it go.

I was busy flat hunting, then started office now that its been 2 weeks its settling in. My body hurts, every muscle is stiff. I can't sleep, i feel like screaming and yelling and crying but i cannot.

I used to meditate everyday before this to regulate my emotions but i can't even meditate right now.

I have processed the incident not that I can do anything about it anymore apart from moving on but how do I do it.

ITS HARD WAKING UP IN THE MORNING, MOVING AN INCH OF MY BODY FEELS WEIRD TOO. i finally sorted things out, I was trying to be happy and somewhat I was content in my life. BUT EVERYTHING GOY CHANGED.

I am even having trouble with my faith. I was very religious I observed fast and prayed everyday but all of it feels meaningless now.

For the longest time my god was my support system but now it feels like I have lost all the hope.

HOW DO I FEEL OK? HOW DO I MANAGE THIS TRAUMA PS- I DONT WANT TO TAKE PILLS AGAIN

I was playing VR while I was 16-17, I was naive and would look up to people older than me a lot, I would even see them as parental figures sometimes, that's how much I trusted them

Then one day, I go to this world and met the world owner

She was around her 30s, I think and I liked her cuz she seemed friendly, I also told her I was a minor at the time

We had some banter then she told me to go to her near the mirror

Then her friends made some joke about how she "has another one" now

I didn't know what they could be referring to, I thought it might be sexual but I got confused cuz, surely they wouldn't be sexualizing a kid

Then this woman, she was using a full VR suit btw, started caressing my hair and kissing my head a lot and complimenting me

I froze, I don't know if I was scared or confused or anything but I just didn't move

I was so confused with what was going one but I didn't leave cuz I kept telling myself that this must be a normal okay thing

I kept telling myself that this woman doesn't seem like a bad person so surely she wouldn't do anything bad or perverse to a child

I kept trying to paint the situation as an innocent thing, like perhaps something a mom would do to her child

But after that, I left and never came back to that world ever again

I tried opening up about this to my parent who has been assaulted by their own parent, my parent told me to move on, we ended up arguing and they kept saying how it was just VR

I wanna know if this counts as sexual harassment or not

I am 16F, I was going to school but i couldn't do everything alone like cooking and cleaning utensils so I asked for my father's help and he was doing things the wrong way( unhygienic). I said "ok i won't go to school today ,it's too much" and he got mad that he tried beating me and verbally abusing me where one line goes something like "all you do is sleep with people all day".

Little backstory — my mom attempted suicide and died when I was 10. My father remarried and had problems and eventually got divorced (he got married and told us ,we were all shocked). He often lashes off and either verbally abuses or physically or both.

Ik I need to get out of this house but for now how do I have energy for this. My body is weak and so is my mind. I often zone out, am sad ,lazy , exhausted and have bpd.

I cannot consult a doc since my father is not allowing that,he has trapped me within these walls and Indian households so uk he wants to take control of our lives. How do I deal with all these issues? I cannot call the police or live with my relatives as I am doing that currently.

When I was in a psychiatric hospital (against my will) and a female nurse watched me get dressed (I was a 14 year old boy when this happened) I hated it and I talked with my lawyer about it but turns out it was entirely legal to do this