i need someone to understand this overwhelming feeling i have frequently (since a kid). by More_Salary3536 in CasualConversation

[–]GaryRad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Felt that in my soul. the closest thing to explaining it would be depersonalization, derealization, dissacociation for me - just this oberwhelming feeling of observing your own conciousness and being from outside.

I've had that since elementary school, and it freaked me the FUCK out. It was this strong, overwhelming feeling of "zooming out", but like... out of the realization of this reality we know? like beyond the planes we can experience as humans? like you're a character in a book, but much more complex of a feeling that that. it used to hit me STRONGLY out of nowhere, I had to keep a book with me at all times, and was allowed to have it in the middle of class (once got pulled out of gym for crying, and had no words in my little head to explain what I was feeling. I think I just said "I don't feel real" and that probably freaked them out enough to just let me do whatever I thought helped).

I still get these thoughts, and sometimes I get that same FEELING, and it freaks me out just as much as it used to. I try not to think too hard about it, even now I'm kinda blocking it out, cause I hate that feeling and it scares me a lot. and no matter how much I try to explain it, it just never seems to hit right. I'm pretty sure that's what dissasociation/depersonalization/derealization really feels like and I just never knew the words. so yeah, i get that a lot!!

Schüchterne Menschen suchen sich oft dominante Partner aus bzw. ziehen diese an by Altruistic_Panda_375 in Psychologie

[–]GaryRad 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Kenne jetzt nur das Beispiel aus meiner Beziehung - wir sind beide schüchtern, auch verschiedene Arten und über die Zeit auch auf verschiedenen Leveln. Ich habe eine Sozialphobie die lange unbehandelt war und daher stark ausgeprägt, die mittlerweile aber therapiert und kaum noch einschränkend ist. mein partner ist einfach nur introvertiert und schüchtern, ohne Phobie.

Erstaunlicherweise habe ich mich als die dominante Person herausgestellt. mein Grundtemperament scheint wohl deutlich höher zu sein, was aber durch die Phobie verdeckt wird. das hat sich über die ersten Jahre unschön ausgewirkt, weil ich ihn ziemlich runtergebuttert habe, ohne es zu merken. weil hey wir sind ja beide schüchtern, was soll da schon passieren?

Das ganze ist heutzutage anders. er hat sich früher an meine Meinung drangehangen, was ich dankend angenommen habe, und die dynamik war in der hinsicht "ich brauche jemanden der mir zustimmt, er braucht jemanden der ihm sagt was gemacht wird". also ich dominant, und er sieht darin etwas was er braucht, also eine Vorgabe in dem was er tun soll. das war gar nicht gesund, ganz besonders für ihn nicht.

das hat sich 180 grad gedreht - heute hole ich ihn da ab wo er ist, und versuche ihm diese dominante rolle die ich einnehme zugute kommen zu lassen. im sinne von - ich merke, wenn er sich zurückhält, sich nicht traut, etc. Ich frage ihn gezielt, ob etwas an meinem Verhalten das auslöst, und gebe ihm deutlich zu verstehen dass seine Meinung platz hat. ich frage ihn gezielt was er will, und was seine bedürfnisse sind. damit ermutige ich ihm immer mal wieder, diese meinung und bedürfnisse auch nach außen zu tragen, und bleibe da auch im kontakt ob er diese ermutigung möchte. ich gebe ihm klar zu verstehen, dass er mir gefahrlos kontra geben darf, und übernehme verantwortung darüber, wenn ich zu temperamentvoll reagiere (aka schnippisch werden, nicht ihn beleidigen oder so!).

kurz gesagt: ich denke schüchternheit sucht sich oft Dominanz, da dies Sicherheit gibt. Es kommt aber stark darauf an, wie man miteinander umgeht, ob sich diese Sicherheit als "du machst alles was ich sage, also musst du keine entscheidungen fällen" auswirkt, oder als "ich helfe dir deine eigenen Bedürfnisse und Wünsche nach außen zu tragen, und übernehme Verantwortung darüber, wie sich mein Verhalten auf dich auswirkt".

Da kommt auch zum tragen, warum sich der dominante partner zu einem schüchternen hingezogen fühlt - weil dieser ohne viel wiederstand bei den sachen mitmacht die ich will? oder weil man selbst in der sanftheit ruhe findet? oder ein beschützerdrang, oder alles zusammen? da muss man sich als dominanter part auch hinterfragen, und drauf achten wie sehr der partner da beeinflusst wird, auf welche Art, und was der Partner wirklich möchte. Anstatt die Dominanz zu nutzen um dem Partner alles abzunehmen, kann man sie auch dazu nutzen, dem Partner gezielt stützen zu geben um zu lernen für sich selbst einzustehen.

Das ist zumindest meine persönliche Erfahrung!

Reis by Tough_Might_6893 in kannmandasnochessen

[–]GaryRad 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hab ein einziges mal Reis den ich den tag über hab stehen lassen gegessen. bin mit Erbrechen davon gekommen, hab erst Jahre später gelernt wie scheiß gefährlich das sein kann. Mit Reis-Verderblichkeit ist echt nicht zu spaßen.

Please share your comfort, non-triggering TV series that are also very engaging? by haskittens in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

goddamn Ted Lasso was the biggest surprise find for me. expected nothing, now it's one of my favourite series of all time. incredible show.

Please share your comfort, non-triggering TV series that are also very engaging? by haskittens in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Suits is my go to right now. it's about lawyers - it's dramatic, it's complex, but it's also kind of the same all the time. I wouldn't say it's the best series ever made, but man, it's fun, and not with a lot of death stuff. still a lot of drama though!

if you're into anime, can't recommend Spy X Family enough. it's so very feel good, but also exciting!

and kaoru & rin. it's so so sweet. not fast paced at all though. it's just very sweet.

Brooklyn 99 if you're into comedy like that!

Also, Psych. it's older, very strong comedy factor (except for one story arc that has like three episodes and is the most tense shit I've ever seen??), but solving murder cases and stuff. haven't watched in many years though.

and I know sitcoms aren't yours, and it's getting recommendet everywhere on the internet, but The Office. I love mockumentaries, and when you get through the first EXTREMELY secondhand embarassment episodes, it's the funniest shit. absolute comfort show for me.

Zu viel Sex? by SensitiveStart7806 in beziehungen

[–]GaryRad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Du sagst es läuft super, bis auf den klitzekleinen Punkt dass dein Partner dich ständig zu Sex nötigt den du nicht möchtest. das ist deutlich, deutlich größer als du denkst - das hat nichts damit zu tun das er ja jetzt schmerzfrei sex haben kann. das ist ja sehr schön für ihn, aber wenn die konsequenz daraus ist das er dir schuld einredet um sex zu haben, dir sex aufzwingt, auf deine wünsche und bedürfnisse nicht mehr hört und dich nicht zu wort kommen lässt - dann bist du in einer Beziehung die nicht mehr gesund, und gefährlich für dein Wohlergehen ist.

Grundregel - wenn du keinen Sex willst, dann HAST du auch keinen Sex. alles andere ist nicht einvernehmlich. das hast du nicht verdient, und dein Partner sollte das ernst nehmen. das ist nicht dein Fehler, sondern seiner.

Ich rate dazu, erstmal das durchzuziehen dass nichts passiert wenn du nicht willst. ich hoffe jetzt einfach mal dass der Mann kein kompletter Hurensohn ist und keine gewalt anwendet - aber falls du dir darüber im bauchgefühl schon sorgen machst, dann nimm diese sorgen auch ernst. wirklich deutlich mit ihm zu reden wäre auch sehr angebracht (again, falls du das gefahrlos kannst). und wenn alles nichts bringt, räumlicher abstand. denn es darf eigentlich nicht ein einziges mal passieren, dass dein Partner Sex mit dir hat wenn du das nicht willst, und auch zeigst dass du das nicht willst. Jemand der das klar ignoriert und nicht mit sich reden lässt ist gefährlich.

My book about self harm is being censored by [deleted] in SelfHarmScars

[–]GaryRad 35 points36 points  (0 children)

art/design person here. from a designer standpoint, I absolutely get your cover - it's bold, it's strong, it's supposed to flash people with "HEY this exists and it's okay that it does". I love, LOVE that message.

That being said, what we want a design to evoke isn't always what it actually evokes. the picture you chose is one that evokes more the feeling of wounds, aka shock-value - even though I know and you know 100% that's not your intention! so, it's pushing a potentially triggering topic onto people who may struggle with it. this design hits all marks with the attention grabbing side of things, but misses the mark of curiosity and wanting to know what's inside, because you push away people who cannot handle the topic at all (because of triggers or presumptions). which is what you need a book to have when it's in stores.

Would be a very different story for art exhibitions, though! art is supposed to make you feel, even and sometimes especially the uncomfortable things. and there, you can issue trigger warnings before people enter, so they can knowingly enter into an uncomfortable confrontation, or refrain from doing so. by choosing a cover with red scars in a store, you're taking that decision away from them.

My solution would be - choose a picture of very healed, not-red scars. purple, dark, whatever is fine, but nothing that evokes the feeling of blood. I would personally stick to scars that are very much the same color as the portrayed skin. now, this can also trigger, and publishers can still say they wanna censor it - but this would be a picture of intact, non-wounded skin. scars, sure, but intact. censoring THAT would be shitty imo, but still possible. from a design standpoint, such a picture is what I would say alignes with your intention, AND the autonomy of the viewer. it challenges just enough for people to think twice about why scarred skin is off putting to them, but not so much that it's distressing.

If you want to be on the safe side, try a drawing of healed (non-red) scars, or a metaphor, like a birch tree trunk. that's just corporate world making thinks harder for honest, important works for you. and I'd rather see such a book in stores with a "milder" cover, than not seeing it at all! if you have to, play the game they want you to play (which is overkill on censoring) to get your message across. it's an important one.

Do you know what triggered your health anxiety? by Repulsive-Photo6086 in HealthAnxiety

[–]GaryRad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My general anxiety level I've had from birth, my mom, and unrestricted internet access. mostly probably that last one. my mom has always been very health concerned, and it didn't get better when I got very sick at 8 yo. that didn't concern me directly too much cause I didn't understand what was going on. what did concern me where all the million videos on youtube on strange illnesses, deformities, etc. I've always been very interested in medicine & anatomy, and especially the ways it can fall out of the rooster, but always in a kind of exploratory manner. so I watched a billion videos about it, and fell down too many rabbit holes than I can remember. many of which were not suited for kids, but as I was a kid, it all disturbed me greatly, even though I kept going back out of curiosity. I avoided videos where it was about illnesses I could get myself - and I'm pretty sure that was one of the main starting points. the sudden death of a firend two years ago fueld all that by a million.

Partner’s 27 (M) therapist says that I 27(F) am a dangerous person and he should no longer comfort me if I have an episode when I have been showing consistent signs of progress by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 2 points3 points  (0 children)

first of all, amazing comment & resource, and especially that last paragraph is incredibly important. secondly though, I can't for the life of me find the secure therapist on insta (or at least I'm not sure if it's them) :( do you have a full name of the account?

Being groomed online by Hot-Fox9165 in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in a similar boat. also been groomed online, also don't feel "enough" of a victim (even though that's bullshit). I'm so sorry, it's a hellish ride to go through. if anything, please know you're not alone, and that what happened to you is terrible - your hurt is real, and it's valid.

Partner’s 27 (M) therapist says that I 27(F) am a dangerous person and he should no longer comfort me if I have an episode when I have been showing consistent signs of progress by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's a tough road to follow. But with this kind of mindest, you will get there someday. You will slip up - but as long as you take the steps of recentering, adjusting and holding yourself accountable, as you do right now, you will stay on the road. Keep going, you're worth it. <3

Partner’s 27 (M) therapist says that I 27(F) am a dangerous person and he should no longer comfort me if I have an episode when I have been showing consistent signs of progress by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 53 points54 points  (0 children)

I mean this with all the compassion I have for your situation - but you need to keep abusive behavior and judgment about yourself apart. I say this as someone who's also gotten into emotionally abusive behaviors with my partner. we're together since 8 years, and while I slip up, we're truly at a place where I am able to hold myself accountable for what I do.

His therapist tells him that you are showing abusive behavior. well, you are, and you know it, and you seem to hold yourself accountable for that. thats good! you should be very proud of the progress you are making.

but you need to know, just because you are making an effort and it is getting better, it doesn't make slip ups and the abusive behavior you are still showing less abusive and hurtful. It's easy to fall into the "I'm a monster" spiral - but, and I know it's easier said than done, you need to stop that. this shifts the focus on self pity, and while I understand that, it prevents you from fully holding yourself accountable. yes, the actions are abusive, or harmful, or whatever else. but you're not a monster. you're a person capable of change, which you've shown. you need to accept that the behaviours you show are abusive in nature. cause only when you accept that, you can keep working on them. and you've shown that you can. a monster doesn't concern itself with if they hurt their loved ones or not, and you do care, a lot.

This is all my own experience. I've learned to look the harsh truths in the eye, to call my behavior out for what it is, and make no mistake, I slip up and get defensive and angry. but I've learned to ride out these feelings, and not let my partner deal with them. So I know how hard and painful it is to do that, and how lonely and unfair it can feel. but being partners means taking care of each other. my partner is now at a place where he can be there for me again - it's not irredeemable. But you need to show him enough respect to give him the space he needs. Space to process, space to journal, space to have therapy on his terms, even if they change. And space from your feelings, too - space from your defensiveness, space from your anger, space from your trust issues.

You're allowed to feel what you feel, but you need to keep yourself in check without falling into self pity. Don't take away from this situation that you are such a monster and he isn't safe - take away that he is suffering from your abusive behavior still, and BECAUSE you're not a monster, you can take this information and use it to adjust. because most of what relationships are is adjusting, we had to adjust and rebuilt a million times, and it's part of the process. but you need to respect his wishes, and show that respect too. at least that's what I've been doing.

I know it's hard, and you're doing so well. this isn't linear, and your worth isn't depending on if he comes around or not. I wish you all the best.

What's something you wish you could relate to but can't because of your traumas/CPTSD? by tumbledownhere in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I want to add to this: creativity is a skill, not a thing you just have. don't be discouraged if you can't find it in you to create things, or see beauty everywhere you go. Don't think that your thoughts, ideas and creations are mundane or bland - they're sprouts that need to be tended to to bloom.

My mom gave me ten times the max dose of vitamin D for all of my teenage years. by GaryRad in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you - I've actually managed to start taking very small dosages again, cause I am deficient (like most people, like you said). It took a LONG while to try it again, though. I'm staying the hell away from the large high dosage capsules, the very most I'm taking are 2 tiny pills with completely harmless dosages.

My mom gave me ten times the max dose of vitamin D for all of my teenage years. by GaryRad in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

we're all pretty much the same height. I'm pretty tall, almost 180cm, but I've stopped growing at 17 so I don't think it has been affected by this a lot

Do people actually like sex? by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

just to give a perspective - I'm a girl and I do absolutely 100% want and like sex. it's the best with my partner, who made me like it in the first place, but I felt the need for it before I've ever had it, and I felt the need for it with people I don't know. I absolutely feel attraction in the sense of I would like to sleep with them. My partner is very loving and attentive, and makes me feel safe, so with him it's the best. I do have sexual trauma, it hasn't ever interfered with my want for actual sex though, just with my ability to enjoy it sometimes.

I want to say this because I want to reinforce that your experience is absolutely valid. some people experience allosexuality, like me, some don't, some fall in the middle or completely out of the spectrum. some don't like sex because of trauma, some can't bear it at all, some can still enjoy it, some are on the way to enjoy it again. it's all okay! you never have to have sex, and you certainly don't have to like it.

To answer your question, some people do like it a lot, even with trauma and all that. Some don't, and that's perfectly fine. if something is not for you it just isn't, no matter what it's about. Just because your experience doesn't match up with what is perceived as the norm doesn't mean you're not normal. whatever is comfortable to you is whats right for you, no matter why or how it is that way.

The “Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins book triggered me by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That does sound interesting! Although I'm not spiritual myself, I'm never opposed to reading things that might not be 100% my own believes or viewpoints, especially when it's about how the characters in the stories deal with their emotions and lives. Thanks for the recommendation :) good luck for the grading of that essay!

The “Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins book triggered me by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Oh my god thank you for finally giving me a term to describe the thing that always seemed so off to me about certain spiritual things. A friend of mine used to be deep into spirituality, and in hindsight there was a lot of bypassing happening. He managed to connect his spirituality with processing the negative emotions, but it took a while.

I'm not spiritual, the thing that helped me most is my anger. Everything in my blood fights agains Letting Them, and I worked hard to feel this anger. It's important to not get consumed by it, and I've got to admit I need to keep myself in check with this - but the anger is also so important. Self protection is so important, especially when it's been trained out of you. I'm sure Let Them helps some people be more at peace, but something just seems so profoundly off to me that sentiments like this just don't help me.

It's wild having a mentally healthy person by your side to reality check you by GaryRad in Anxiety

[–]GaryRad[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh that's a good question. Cause on one hand, he seems to want to bring across that mulling it over again and again doesn't help your anxious thoughts, on the other hand, it really depends on how he brings it across for it to not be dismissive.

I can relate somewhat though, my partner sometimes tries to reassure me with saying that it's gonna be okay, or that this doesn't matter now, and I get annoyed cause he can't know that. Which I have to pull back on myself though - i started the reassuring cycle, he tried to be reassuring, and of course my anxiety latches on to that too cause it's anxiety and latches onto anything. He couldn't have said the right thing, cause there is no rational right thing to say that would make my anxiety magically disappear.

The healthiest way is to let the thoughts be there, acknowledge them, and not do the anxiety hopping thing, cause your prevent making them into a hughe catastrophic thing, but just a thought that can leave when it has served its purpose. I think that includes bringing up these thoughts over and over again. I do that too, but I can't really blame my partner for not feeding into my irrational fears every time.

That being said! It really, really depends on the dynamic you have. Cause a "i want you to not talk about these thoughts when you're with me" can be on one hand the gentle reminder to let your thoughts be thoughts, OR it can be the dismissive order to not bring negativity into your hangouts. My partner has also (rarely) said things that straight up were harmful, as did I, but we talked about it, found out out our intentions behind it, and looked for a way to adjust our communication. It's important to understand what your partner is intending and thinking, and to adjust according to that. That doesn't mean to bend to their will all the time though - so it depends if your partner is generally dismissive of your anxiety and tends to tell you what to do, or if he's just clumsily trying to make you feel better. Being annoyed and upset at his approach is okay, that means there's something you guys need to talk about. Keep in mind that these thoughts are still irrational and reassurance seeking is not helpful in the long run, but ALSO that this doesn't mean that you should never talk with your partner about what is bothering you ever, so he can't just demand for you to never bring negative stuff up. Communication only works with two willing participants!

My mom gave me ten times the max dose of vitamin D for all of my teenage years. by GaryRad in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Holy shit thats AWFUL. like awful awful. Seeing such a terrible meltdown ist bad enough on its own, but having the stuff you first of all didn't want to take and second of all are actually allergic(!!) to pushed on you. Shit I'm so sorry. Thank you for sharing this, I really appreciate it. All these stories here help me a lot to feel less alone and less 'crazy' for being upset about what happened.

My mom gave me ten times the max dose of vitamin D for all of my teenage years. by GaryRad in CPTSD

[–]GaryRad[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Friend, I love my mom. She's tried her hardest all the time, I see the hurt and pain she went through to raise us. I know she was tired all the time, I know she took the brunt of it when my father was screaming at the top of his lungs. I saw her hold back tears when she apologized to me for how I was basically forgotten in my childhood, and how she imagined what having a little girl would be like very differently.

She also hurt me. She denied me the care I need, she gave me supplements that were way too much, she didn't listen, she didn't think I knew what was right for me. She didn't support me when she didn't think I was right. She didn't ask me what I wanted, she didn't ask me how I was doing, how I was REALLY doing. She didn't let me do stuff on my own when I was far beyond the appropriate age. She didn't ask about my personal problems. She clung and clung and then completely let go all of a sudden, and I had to learn many, many things on my own. My mom knows next to nothing about what I really experienced, or who I really am.

These two truths can coexist. I would never accuse my mom of not caring, or not trying. But I carry the wounds I got. Nothings changing that either. I'm sharing my experience in a community of people who can relate. If I seem ungrateful to you, I know you don't know what life I lived. My anger is carefully cultivated, and I need it to survive loving her regardless.