New member saying hello!

[AdaptedSelf]

 So...it's my 63rd birthday and what better day to write your first ever forum post relating to my CPTSD!

It's hard to know where to start as it's been a long and winding road but suffice to say, my childhood was chaotic, my teens were even more so and my early relationships weren't sustainable. In my late 20's I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/ CFS (called 'yuppie-flu at the time) which led to 15 years of struggling to recover physically and emotionally.

I'm grateful that I made a full physical recovery from CFS and have brought up a family whilst studying and developing a successful career but the emotional scars have persisted, despite my best efforts at spiritually and intellectually bypassing them.

Currently I'm training to be a therapeutic coach which necessitates 'self-development' and this has uncovered some painfull memories and insights into my own childhood and especially the shame I learnt/inherited. Needless to say I know there's a lot of work to do.

So, here I am and I'm (kind of) glad to have found this forum and hope to make some good connections as I know now how much 'community-matters' as far as recovery is concerned. 

[NarcKiddo]

Welcome. Happy birthday!

 

[AdaptedSelf]

Thank you NarcKiddo   

[Blueberry]

Welcome to the forum, AdaptedSelf

I hope you feel as much support here as I have over the years.

[TheBigBlue]

Welcome AdaptedSelf and happy belated birthday!

What a meaningful day to make your first post. I'm glad you found us and hope you find the connection and support here helpful as you continue this next part of your journey.

[Kizzie]

A warm welcome and belated Happy Birthday! 

I hope being here will help you to deal with the emotional scars of what you went through. For most of us it is a long and winding road and takes a while, but then we were exposed to abuse/neglect over time so it makes sense that we don't just get over it (as some people would like us to). Personally I think most of us learn to manage our symptoms rather than get rid of them entirely, but not all would agree with me.