Looking for Some Support

[FutureRN]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I have a major history of sexual abuse. Currently working two jobs and saving for school this coming year. I have been accepted to Nursing School, which I'l really excited about!

I was robbed at knife point with a 6" blade and machete a little while ago and I'm having a hard time coping. I continued on with work the very next day and haven't taken any time off. Have been dealing with flashbacks and nightmares. Hoping someone may have some insight or advice!

 

[making_art]

Welcome, futureRN!. [emoji256]

So sorry that you have had to deal with so much trauma in your life...

As you may already know, a therapist is the best person to help you cope and deal with all that has happened to you. Have you seen one recently?

Others here have had similar experiences and hopefully will step up to share with you soon.

 

[Retired]

Welcome FutureRN and thank you for joining us. Sorry to hear about the terrible experiences you have endured, and I hope you might find the help and support you might need here on Psychlinks.

A couple of resources you may wish to explore as well:

Abuse, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse

isurvive.org

Recovery Canada

Let us know how we can help.

 

[MHealthJo]

Welcome FutureRN, and I am so so sorry for what you have experienced.

Hope you will find the right support that can help you with the awesome things you are doing in your life, and future plans, with such difficult stuff to deal with and a heavy workload.

Heaps of kindness and compassion to you and hope it can be a supportive thing for you to post in whatever sections of the forum seem suitable to you.

I do know also that in some places, certain life events can open up possibilities of services that you can get access to, whether they be funded by the government or charity organizations or various things. Experimenting with google searching and adding terms to do with your country, your city or county, your situation, words like 'organisation' or 'service' or 'charity', or also talking to different people working in fields of helping people in your area, sometimes leads to discovering new services or funded support that you can get access to.

Kind wishes to you on your journey.

 

[amazingmouse]

Look at these links:

Getting into nursing school with a mental illness? Is it going to be possible? | allnurses

Nurses struggling with mental illness | allnurses

http://scholar.google.ca/scholar_url?url=http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/hsharif/Rehabilitation%2520Psychology/Job%2520Strain%2520and%2520Evolution%2520of%2520Mental%2520Health%2520Among%2520Nurses.doc&hl=en&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm2Q5FySYoXKkhZG74fQYc1OYKJBNA&nossl=1&oi=scholarr&ved=0ahUKEwjrq8nIoezPAhWJ7oMKHQ_fDPwQgAMIHSgAMAA

 

[FutureRN]

Thanks to all, and thanks for all the kind words! I do have a therapist, but I'm not really feeling like that's enough... She is great, but once a week usually makes the other 6 days in between hard.

 

[forgetmenot]

Just want to welcome you to the forum and to say I am sorry that you are struggling with flashbacks I hope you can reach out and get some support from your doctor..to get therapy as it can be very hard to deal with what is happening on your own.

 

[GDPR]

Thanks to all, and thanks for all the kind words! I do have a therapist, but I'm not really feeling like that's enough... She is great, but once a week usually makes the other 6 days in between hard.

There's quite a bit of info here at Psychlinks on dealing with flashbacks and nightmares.

Have you been diagnosed with PTSD?There's lots of info about that also.

Sorry you are struggling in between sessions with your therapist,is she working with you on grounding techniques and other ways to manage the symptoms you are experiencing?

---------- Post Merged at 11:26 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:31 AM ----------

13 Steps For Managing Flashbacks

Grounding Techniques

Triggers, flashbacks, tips for survivors

 

[Jesse910]

Initially, I want to say FutureRN, I am glad that you are alive! That said, you have chosen a career goal that involves people at their sometimes worse moments. While a part of me applauds your desire to move on, I must strongly caution you to take the time to speak with someone about your experiences: sexual abuse (if you have not already) and about your current trauma. Trauma not dealt with is the trauma that remains with you and it can come crashing down when you least expect it. I have dealt with trauma and sexual abuse in the past. You want to talk with someone whom you can trust and feel safe. You were attacked and made to feel powerless. However, you can empower yourself and heal. Keep your goals in front of you and get the care you need.

 

[MHealthJo]

Awesome that you do have a therapist FutureRN! And so good to see you coming to places like this too - it pays to have a variety of different supports and positive things, and very much to connect with others.

Yes, as LIT has said, work with your T and directly ask for tools and guidance to cope with the in between times. Those links posted are examples of a huge amount of helpful resources you can find here too (as well as support/chatting/a place to be heard). I've found it has paid off so much, talking with others as well as coming across threads where people have shared their stories and learning experiences as well as favourite resources, tools, coping methods, etc etc. Glad that you found us

 

[FutureRN]

I do agree to an extent, but majority of what has happened to me in the past, remains there, in the past. The issue I'm struggling with now is that I was robbed with a machete and a 6" knife at my place of work. I was raped at gunpoint as a teen, and although it has been 10 years, being robbed at knife point brought back some significant trauma, and this isn't an issue of having not dealt with my previous experience, this is just what happens when someone threatens you, terrifies you.

I will be an absolutely fantastic nurse, I am a true empath, completely selfless, I love nurturing others, and as a kid who spent a great deal of time in the hospital, I know what the impact can be like. Having previous trauma will not inhibit my ability to be incredibly intelligent, caring, loving, or gifted with the ability to save someone's life. It will Infact empower by strength and willpower as a genuine human being who truly gets it. If anything, I'm glad for my struggles, they have made me a remarkable human being, and while I have my own issues much like everyone else, I can honestly say at 28 years old that I'm proud of who I am. All I was looking for was support on getting through my current trauma, not backlash for my career choice.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

I'm not sure which post(s) you were addressing above, FutureRN, but I am puzzled by this part:

All I was looking for was support on getting through my current trauma, not backlash for my career choice.

Reading the thread, I didn't see anything I would characterize as backlash, criticism, or negative comments about your career choice. Many health care providers have their own histories of struggles with life, family, trauma, etc., frequently enough to support the term "the wounded healer" - see http://www.google.ca/search?q=the+wounded+healer&ie=UTF-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=XkETWKXvIYHa-QHM2Yu4Ag for additional information.

If you do feel criticized, could you elaborate for us?

 

[forgetmenot]

I think what was being said was not to judge you but to just help you in seeing trauma left untreated can and will surface and can catch you off guard I know first hand how destructive it can be especially in a field where u are faced head on
with others trauma. You have chosen a career that yes take compassion and understanding but unless you are well yourself it can drain you I am just tying to say you will make great nurse but please take care of you please ok