skyblue

Thank you very much for your replies. I will read the information. Thank you so much for pointing me to a tool I can use to work through this myself.

It's been over a year since the flashbacks of the sexual abuse that happened to me as a child began. I don't know why I'm having them. It was over 20 years ago and only happened once. I was ok for 20 years. I never needed any kind of therapy, it was never spoken of again after it happened. I knew it happened, I never forgot about it and it would be uncomfortable around the person or when others spoke of the person but I never had nightmares or the feelings of shame and loss and incredible fear that I am having now. Is it normal to be ok for years and then be affected by it? The nightmares (not of the incident, but the same "feelings") and the flashbacks of how I felt the day it happened are overwhelming. And please, don't tell me to see someone about it, it isn't possible. I'm disabled and have no transportation of my own. My parents would have to take me and they would know why I was going. It would kill them, we've never spoke of it so that just isn't a possibility. I just need to find a way to get back to the way I was.

Hello, I have SLE (lupus) and am on steroids. Due to aggitation/paranoia I was taken off the drugs but had to be put back because the pain and inflammation were more than I could take; not to mention dangerous. So now I'm back on steroids and I know when I'm unreasonably irrate. I can feel it myself and it's miserable for me and those around me. Usually I can avoid people to try and keep it at bay, but not always. I asked my doctor if there were medications to counteract those problems and he said "Yes, but you definitely don't want to be on them!" Does anyone here have any recommendations on how to deal with this?

Thank you very much for your information. I will check out the podcast. As for seeing a therapist about it, I don't know. It's very embarrassing. I can see going to a therapist for other things... I'm trying to find one for an abuse issue now... but for weight? It just seems like anyone should be able to control themselves and lose weight. I understand how a therapist could help... just not sure I could justify it to myself, know what I mean?

I am a 34 year old woman. I am 5'10" and weigh around 340 pounds. I have been considering the lap band surgery but I don't know if it would be successful or even how I would handle it. The thought of not being able to eat the things I want is frightening to me. I know how silly that sounds, but it almost makes me panic. I've never been a "binge" eater. I eat what I want when I want, but it isn't an overly huge amount. I know a lot of obese people say that and don't realize it, but I've kept a food diary just to find out for myself and while it is not the healthiest eatting, it isn't huge amounts like I've seen on some of those tv shows where they show what the very large people eat. A lot of my problem is I'm unable to exercise due to a heart/lung disease caused by lupus (unrelated to weight, but it probably doesn't help it). I've used food as a 'treat' for getting through tough medical procedures. An "ice cream sunday because I got through it" type thing. What else do you have when you're my age, physically disabled and dependent on others for so many things (again, not due to the weight. On good days I can do lots of things, just with the lupus involved heart and lungs there aren't as many good days) But the panicky feeling I get at the thought of not being able to eat something I want or having to eat only certain foods kinds of scares me. Actually it rather embarrasses me too. I want to lose the weight. I've tried all kinds of expensive diets, but I'm allergic to soy so the prepackaged food doesn't work well for me. I don't want to die, but I feel like food has this control over me and I don't know what to do. Is this weird? How do I get past it?

Has anyone tried online therapy? Again, I've never had any kind of therapy. Because of disability I can't drive so my parents would have to take me to the visits. I don't really want them knowing about it for a couple reasons. One it would be quite uncomfortable in the car before and after and Two, they would know why and I'm sure it would hurt them. I don't want them to have to go through that. I've heard of online therapy. I know insurance wouldn't pay for it but that would be something I would have to deal with. Suggestions?

Thank you, that article was very informative.

So I go to my general physician and he will tell me? I'm on medicare (due to disability) and I think they cover some mental health but I'm not sure what.

I've never had any kind of therapy or know anyone who has ever been received it. I think I need it myself but I don't know the difference between a therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, etc or which I would need. How does one go about getting help? In the last 6 months I've started having terrible flashbacks of something that happened to me as a child. Something I thought I had buried long ago. Other than telling my parents about it that day, it was never spoke of again I thought I had it good and buried. Six months ago something happened to bring it back to mind and I can't bury it again. Please tell me how to go about getting some sort of help. Thank you