I'm Helen. I'm 28-years-old. After being in and out of various, mostly ineffective therapy for years I was diagnosed with PTSD last spring due to childhood/young adult abuse (sexual and domestic). I also have systemic lupus- I was diagnosed in 2003. My husband (we have been friends most of our lives, married this past December) is a God-send to me in helping me manage my PTSD symptoms. Because I also have lupus, no one will prescribe me medication (the 'malpractice fear' in this country is a large cause of this). So I self-medicate with vitamins and St. John's wort. I was in psychotherapy but my therapist stopped her practice so now I'm looking for another one. I alternate between feeling good, feeling okay, and falling apart. Today is one of the falling apart days.

I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. (I know some people are angry at Americans but please don't hold it against me- I'm a pacifist.) I've yet to meet anyone with PTSD and lupus, so maybe I can find a kindred spirit here.

Hello Helen. Welcome aboard. I don't have lupus, but I do have ptsd. In some ways, we're on the same search. My ptsd was caused by repressed memories returning in my early twenties. Aparently, it's rare, and it's controversial. I have found people, though, here at this website. It makes a huge difference.

I hope that you do find someone here that you can connect with. One thing is for sure, we are either going through it, on the other side of it, or have a friend/spouse going through it. It is a really tough journey, but worth seeing it through. I'm glad you've found us. We welcome you...

And I forgot to mention, I'm an American too. I live in the midwest, where it is pouring at the moment....

Hi Helen,

Welcome to the forum. Don't worry, I won't hold being a yank against you... :) Americans are the majority here already... so the rest of us our out numbered I guess. Good to hear that your looking for a new therapists... very great news, and even better that you have a supportive husband to help you. We all need that at times...

Hi Helen. Welcome to the forum. I haven't been here long but I quickly came to realize that this is a place where we can finally feel "normal" and where everyone understands what we're going through. We don't judge, rant, or rave, but we do babble, write our autobiography, laugh at ourselves, and ask for (and get) advice.

You mentioned that you have lupus. While I don't clinically have lupus, I do test positive for the ANA, although I don't present with any of the other symptoms. This came about 3 years ago after I had chicken pox (for the 2nd time! Yeah, I am one of the lucky ones who actually DO get it twice in one lifetime!); I wasn't feeling well and the doc ordered almost every blood test available.

I do have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disorder. My doc watches me pretty close because once a person has one autoimmune disorder they tend to have others.

Of course, after all I've been through, nothing would surprise me.

So welcome. Sit back and relax. Yell, scream, laugh, smile. Above all, remember to breathe...

Kim

Hi Helen..Welcome! Nancy here in southern VA. About 20 minutes form the NC border. We are almost neighbors! I was in ft. Lauderdale last year. It was winter time and I soaked up the sun. Loved it!

I hope you stick around and join us on our journey of recovery.

Nancy

Hi Helen,

Welcome aboard. I'm with my husband, we Aussies seem to be outnumbered here at the moment. That's cool with us, we don't care where you come from or how you got PTSD. We are happy to have you here and help provide the means through which you can get support.

Welcome HelenAngel!!

Nope, I don't have lupus, (I'm actually about to google it right now... I'm not familar with that condition)
But I do have PTSD, along with a couple other disorders (just to make my life more exciting, lol)

Take care of yourself and I look forward to hearing more about you :)

You won't like what you find YA, as Lupus is basically a breakdown of the immune system, and basically your internal system starts attacking itself. Not pretty...