It's nice to meet y'all. I use my real first name. I'm 40yo (going on 20). I am currently disabled and live with my parents. I was born in LA, Calif., lived there til I was ten. Moved to northern CA, Lived there til I was 19. Moved back to LA and from there joined the Army when I was 24. I am now a disabled veteran rated at 30% with a pending PTSD claim.

I tend to trust too easily which has in many cases led to trauma, so now I try not to trust at all. I am however working on finding a middle of the road with that.

I like painting bird houses, playing guitar and nature walks, but don't do any of them often enough partly because of my PTSD partly due to depression. I am however, working toward changing this fact one day at a time.

I am currently working on major lifestyle changes to help improve my quality of life. I am in therapy and on medications and both seem to be working well for me as far as managing my symptoms goes.

My goals are to move out on my own, lose weight and hopefully go back to school to learn a trade and get off disability. (Also, I would like to finish my dairy).

If I can think of anything else, I will post again on this thread.

Take care, Morgan

Hello, I really am Claire, I'm British, 36 (although in denial) and live in the south coast of England. I work as a graphic designer. I love the sea and the countryside. I'm a keen windsurfer and do loads of other sports too. I also own a young and energetic hooligan of a dog.

I used to play the sax but gave it up as after PTSD the noise scared me (and no, I wasn't that bad!). I'm planning on taking it up again soon.

I like this thread too. We are all more than just PTSD and this just shows it.

Hello, I am Theresa, I got my ID Portabella because I LOVE Portabella mushrooms. (I actually love all mushrooms, but Portabella's are the best). I am 46 years young, have 5 children of which 2 live at home and one lives at home Mon-Fri now and goes to his girlfriends over the weekend. My youngest is 7 and he is the heart of our household, he is also sadly the last. Now I look forward to Grandchildren. I have 3 dogs and 3 cats which are like my children as well as 3 Goldfish.

I love animals, candles, a burning fireplace, watching wildlife, Long car rides in the Mountains/Country, NYC skyline at night, the ocean, untouched snow, a fresh box of crayons, observing insects, watching the blooming TV, and all kinds of music. I believe in having tattoo's and piercing's as a form of expression.

I worked Law Enforcement for 15 years, took off a year and now am taking a whack at breaking out of LE and am presently a Personal Banker. I have suffered multiple trauma's and also work daily towards healing.

I was born in NYC (Bronx), grew up on Long Island and now reside in Colorado. I have been to most everywhere in the USA while running from myself years ago and hitchhiking my way back and forth and up and down this great country of ours. I stopped running and now control the urge from time to time to flee, have gotten good at staying planted.

I must add I have very much enjoyed reading all the replies to this thread, its nice to see past the disease PTSD.

I'm not here much but I'll give this a go.. My name's Travis, I'm 35, married, have 5 boys, one age 15 from a previous relationship, three little guys with my wife, and one who is actually my nephew and we are raising since my brother died. So a full house since my teenager came to live with us recently. And that's why I'm not here much.. I'm always changing diapers! (;

Evie/batgirl is my little sister, Jim and Kathy are my parents. I work for AIRCOM, the Canadian Air Force. I'm a pilot and an engineer. My wife is also works for AIRCOM as a nurse. Outside of work I like hunting, fishing, working on my motorcycle and spending time with my kids. That's about it for me.

Hey – I got an opinion on every thing, know enough to get into trouble, and I got a way of irritating people without meaning to, and can really get people mad if I try.


I want to escape to a warm dry climate as soon as possible and sit in a beach chair on a beach with the warm sun warming all of me, and listening to the surf rush and crash in the background.


I find most of the world boring so I read books on dramatic deeds of bravery during war mostly . . . and yearn for the chance to one day be martyred in the name of the Lord. Well, I'd probably have to go to Pakistan or India for that. Seems that's where Christians are getting martyred now days. Fat chance. Not the climate I'm looking for. Not much chance of getting martyred on the beach in southern California.


Had a drunk dad who was a bloody bastard, and nice supportive mom, two years in Nam on a ship and got most of my PTSD from my ****ing shipmates, bloody ****in' idiots. One guy put a gun to my head, another grabbed my dick when I was sleeping, and with the laundry burning up just after lights out I got one hell of an insomnia problem.


Got a son, best thing I did for the world. Spend my professional years as a psychiatric nurse on a hospital ward, guess I helped some people there all right, eh.


I intensely like to critique the thoughts and actions of others, am often correct, and insightful but when I become wrathful which I am inclined to do as many with PTSD do, I can use that as a nasty weapon.


Deep down I really am a soft-hearted dude, who wants to be nice to everyone and hates rejection, and I always feel alone. Sigh . . . So I use my big brain to build walls around myself so I don't have to be fearful of anything, or anyone.


BTW I live in Washington . . . ah, that is Washington State, NOT WASHINGTON DC. Thats, up in the corner, eh. By Vancouver, BC, as in Canada.

Stay At Home Mom

Hi, all...

I'm Roo, 48 years old and can't believe that I've walked this earth for so many years! I live with my husband -- my sweet man -- he and I came together just six years ago -- there's nothing like new love in midlife He's the most beautiful gift that Life has given me...We share our home with three cats -- (I notice there are lots of cat lovers here!) -- two are kittens, both rescued last year, and one is 11 years old: the Queen of Everything My man and I live quietly and have a small circle of kin and intimate friends...we both love music, literature and poetry, long walks and hikes, art, conversation, Mediterranean food, animals...I've worked in many capacities -- mostly in social work/psychotherapy (although I left that field seven years ago)...I'm a poet, have sung professionally, and edit for a literary journal. I've been studying the I Ching for 27 years; am writing (slowly!) a book on it...I collect quotations -- one favourite is this: "Expression is the one fundamental sacrament, and love is the one fundamental expression." (Albert North Whitehead wrote the first part...I added the second.) My deepest nature is very affectionate, somewhat naive, on the mystical side, artistic. I've come a long way in my healing journey and have a long way to go. I live in Canada, although I'd live in Folly Beach, South Carolina, in a heartbeat if I could! Despite my struggles and appearances to the contrary, I know I have a sturdy soul, a resilient spirit and an unstoppable love of life. I have been blessed with many friends and mentors/healers...I am grateful...

More about me, beyond the superficial:

It’s difficult for me to share things about myself. This does impede the development of any and all relationships in my life

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a truck driver. That changed when I realized I was smarter than the average bear (Remember that from the Yogi the Bear cartoon?). After working as a communication electronics technician in the military, I landed my current job. I absolutely love emergency medicine. I have been stalling on going back to school because it will put a huge damper on my time and money. I think my free time is worth more to me than the amount of money in my bank account. It was only last year, before all this started, that I decided what I want to be when I grow up. Since I am into working smarter, not harder, I decided on physician assistant rather than nurse. Furthering my education is once again on the back burner because I have a few things to take care of first- myself, and whether or not I can afford to stay to stay in this field.

I don’t like to define myself, my life, by my work. For that matter, I don’t like to be defined by anything or anyone. I think it’s referred to as individualism. I like to challenge authority. Sometimes it’s important to think outside the box and color outside of the lines. I prefer to discover my own truths, not succumb or abide by those that are imposed on us by society. Some of those truths I live by do change or evolve as my experiences change. My flexibility, humility, and open-mindedness provide a good balance.

I enjoy exercising my mind in a good game of chess or poker and reading. The last good book I read, which would appeal to you philosophers, was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I enjoy exercise because when I feel physically strong, I feel mentally strong. When it’s warm, I enjoy being outside because I feel connected. As for riding my motorcycle… it’s thrilling to have that much power humming between my legs at the control of my hand…I feel more closely connected seeing the ground whiz by inches from my feet…I appreciate the view, which isn’t framed by the windows of a car but only my peripheral vision.

Thank you everyone for sharing. I have enjoyed this thread more than I imagined I would.

Let's see if I can try this.

I'm Rachel, 30 years old and married with one daughter who is seven, one cat, one dog, 2 fish tanks and a pond. I'm originally from Pittsburgh, PA but to moved to South Florida at a very young age and grew up there. Now I live in Charlotte, NC.

When I was younger, I was an exceptional ballet dancer and horse back rider, but my mother forced me to quit both. I'm a published poet who likes to dabble in photography. Currently, I'm interested in Lomography and my husband got me a Holga for Christmas. Sometimes, I like to alter cool cigar boxes with acrylic paint. I'm an art junkie - my grandfather worked at an art museum when I was growing up.

I'm also a news junkie and have a love/hate relationship with politics. My dad was a hippie and tried joining the black panthers in the early 70's. Of course, because he is white, they wouldn't let him in. I think this is where I get my "revolutionary" personality.

I also love film - my favorite directors are the Coen Brothers, Kubrick, Kieslowski, and Herzog.

Hmm, I think that's it.

Best,
Rachel

I have finally talked with a therapist about everything, he thinks it would be a good idea to kinda let me hair down. I think this is the best forum for me. I was recently brought stateside for political reasons. This country amazes me. I drive around and it's like noone realized there is a war going on. American men and woman, my brothers and sisters are losing their lives every day, EVERY DAY. Has anyone attended a random funeral of a soldier they didn't know? You don't have to know the soldier, just know that he gave his life, his or her life, to save yours. It means the world to the soldiers famalies when strangers show up and show genuine compassion. Ok, enough of my tirate.

I am in my mid 30's and am in the military. My PTSD is active. Very active. Something will happen and it will haunt the little sleep I get. I gave up my family for some form of vindication after 9-11. I could have been out of the military then but I re-upped and then they dangle the career carrot in front of you and of course I took it hook line and sinker.

At times I don't feel human. I feel like an animal that gets unleashed when other elements fail an objective. I think a huge part of my PTSD stems from watching my children grow up without me. When I recently came stateside they didn't even recognize me. Anyway, this post will probably be deleted so Im not going to share anymore.......