What we have survived.

Wow Shy! -- Can't beat that, but I will join you!

I've survived eating problems, culminating in 5 years of bulimia (16-21 yrs old).
I've survived being raped (by a so-called friend) when I was 17 (and lost virginity that way).
I've survived losing a home I loved so much in Kuwait (due to the invasion), and some friends to the conflict.
I've survived the years of financial and employment instability that comes with trying to get a job in academia (8 years!!! -- have a permanent job now -- big hooray, big relief!!).
I've survived an emotionally abusive dad's mum (hate to call her my grandmother...).
I've survived an emotionally abusive relationship that for 4 months left me wrestling with the desire to throw myself under the bus I waited for every morning.
I've survived regular bouts of anxiety and full-blown depression since I was 15.

Rosie x

Hey guys, BrodyDog here. I know I said I would love thread like this so I guess I have to 'bare my soul' too. The sexual abuse that I suffered at the hands of a close family relative started some time before I can actually remember. It was just always like that till I was around 11 or 12. I guess I got too old for him. But I survived. My father's cocaine abuse and what it did to my family. The betrayal by my best girlfriend. The only person I trusted in the world at the time(she slept with my BF, got preg. and wanted me to ask him for money for an abortion). Yet I survived them both. Countless bad relationships with lossers and drug addicts. The love of my life(so I thought at the time) another real winner. Sold me out to some druggies he owed money to. They proceeded rape me at gun point for two days. And still, HERE I AM!!!!!!! There is so much more but like stated in an earlier reply, those are the biggies. Or most of them anyway. Even at my worst, when I have the blade to my wrist(both literaly and figuratively at times), I think about these things and I put the blade down. I know this is kind of longwinded compaired to the other replies but this is how I do things. I didn't feel list form was warrented. I haven't been feeling too good the last few days and reliving these traumas, well I can't say that it has helped all that much. Getting it out here, in writing, has however helped. It's like by setting it free, part of it leaves my soul. That helps me survive. I will continue to survive.

I survived being born with dislocation of the hip and two very ugly feet. Not understanding why my sister hated me. Having my mother get sick (mental illness) when I was 8 years old. Having my father die a few months later in an accident when he was drunk and killed somebody else. Watching my father date another woman while my mother was hospitalized. Leaving with his mother (my grandmother) and feeling like a pauper. Going to 7 grammer schools. Watching my mother come out of the hospital and gradually disintegrate. Listening to my mother and sister fight. Being beaten up by my sister. Living in the slums. Not being given food to eat. Having no home at 17. Cracking up myself. Being misdiagnosed by the medical profession. Being totally self supporting as a female when I was 17 back in 1962. Not having enough money to eat, etc.
That it my early survival story.  I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman.

lke ate dogs I survived being an alcoholic since the age of 14 or 15 and each and everyday since I have dried up almost 5 years now .My congrats goes out to all you survivors out there !!!

I have a chronic disease Called Crohn's Disease. Had it much of my life, didn't know it until it was diagnosed in my 30's (I'm now 57). Had trouble with my arteries. 3 1/2 years ago I had 5-way bypass surgery (Angeoplasty didn't work). The Crohn's is pretty much in remission right now. So... could have died twice in my life and have had two major surgerys. Just glad to be here. Every day is a day I could have missed.

Ed

Elisha
You are so very strong,and have been through so much. Plus you are able to come to this site and put your problems aside and try to help others. Your words are always what I look for as you always make sense and have so much compassion. I know you will survive the MS and MSA.
I am glad to know you!

Shy,  Thank you so much for your kind works, I would of responded yesterday but I was having DSL problems... . It has always been easy for me to put aside my problems or to forget my own trials to constrate on something else...I think this is a big part of my problem now.  I dont feel so strong most of the time but, I do want you to know that you have given me alot of inspiration in how you are able to pick yourself up and deal.  Your the strong one and I am lucky for being able to get to know you. Victoria,  You got me on the black and white thing...   It does for some reason make it all real again for me, dont know why, guess I am very good at burying things and not facing them.  Your right in that what happened made me stronger, made us all stronger.  Take care friend...hope to talk to ya soon...Hugs

I'm just a duffer compared to everyone here but I know that whatever challenges we all face, large or small, they are our challenges and that makes them valid.

I survived my entire life as a ghost in my family. I am the 3rd child right in a row (1 boy, 2 girls) of a mother who was overwhelmed with one child much less 3 and she never wanted girls. All my life I was surrounded by a loving but too busy father a mother who ignored me, an older sister who was often mean and a brother who was the charished male child. I now know that my mother was a person who always wanted to love me but was so inhibited that she wouldn't allow herself to reach out because we were such different people. I have always been a go for it person and I believe that created great jealously from my mother towards me. From 4th grade on I became involved in every sport I could get my hands on. I never had any friends (I believe largely because of my mother's personality) and always only wanted to have a good friend I could count on. For some reason when I was 14 I realized that I was not as bad a person as my mother made me feel I was. I remember and can feel the exact moment this happened and I never looked back. It took me until sometime in my 30's to truly stop wanting her approval but from the 14 yr old moment on I walked my own road. I never let my fears stop me from doing anything and I remember my mother telling me that when I got married she had never seen anyone as sure of anything in their life as I was when I got married. It was amazing to me that anyone would get married without being that sure.

When I was in 9th grade I met that friend (we are still very close) andI met my future husband. I still don't have many friends but the ones that I do have are the best. 10 years after I was born my parents had another daughter. I watched my mother be a completely different parent to her that she had been to the older 3 and can remember thinking how proud of her I was that she had grown so much and could put to good use the lessons she had learned from her mistakes with us. Today she is 76 with failing health. I won't say that we have ever been close (she still forgets my participation in activities she talks about, just call me Casper) but we have come to a gentle accommodation with each other.

Since that time I have survived military life, abusive bosses, husband and my unemployment with two kids, building a business (I know that doesn't sound like much but we lived in my parents' basement with 2 kids and 3 cats), my own depression, a very short road toward husband's alcoholism (fortunately he realized that it was out of hand - stopped drinking and got help), daughter's depression and son's rage.

Today I am healthy and happy , husband is healthy and working on being happy, daughter is happy, healthy and amazing and son is happy, healthy and amazing. Both children are pursuing their dreams, husband and I are rebuilding our relationship (all couples have to do this when their kids leave) and loving it and we look forward to a bright future.

Y'all are the strongest people I know and I appreciate spending time with you. To be honest, when I first came here I was a bit worried that it might be a bunch of depressed folks whining about their problems. I so appreciate how much strength you give to me and to each other. I love the intelligent way that you discuss life issues and how much responisbility you take for your lives and I appreciate having another place to go for support.

So could you have anxiety veteran. No one can second guess the things that take an emotional toll. We all do the best we can at any time and you don't have any reason to feel guilty.

Anxiety Veteran said... Gosh, I feel guilty. I haven't gone through near as much as you guys have. I must consider myself a lucky man. You people are true survivors! I admire you. You could have given up! Hi ya anxiety,  Please dont feel guilty at all.  Victoria said it best I believe, she is always so helpful and great with insight.  I dont compare what I have been through in my life with anyone else, when someone posts about their past hurts or what they have going on I always feel that they have been through so much more than I have.  Yes, we could of given up but we all just like you, are survivors and fighters.  Please do feel free to come back and visit us as often as you like...Take care

Been a Sober Alcoholic since 1979............have crohns ...multilpe other health issues but I get thru day to day .....with my HW family and my sobriety......Kudos to all the ones willing to share and talk about what they have overcome......

Awww, thank you rosie I think you give me too much credit.  Everyone here is wonderful and I love to help in anyway I can...