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Is It a Trauma Response or Depression?

User Profile: selfconfidentPlace3571
selfconfidentPlace3571 March 14th, 2021

I want to know if anyone here struggles with responses to past traumas, and if my current issues seem to be trauma responses. I've been experiencing episodes of intense anxiety and panic all of my life. I've struggled with depression off-and-on, but things have gotten intense in the past few weeks. When the last year, I have moved, gotten married, gotten a new job, and had my first child (ALL during COVID). I have also completely cut ties with most of my family. I have a parent who has been verbally abusive, cruel, and manipulative my entire life (I believe she has Narcisstic Personality Disorder). After she repeatedly refused to respect my boundaries (or my husband's), be accountable for her own actions, or treat me with respect (she went so far as to tell me I am "easily led by others" and that "I have always been stupid") I cut-off contact with her. She told me that I was "being mean to her" and "bullying her" by standing up and saying that I had had ENOUGH. I do not want her to have any contact with my baby. Because she is so controlling, she will not "allow" other family members to see my baby, because SHE cannot see my baby. Other family members are that frightened of her. Because of so many recent changes in my life, along with my narcisstic parent's continued attempts to abuse me through a smear campaign, I have had to deal with a lot. The past two weeks have been extremely hard. I keep having intense episodes of anxiety and panic, coupled with depressive thoughts, feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, etc. These episodes can last anywhere from an hour to all day long. They are like panic attacks, but they tend to be triggered by minute things (like spilling a pitcher of water or feeling self-conscious about my post-pregnancy body). My husband is incredibly supportive of me. He takes care of the baby when I am feeling these things so that I can leave the room to get myself together. He does get upset if his repeated efforts don't seem to help me feel better (who wouldn't?), and I can tell that my issues are beginning to weigh him down. I know that postpardum depression is likely part of what I am going through, but I feel like the trauma I endured being raised by a narcisstic parent (and now having ended my relationship with that parent) is causing me to further question my own identity. After being told all of your life that you are stupid, crazy, wrong, evil, and foolish for trying to express your own thoughts and ideas, you tend to over-think, over-question, and feel no sense of self confidence.

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User Profile: MidwesternCalmSeeker
MidwesternCalmSeeker April 11th, 2021

@selfconfidentPlace3571

I hear you, selfconfident. That sounds like a lot to cope with. But what I also heard was: I have moved, gotten married, gotten a new job, and had my first child (ALL during COVID). That takes fortitude and determination, so it feels like you have some of that! Look at all the things you accomplished, in a short time, despite the rest you deal with emotionally. Kudos to you for that. I hope you find lots of strength, encouragement and support on 7 Cups. We are here to lift you up!