Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

CPTSD: I made it out... What now?

User Profile: loyalSugar9028
loyalSugar9028 March 15th, 2021

Hey everyone, This is my first post to a group on 7cups but I thought maybe some of you would have some good experience. Here's the short version of my story over the last couple years. Basically, I've been living in a pretty uncomfortable living situation for about 2 years. My housemates who at first, I saw as friends, slowly became more and more controlling. They gas-lit me many times, became far too involved in every aspect of my life, became verbally abusive and there was at least one circumstance where things got physical. I finally managed to get myself out of the situation a couple weeks ago. The first few days were rough. I was still on edge. Every sound in the house freaked me out. It was weird to be able to focus my mind on something else other than just being anxious about what they would do or say next. I'm still struggling with this. I'm trying to remind myself that I'm safe now. But my mind just seems so caught up in it all. Does anyone else have a similar experience after leaving an abusive situation? Will the anxieties go away or do I just have to accept they're part of me now? Thanks for your support!

1
User Profile: TheWonderlandSystem17
TheWonderlandSystem17 March 15th, 2021

@loyalSugar9028

Hey there Loyal, we're very sorry that you had to go through this. We know what it feels like to be manipulated and gaslit. There is no way of knowing if the anxiety will stay. It's perfectly normal for you to be jumpy after leaving such a situation. It may leave, or it may stay. I suggest you don't worry about how it may affect you in the future, and focus on slowly healing now. Living in the moment is very important in situations like yours. Living in the past will hurt you, and living in the future will worry you. So the present is the best place to be. Hope we helped :)