New here

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and wanted to introduce myself. I'm Nicole and I have CPTSD, depression, and anxiety. My trauma started in childhood. My parents were emotionally neglectful and I was abused sexually by an older male relative from ages 5 to 7. As a teenager, I started dating a guy who ended up being abusive. He started by emotionally tearing me down and quickly became physically violent as well. Our relationship ended after 5 years when I was 21, shortly after he nearly strangled me to death one night.

I suffered silently for 9 years after that with PTSD symptoms. Last year my symptoms became unbearable and I finally sought help. I have seen a few therapists and about six months ago I found one that specializes in trauma and EMDR and have been working with her since. I'm early on in my journey to better mental health and it's helpful to have communities like this with people like me so I don't feel so alone in this.

Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope I can get to know y'all better.