Scared & Isolated

  • Thread starter Thread starter-
  • Start date Start date
Scared & Isolated

Several times a week, over the last 6 months or so, I will get so scared and frightened of getting in trouble that I won't leave the house nor get out of bed or couch. My therapist and I tend to agree that this is do to being alone for the first time (I'm 44) with out any distractions from my demons.

I'll try to make a long story short. Sexually molested by my next door neighbor before 4 y/o - 13+ y/o. Was my fathers best friend, my best friend's father (we were both victimized together) and he was our pediatrician. He ended up killing himself about a decade later due to charges brought from other victimized patients.

My father never liked me. I was the only boy of 4 siblings and the 2nd oldest. He would never speak to me unless to discipline. He would stop speaking and look away when I entered the room, even at 4 y/o.

I was very educated and had a great career in Chicago & Manhattan and was considered a work'aholic. My mother convinced me to move back home and enter the family business with the hopes of reconciling with my father. Typical 80+ hour work weeks over 6 yrs. I was concerned with my anger and started therapy. They thought it was the abuse, I didn't, but agreed to discussed the abuse with each family member individually during different sessions. Dad was furious and didn't believe me even though the perp killed himself and had all the publicity in town about it. My business was soon bankrupt.

I'm 33 yo at this point, I made a career change and met my first husband within a year. Go figure, I was gay. I hadn't dated but 2 or 3 times since the abuse so I had no clue. I don't have a problem with my sexually.

My focus was now on the partner and new career path in FL. The company was bought and I was transfered to NY. The partner was having substance issues and a death wish so I sent him back to FL with his family. 38 y/o now

I immediately got a roommate then a new BF. At the same time the company (one of the largest on LI) was heading for bankruptcy. Then I lost my apartment cause the house was up for sale and all units evicted. I moved in with my new BF. I about 41 now, around 2002. Now the company is bankrupt. I don't have 10 years of references cause they bought the previous company. So now it's very rough to find work in NYC

I left my last partner a year ago after constant physical beatings. It got progressively worse, upto several times a week. A good girl friend had an intervention with me and I left. I rent a room from her now.

As you can see I stay rather busy with change. Now that has all stopped for over a year. Small contract work here and there but nothing secure nor stable and no one to focus on but me and my baggage per say.

As mentioned above I have extreme anxiety attacks that can last upto 3 days and happen more then once a week.

I'm seeking a local support group, there are several Survivors of Incest Anonymous in the area ... men only too, thank god. And I'm continuing therapy.

Any thoughts, insight or similar situations? I've never had such nauseating, physical anxiety like this. I've always had a bit of it but not to this extent.

ps. sorry so windy but as brief as possible to get the scope of things.
 
Jeff,

You're not alone in this.

I'm a survivor of incest and I was abused many times from ages four to around seventeen by my grandfather.

Like you, my father never liked me either so I know how that can be. He is an alcoholic and both my parents physically and emotionally abused me while I was growing up.

As far as relationships, I've never really dated anyone and only once did I have a quasi-relationship and that was because she kind of asked me out. It didn't last long though.

You mention nausea. Nuasea describes the sickening feeling well. I've been so completely paralyzed by anxiety I've lived as a hermit most of my life. I think this is what prevented from doing drugs or from wanting to have sex at all. I isolated myself from everyone to be safe and now I see that I must start easing up a bit if I want to recover.

I think you will find a lot of nice people here in this forum so feel free to write about your problems. I'm sure someone is listening in.

Wish you the best.

Jesse
 
Jeff,

Our situations were a lot different, except that I too was abused together with my best friend, and by a man I trusted (Scout leader and elder in my church). It lasted from age 11 to 14 and occurred about once a week at least.

If your situation is anything like mine, I would guess that the anxiety attacks and nausea may be connected with you being ready to take major steps forward. I felt like that in November 2003, when I first told someone (my sister) about my abuse history.

In any case, keep posting. I'm so glad to see you here and I am sure you will get a lot out of the site.

Much love,
Larry
 
I think you are right in that you have been going twenty four hours a day with a lot of focus on relationships and work. Now you are in a place of quiet with much time to think and if you are anything like me quiet reflective time means its time for the past to come to the surface and that is where I think the anxiety comes into play. Fear of the future, especially not knowing what the future holds is a scary place for me, I hate it with a passion. I like knowing everything is going to be stable (control) and when it is threatened look out, I go into panic mode. However I am much better with it today and I contribute my success to this; The Truth. The truth is; I can't control what is going to happen, and I am not saying that I don't get scared but it is a hell of a lot better than what it used to be. Not saying this is your problem or a way to recovery, just throwing my two cents in hoping it will help in some way.
 
When I was at my most anxious, I wrote lists of things to do! This would include things as simple as washing crockery! I would force myself to do something off the list instead of just sitting moping - this took a lot of effort at my lowest ebb! Eventually, I just started doing things automatically and discarded the lists.

Now if I think I'm starting to mope about a bit, I will write a short list of things to do, just to make sure I'm not slipping backwards!

Hope this helps.

*you can even tick things off your list as you do them, at least that allows you to see that you have achieved something, no matter how small!

Best wishes ...Rik
 
Back
Top