What is your most traumatic experience?
By hopeful28
@hopeful28 (1439)
Singapore
January 18, 2007 10:24am CST
Looking back, I believe my most traumatic experience happened when I was sent to a psychiatric hospital. There were many wards which were classified according to the type of illness and the severity. I suffered from severe depression then and was sent there because I was suicidal. However, I wasn't like those who suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar etc.. I knew what was happening to me. Anyhow, I wanted to resist being warded but they (doctors and nurses) somehow got me to go to this particular ward and when I was inside and walking along the corridor which lead to the rooms for the patients there, the nurse who was followiing me turned round and ran for the door. Before I realised what was happening, I saw the door closing behind her and I ran frantically for it but I was too late. The sound of the door slamming echoed in my ears and till now I can still hear it. To me it was like being thrown into hell or a prison and once the door closes, there is no escape. To cut the long story short, I went hysterical, I screamed and shouted and cried until I couldn't stop shaking. I was apalled because the patients in that ward were not 'normal'. I could tell from their faces, eyes and the way they behave. This experience nearly caused me to go off my mind. If it had happened, I would really be one of them. Thank God though that I got out when after much pleading I was allowed to ask my parents to come to get me out. I will never forget it. This is only the gist, the details would take too long.
3 people like this
7 responses
@rainbow (6761)
•
18 Jan 07
That is truly horrifying, espeially when you did not feel fit enough to cope with people with problems. I hope no-one ever has to go through anything like that, even if you were ill your should have been treated with more respet.
My worst time was when my ex-boyfriend used to get drunk and hit me and occasionally my dog. I used to work 3 jobs while he went to the pub mostly. He would take my dog with him and get her drunk too. but not for long. It was the night I "fell" in the kithen and woke the next mornong with my head in the mirowave that made me wonder whether he was sane. As soon as I rebelled he emptied our home and left, he must have realised that he could no longer control me but I have to admitt the situation before he left (while I was at work) I didn't think I would survive, the mircowave was the least of my worries.
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
19 Jan 07
Oh my dear, you poor thing. You must have gone through alot in your life too. I really feel for you especially having to endure your ex-boyfriend's physical abuse. My hope for you is that your present boyfriend will treat you like a princess. You deserve it after all you have gone through.
2 people like this
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
21 Feb 07
I'm sorry you had to go through all that. The wsy that nurse behaved was very disrespectful to you as a person.
My most traumatic moment also involved a hospital. I have seizures related to a heart condition, and I was kept in the cardiac care unit for 3 days while they tried to sort me out. I had a seizure in the hospital and woke up to someone screaming "can we cut your shirt off, we need to cut your shirt off" they needed to be able to get defibrilators on my chest, and needed to hook up an EKG and heart monitor. There were 20 people standing over me, it was really scary.
2 people like this
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
22 Feb 07
I am so glad you survived your traumatic experience apart from your heart attacks. Are you better now and still on treatment? Please take care and thank you for sharing.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
19 Feb 07
Well my most traumatic one was being raped . It is a very bad experience to live through specially when you are only 5, and no you do not forget it. I remember every detail and this 40 years later. Also at the age of 15 and that one sticks in my mind to. I can't go into details Hopeful as it still tears me apart, I am writing a book about my Life at the moment and it certainly was hard to write it in there. But I did it. That has been the worst experience in my Life
I am sorry though what you had to go through that sounds really terrible and I hope you have got over it.
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
20 Feb 07
I've been there too and much as I want to say I understand how you feel, I also know that for each of us victims, our pain is unique and personal to each of us. It takes time and blood and tears to get through the process of so-called recovery and acceptance and moving on. No, you are right, it can never be forgotten.
2 people like this
@xylee112201 (108)
• Philippines
18 Jan 07
My most traumatic experience was when we were robbed at home... It was a stormy night and we are out of electricity, when two men came barging into our house demanding money. My mom gave what she have, and then the men went out...while waiting for a get-away transportation, we called the police and good thing the robbers were caught immediately
2 people like this
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
18 Jan 07
That sounds frightening. That is one thing I hope I don't have to experience. I am so glad that the robbers got caught. Hope they will turn over new leaves in prison.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Feb 07
Don't know that I can tell you about one experience, rather it was a period of my life. I married a violent man. I'd had a few clues but no other info so I was blind. He had actually been in juvenile prison for several acts of violence but his family neglected to mention any of that. Each time he beat me was crueler and worse than the last time but also the periods in between were longer. I would start to get a strange feeling and not know what it was. I know now it was an atmospheric thing induced by the rage that was building inside him. He hated and despised me because he was tied down to me. He blamed me for all his faults and everything that was wrong in his life. Of course I eventually managed to get away but I was a very damaged person, physically, emotionally and spiritually. My life was ruined by this man because of the scars on my soul. Thirty years later I still feel unwanted and unloveable. Time does not heal all wounds. And time does not make us forget.
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
22 Feb 07
Thank you for being brave enough to share your horrifying experience with your ex-hubby. Can't tell you how my heart feels for you. It must have been humiliating, frightening, and you must have lived in perpetual fear while you were still with him. I know what's it like to live in and with fear and I am still struggling in my healing process but like you say, the damage is so extensive that I think it will probably take a lifetime to get over it if ever. Talk about feeling unloveable, unwanted and insecure. We can shake hands on that. Hey, but the fact that we survived it and moved on proves that we are overcomers or survivors right?
@crickethear (1417)
• United States
21 Feb 07
Unfortunately, I have had a lot of traumatic experiences. More then one person should go through. From the time I was 7 up to current, there has been a lot of blows. The few who know all that I have gone through, are amazed at how well I have held up. However, I don't think they really know how I feel down deep. They say they do, but they don't. They just don't. I guess I keep going because I am hopeful that there is always tomorrow, and just maybe, maybe, things will get better. Maybe one of these days, I will share, but I just am not able to at this time.
I am sorry that you had to go to a psychiatric hospital, that must have been horrible for you, Hopeful. My god, I am so sorry. I can't even begin to know what that may have been like. It isn't right to be admitted and amongst that when you are just dealing with depression. You don't put a woman who just had a hysterctomy into the maternity ward. Hello, what is wrong with people. Again, I am so sorry. I am hugging you in my thoughts.
2 people like this
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
22 Feb 07
Even though you did not share your experience specifically but I respect your privacy. It is not easy to open the wounds again. And thank you so much for the hugs. I really need one at this time, because I am in depression mode again and today I have this headache that refuse to go away. Will probably rest earlier tonight. Oh, hugs for you too.
@budsr03 (2350)
• Canada
23 Feb 07
My wife was in the small town hospital giving birth to our first child. A full term baby. Pat remembers all this. Things went horribly wrong. The doctor arrived smelling of booze, our baby arrived, but something was wrong. Our little girl was lifeless, so Pat got hysterical, then a nurse slapped Pat, i don't know why under those circumstances. I don't recall the other details Pat told me about probably because i don't want to. From work i got to the hospital, Pat was sedated, our baby was not alive. I held our baby and cried. I buried our Marsha while Pat was still in the hospital. We were both 18 in Aug of 1971. Since then Pat has had couselling but not me yet. Take care Hopeful i hope you find some strenght.
