Hi Alan --

Having walked a mile or five in your shoes, I wish there was something I could do/say to turn it around. Best I can say is that our situations aren't dissimilar, though I'm having more success on the legal end.

It's not the preferred solution - they took their damn time getting in touch - but I did find T services thru a public agency addressing sexual abuse. I mention it as an option, however, because any diagnosis (PTSD, DID, depression, etc.) would help with a disability claim, another can of worms in itself.

Puffer,

I am 54. My Doctor sent me to a Psychiatrist for a one-time evaluation. He wanted to put me on meds for depression, which I refused. I don't like the idea of becoming dependent on them, plus I have a feeling I am the type of personality that might become even more suicidal on them. Anyway, in the session we discussed mental disability. He told me that it's nearly impossible to get that now, unless someone is hospitalized for the mental disability. I don't have any resources to keep seeing the Psychiatrist or any kind of therapist.

Alan

Thanks Lancer. I am glad you are having more success with the legal end of things. I hope you get a good judgement to help you get all the therapy you need.

Therapy/counseling is what's needed most for all of us, otherwise it's tough to do the things normal people do, like have enough confidence in ourselves and our own self-worth to hold down a job. I guess some survivors manage to become narcissists as a mechanism to cope with the poor self-image and function. I don't know what's worse, being as I am with no sense of self-worth, or being a narcissist. wink

I went through the whole process of providing details about my abuse, work histories, education history and lists of everyone that could confirm the abuse and/or affects of it. I also had to compile a list of every job I ever had. Of course telling about the abuse was the most painful thing, but that list of nearly 50 jobs I have had (and quit) in my lifetime was very painful too. It hit me over the head like a ton on bricks, "FAILURE!, QUITTER!" frown All that background and the wicked Colorado statute of limitations keeps me from getting any help.

Alan

Avery,

How are you doing?