My name is Carol and I am a 37 year old female.

I was raised in an abusive (physical, verbal and sexual) household and left home to go to university at 17 years of age. I am the second eldest of 5 children and my parents are still together. I was married at 19, separated at 26 and divorced at 30, no children. I am currently in a stable long term relationship. At the age of 24 I was involved in a serious accident. 3-4 months after the accident I was restrained due to a suicide attempt and dissociated for approximately 3 months. I was diagnosed at that time with severe depression and placed on medication (zoloft, prozac etc). 3 years after the accident, I voluntarily entered a mental institution for a short stay due to extreme bipolar symptoms, during this stay I tried to carve designs into my skin. I commenced medication for bipolar which included (in addition to the depression medication) lithium, which I refused after a while due to side affects, and then epilim. I also attended in the 4th year after the accident for the same severe bipolar symptoms and suicidal ideations. I found the treatments for bipolar and severe depression to be very debilitating to daily functioning in my work and relationships and refused to take any further medication. I eventually, after another 3 years of searching, found a clinical psychologist who correctly identified my diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and I agreed to undergo cognitive behavioral therapy. After 2 years of this my depression cleared and has not returned so far (5 years clear) and I have only had 2 episodes of PTSD symptoms due to subsequent traumas (sexual attack on holiday and the other due to a TIA) since that therapy.

I am interested in volunteering as I have been training over the last 7years to become a Psychologist and practice now as a counsellor.

My email is: wilsonca@bigpond.com