Out of the Storm (OOTS) — Complex PTSD Community
Out of the Storm (OOTS) is a free, anonymous online community for adults living with the symptoms of Complex PTSD caused by repeated or prolonged relational trauma. Founded in 2014 by Canadian survivor Kizzie and grounded in the work of Dr. Judith Herman, the site combines an active peer support forum at cptsd.org/forum with extensive evidence-based resources on relational trauma, symptoms, treatment, and recovery. Members don’t need a formal diagnosis to join — anyone with a history of ongoing abuse or neglect is welcome.
What to Expect
Unlike scheduled meeting groups, OOTS operates as a 24/7 forum community where members post about what they’re working through, respond to others, and contribute to long-running threads on topics like inner critic work, emotional flashbacks, attachment patterns, recovery skills, and rebuilding identity. The tone is steady and unhurried — people often return for years, watching their own thinking shift over time. Alongside the forum, the OOTS website offers carefully curated reading on Complex PTSD symptoms, causes, therapy approaches, a glossary of trauma terminology, and personal stories from members willing to share their journeys.
Who This Group Is For
OOTS is built for adult survivors of relational trauma — including childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and neglect, as well as adult abuse in intimate or family relationships. It’s a particularly good fit for people whose symptoms don’t fit neatly into a traditional PTSD framework, those whose trauma is ongoing rather than purely in the past, and anyone who’s found themselves Googling their experiences late at night and feeling like they don’t have a name for what’s happening. The site’s anonymity makes it accessible for members in regions with little local trauma-informed support or for those not yet ready to talk in person.
Why Peer Support Works
As Dr. Judith Herman wrote, trauma isolates while the group re-creates a sense of belonging; trauma shames and stigmatizes while the group bears witness and affirms. For survivors of complex relational trauma, the simple experience of being believed and met with care by people who understand can begin to undo years of being silenced or dismissed. The OOTS forum extends that experience across time zones and geography, giving members a place to bring whatever is alive for them at 2 a.m. or in the middle of a workday.
How to Join
Joining OOTS is free and anonymous. Visit outofthestorm.website and follow the link to the support forum at cptsd.org/forum to register. New members are asked to read the guidelines and disclaimer before posting; an In Crisis page provides immediate resources for anyone in acute distress. The site is supported by its sister community Out of the FOG and through optional donations — there is no cost to participate, ever.