Hiding Vs Bearing All

[falling_wave]

I agree that it would be nice to be open but at the same time we are normal people who need to present and appear to be high functioning to make it independently. If we do not present that way there is a lot to lose. It's similar to physical illness. My friend has cystic fibrosis and some serious struggles, hospitalization, etc. She can say after she's hired that she has a disease but she needs to hide the constant meds, chronic pain, and how frequently she needs to go to appointments to keep the job. With close friends totally different as with ptsd.

Another fear entirely is that abusers are very good at tracking people down, preventing secrets from being shared, and causing harm. I worry sometimes that my abusers will find me through my posts at timed and I don't want my picture on here to solidify it.

 

[Ed Norton]

At first I didn't have my picture up but a book cover as my avatar. But as I came to know the community; I felt more comfortable with the forum seeing the real me. I don't think that I can easily be found through my avatar. But I choose that my name remain anonymous, to people outside of the forum, because I don't want to be googled by former colleagues. Hence, the pseudonym. In PM and chat I do frequently give my real name, especially to new comers to make them feel welcome.


NET :)

 

[Ellabella44]

(immediately starts googling ed) sorry couldn't resist ;)

 

[ghotiff]

I'm paranoid about privacy but it's not due to a mental illness stigma fear...I'm just generally paranoid and always have been about everything. I'm sure it's from my trauma, but I don't understand the connection yet.

 

[holdenmonty]

I have my real first name and a shortened version of my last name along with a real picture of me only because my story has been recorded and I posted it on youtube and the local base paper did a story on me. I kind of forced myself out of the ptsd closet so to speak. If I hadn't done the storytellers thing where they recorded me telling my story then I probably would have picked a different username and a different avatar. Anonymity is nothing to be ashamed of. I still have a hard time talking about it. I am a big advocate for the wounded warrior project because they have helped myself and my family so much and somebody at my church a while ago asked me about why I have so much wounded warrior stuff and my hat that says wounded warrior project Alumni on it and I explained to him that I have ptsd from my deployment and some things after and any more detail would have been uncomfortable and I would have changed the subject or talked about very generic type stuff.

 

[oasis2003]

Hi
I really admire people who can bear all and share emotions, fears and experiences. I find it extremely difficult to show anyone the true me. They may not like me! Who is the true real me any way ?! So yes I hide.......:bag: