I am missing something?

[Deleted member 39411]

I recently read another post under success and accomplishments,
And all the replies.

First of all, i agree that there is some self promotion going on.

Beyond that, i would like to ask some questions?

Can ptsd become an identity? Can we lose our true selves to managing an illness?
I also wonder this, if we as ptsd suffers, believe that we can never reach a state of wholeness or recovery, then will we?
Have we sold ourselves short?

I Understand the need to protect the group. Living and letting live is good for the group,
But yesterday i was so discouraged, wondering if ptsd and suicidal ideation would ever end. I read the post, i felt encouraged, untill i read the comments after the article.

Then i realized that it wasn't probably realistic, but then I read about cognitive distortions, and i wondered how much could ptsd itself keep me holding on to it. I also wondered if over the course of work and time, to undo those distortions if i would somday cease to wear ptsd as an identity, By focusing on it how much do i filter my mind through it? Not that i am saying that i able to avoid recognizing the symptoms, and some say focus on recovery, but even that would give ptsd some power over me. I just wonder if someday we can move from ptsd sufferers, to ptsd managers, to ptsd is not apart of us.

 

[desiderata310]

Can ptsd become an identity? Can we lose our true selves to managing an illness?

yup. Just like anything else, you can start to identify yourself by your malady, or your job or your social status or anything.

It doesn't have to be like that.
But for some I'm sure it becomes that.

ETA

I often worry about all the navel gazing I do. Then I go out and volunteer and get out of my own head. I find a way to be more than PTSD. I'm more than a diagnosis. I am more than just a mother. I am more than just an employee.

At the end of the day I am Desi and PTSD doesn't define me but it vexes me so I continue to work on it.

 

[ladee]

I will never be free of PTSD, the things that brought that about ,many are healed at they will ever be... I do maintain with it. It has never been my identity.... I've always been Ladee trying to fit inside my own skin and be in the world... no matter how nuts I was that day....those days are far and few between... but they are there.... still learning... but I would be doing that if I didn't have PTSD... I'm curious how things work.... I like solutions, not problems... or let's say, I like to find solutions to problems....
One of the threads you are referring to....was not factual on many levels... and this is our safe place for many of us... hence the defensiveness and being offended someone was trying to SELL snake oil.... it was a little deeper than the simple question of can we be completely healed.... it was a con... so other than expressing how i felt, it had no merit with me about my prognosis.... since I have had PTSD my entire life, I don't have 'normal' life to compare it to... so it's a non issue for me.... learning to live.... that's what i do every day....