Poll Sufferer or Survivor?

[Sapper]

Not going to vote as I don't have PTSD but.. I prefer sufferer myself. Survivor makes me think of sexual abuse. Obviously some people with PTSD are sexual abuse survivors, quite a number probably, but not everyone with PTSD got it from sexual abuse. No one in my family in fact. So it doesn't seem like the right word to me.

 

[TigerMystic]

An interesting poll question. Thank you, Batgirl.

I chose the last option.

To be honest, it never occurred to me that I could be a "PTSD survivor." But I don't call myself a sufferer, either, although I do suffer tremendously at times and at least a little bit all my other days. The symptoms, the effects, the dis-ease remains, though their intensity waxes and wanes continuously. But to call myself a sufferer to others? Somehow it doesn't feel appropriate to me. It's not how I want to identify myself to others--or even to myself.

I call myself a child abuse survivor, and incest survivor, with no problem. But to me, that is different. I am no longer a child, and that abuse is no longer occurring. However, the effects of that abuse--the PTSD, the dissociation, the distrust of people and intimacy, etc.--remain with me. So how can I be a "survivor" of something that still exists? When it continues to be in every moment of now?

I suffer PTSD now. I usually say "I have PTSD" to others when the matter is brought up. I feel comfortable saying that. I would not feel comfortable saying "I am a PTSD survivor" because it is untrue. It is inaccurate. I live with PTSD. I like your analogy of the schizophrenic, Batgirl. I feel the same situation applies to me.

 

[batgirl]

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions about this everyone, it's been really interesting. It's also interesting for me to note that the votes are fairly evenly split among the four choices.

 

[Eagle]

Batgirl
I am with you on the suffer term oh yea. But for me i use survivor but not of ptsd. i am a survivor of sra and that is like a huge thing to me. I survived!!!!! I have had a lifetime of multiple traumas that caused many problems but I survived. I am a ptsd sufferer. You got me thinking.
Eagle

 

[Nam]

I voted survivor...but now, when I ask myself what do I call myself? Neither. A lot of times when it comes up I say, "I was diagnosed with PTSD in July...blah, blah.." Come to think of it, I say it as a past tense frequently. I don't consider myself as someone who suffers currently. I did suffer. So...what do I call myself? As someone who is currently in "remission"? Evie, you've got me thinking.....

 

[ruddy]

It really doesn't matter much to me one way or another but in reality I think both terms have some relevance. I survived a brutal attack, I suffer because of it, and I'm not giving up. I don't concern myself with labels.

 

[pandora]

I just say I have PTSD. I know I am suffering but in my mind I don't want to have that attitude. I feel like I am doing OK right now.....I have seen some really brutal palliative care cases and they sometimes without the proper treatment now those people suffer. Today I have a manageable case of PTSD...it is almost like when you are in an acute phase...yes we suffer but when it is chronic and manageable...it is something we learn to adapt our lives to live with.

 

[Auburngirl]

I don't like sufferer. I'm a survivor of the trauma - but I'm not through PTSD yet so I'm not yet I survivor of that. I just have or live with PTSD.

Sufferer is too negative. Yes, I've suffered. But I don't like being defined that way. I agree with Pandora- that's not the attitude I want to have.

I guess I'd go with - I'm a trauma survivor living with PTSD.

 

[nic]

When it comes to the rape, I call myself a survivor, but when it comes to the PTSD, I call myself a sufferer.

 

[pandora]

I think everyone has valid points! I am just a person with PTSD...I am survivor rape and attemmpted suffocation..I survived that!!!! I guess it really depends on the reason for the ptsd.


So now...I just got a choking sensation.....time to deep breathe!!!!!! Guess I got triggered and i am at an all time wild anxiey level!!!!

 

[nightowl52]

I think I'll wait on the voteing. I just voted on 3 & I found I was giving the " nice" answer, one that wouldn't shock any one. Sorry

 

[cragger65]

How Do You Think of Yourself?

Just wondering how others see themselves. There is obviously a strong tie between what we think of ourselves and how we feel. Extremely curious to see the results.

Dave