Why Did You Choose That Username And/Or That Avatar (Or No Avatar At All)?

[seedling]

Fragile,

I have to say that I like your name. Or maybe appreciate it is the better way to put it. I feel that I will always have a fragile part of me now and will need to remember to "handle with care".

 

[Jawn]

I've been too lazy to find an avatar and Jawn is just a play on my real name.

 

[hero2zero]

Well sorry to change the tone of these responses, but the reason I chose this screen name is because it's precisely what my life has become.

When I was initially hurt at work (big city police department), I was put on a pedestal. My incident was "breaking news" and made the front page... just because someone tried to kill me.

After being out of work for about 17 months, I beat all of the odds and returned to full duty. That lasted about a year and a half, until I was forced into a situation that made me deteriorate psychologically and emotionally (onset of PTSD), as a result of the original incident. I was ultimately retired for medical reasons, because my agency believed at the time that PTSD didn't exist (old school mentality... get knocked down, get up and brush yourself off and go back to work).

Once I retired, a huge part of my life literally died. I think about it every day and want to do it all again so bad because my job was one of the only true loves I ever had. When there is such a huge void in your life, it is extremely difficult to adapt and overcome, despite what anyone may say. Those who judge me the most have never walked in similar shoes.

When you wake up to nothing each and every day, it does take its toll. I eventually felt, and continue to feel, worthless in just about every aspect of my life. Because I failed myself. All of my training in Peer Support & CISM couldn't even help me. I was too blind to see it coming.

Hence the transition from hero to zero.

Thanks for listening. Take care all.

 

[Fragile]

That is a very useful way of looking at it Seedling. Hadn't thought of it that way. Will have to make a note for future reference.

"I have a Fragile part and I need to remember to handle her with care."

Thanks Seedling :)

 

[NIKI]

NIKI is my real nickname and I picked a dog avatar because I love my dogs. My dogs have always been there for me. They love me no matter what!! Unconditional love!!!!

 

[sisterinsurvival]

I am active on a sexual abuse and rape survivor board as well. I began closing my posts with "Your sister in survival" years ago. I was using a different username at the time that I was afraid that someone that I wanted to refer to the site would recognize, so I asked that it be changed to sisterinsurvival. I have used it ever since. My avatar picture is a more recent addition. I actually do look like her...at least somewhat. Brown eyes and no tattoos though. I just wish I was as thin. My anxiety is further eating away at me...another fifteen pounds and I will be there. She is the part of me that was fearless. She serves as a reminder of who used to exist and was tough as nails...perhaps not good because that part of me was birthed out of anger. It was the way that I defended myself.

 

[Robert]

Robert is my real name and used as my user name deliberately. Have felt out of touch with 'me' for years. An adopted user name might carry the risk of an adopted persona. After all this time I have to consentrate on being me and put the masks aside. So what you see is what you get. Can't afford to function any other way, is this progress? I have no idea but it is more honest than I have been with the outside world for 20 years. The defensive masks only made matters worse for me at the cost of my marriage, business and home. I may not like me right now but it is who I am

Regards, Robert

 

[Iam]

Robert..I chose my name Iam for much the same reason. I have denied myself, who I am for such a long time that it is a proclaimation for me. I AM and nobody is going to steal that from me anymore. It declares strength and that I am going to fight for myself. My avatar is one of my horses. Pine is my main mount and my other one, Champ, is for friends and grandchildren to ride yet I love him just as much. My horses are great therapy for me, whether it is riding or caring for them. Even mucking out there stalls is therapy so it seems fitting to use one as my avatar. The photo makes me feel good ;o)

 

[Jawn]

My avatar of the orangutan with his hands on his head reminds me of ME when dealing with my wife and her PTSD sometimes. Well that and my friends tell me I'm just a big ape sometimes. :rofl:

Jawn

 

[Nicolette]

I change my avatar depending on how I feel. I now feel the strength to move forward and hence the strong woman avatar.

 

[atl22]

Nahua is a Native Mexican language still spoken by about 1.2 million people and was the language of my grandmother.

atl is Nahua for water, which is quite often symbolic for clarity

I never expected to live past 21, so I chose 22 to symbolize my new life

atl22 = new life of clarity

I just added a new avatar, which is the ancient Mexican glyph called Ollin. Ollin means movement or change. It was also used to describe earthquakes. "The earth is changing." It seems to fit what's going on now.

 

[ISupportHer]

Nahua is a Native Mexican language still spoken by about 1.2 million people and was the language of my grandmother.

atl is Nahua for water, which is quite often symbolic for clarity

I never expected to live past 21, so I chose 22 to symbolize my new life

atl22 = new life of clarity

I just added a new avatar, which is the ancient Mexican glyph called Ollin. Ollin means movement or change. It was also used to describe earthquakes. "The earth is changing." It seems to fit what's going on now.

I read this and my immediate response was "awesome"! Good to see that you went with the positive.

ISH