I like this thread because it is helpful to me to describe a thing in order to make sense of it. For me, this is why telling my story in therapy has been so healing and has allowed me to experience my history differently as I live my life today. In the same way, speaking my experience of PTSD symptoms has been helpful and validating. Just last month, when I was experiencing some severe symptoms because of contact with my abuser, I was trying to share my experience with a friend. Because she doesn't have any life experience with anxiety or trauma, I relied on a metaphor to describe it to her. I literally said, "PTSD is like..." Metaphors are a way to let others into our experience. I enjoy reading everybody's interpretations.