PTSD is my identity?

Hi,

I'm finding it very hard to overcome my PTSD because I feel it is become my identity. Has anyone else ever felt this way? What helped you?

I think most that struggle with PTSD feel this way 88Butterfly88.

For myself, I had felt that the challenge of PTSD was taking away from my identity. I did not understand why I was struggling. I have found myself very confused about why I was bothered by different things that I had not had problems with before where while I might have recognized certain things I did not like or experiences that challenged me in some way, I managed to move forward anyway. With the PTSD I am a lot more sensitive and have found myself bothered in a very different way and I found myself very confused by how I had become so sensitive, not even on a conscious level but more on a deep subconscious level.

Each individual experiences a higher degree of sensitivity that is very confusing. It does take time to understand it and figure out what the different sensitivities are. It is very important to understand that you are still you and that what has changed that has created a hightened sensitivity is a normal reaction to "trauma".

It is time to work through these sensitivities you are experiencing and each individual is going to be unique in whatever ways they developed these different sensitivities. It is important to learn to be "patient" with self as you slowly work through these sensitivites and gradually heal and learn how to manage better. It is important to understand it is not your fault and allow yourself to heal.

Thanks open, I think you're right. It just seems my therapist doesn't see it that way, which baffles me.

Have you spoken about it with your therapist at length? Because it occurs to me that saying you perceive it as being your identity could indicate a few different things. Identity itself is a pretty loaded and somewhat abstract concept.

It's not for me to say, but perhaps you are talking about finding symptoms so overwhelming that they invade your thought process during interaction with others and don't allow core elements of your identity to shine through. Or, saying that you see it as your identity could also refer to the way in which others associate you with your PTSD, and don't see beyond it. I would certainly encourage you to discuss it further with a trusted confidante such as a therapist since while issues of identity can be difficult to deal with, they are a treasure trove of personal insight and growth.

Real world examples would be helpful. I think for me I know I can say that since I have several diagnoses, but I can also say that didn't last very long. I guess you have to trust the process and be as clear with your therapist as you possibly can bring articles examples journals everything...The therapist should see it your way as a result

I was just telling my partner that my PTSD was identified at the employment center which makes it very real for me.

What do you mean by overcome it?