Sufferer or Survivor?

[batgirl]

When you talk about yourself as having PTSD, do you call yourself a sufferer, a survivor, both, or do you use some other term? I'm curious as I've had discussions with with several people and everyone seems to have a strong opinion about it. Personally, I call myself a sufferer, for the following reasons:

I have suffered lol. Seriously though, I have suffered a lot, and I continue to suffer, no point in denying that!
To me, the word "survivor" applies to anyone who has been involved in a trauma. And not everyone who has trauma develops PTSD.
The word "survivor" also suggests, to me anyways, that the problem is over. For example, you call someone a cancer survivor when they are in remission or cured. You don't called someone with schizophrenia a "schizophrenia survivor", because there is no cure for schizophrenia, it's a permanent condition. Similarly, PTSD is a permanent condition, no cure yet.
"Survivor" just sounds too PC to me for some reason. I think it's overused. It's become "hip" to be a survivor.Anyways those are just some of my thoughts. I'm curious what everyone else thinks!

[becvan]

I also use the term sufferer for the exact same reasons you posted. Well said.

bec

[veiled]

Some days when I am going strong and so "non PTSD" (OK, I still am a bit of a shut in but I am speaking emotionally and mentally before) I feel like a true survivor. Then when it smacks me flat on my ass sick to the point I know I will die any second for days on end, I am a sufferer. It just seems for me what day you catch me on if I consider myself a sufferer or survivor.

[hodge]

Well, I voted for using both terms, but I don't use them interchangeably, since to me they have such different connotations. I very much agree and relate, Evie, with all the points you cited. I used to favor "survivor," but, let's face facts: I do suffer! Yeah, I survived, but I'm still suffering. So I guess I'm way more accepting of the term "sufferer" now. And surviving isn't my ultimate goal . . . well, okay, sometimes it is . . . but beyond that, I want to thrive, create, live well, and be a good human being. I'm thinking of Maslow's scale of self-actualization. I feel like I'm not articulating exactly what I want to say - mush brain is striking again - but hope this makes sense.

[Marlene]

I voted for using both terms. Everyone used a lot of good points that I relate to.

Evie-you're right, survivor is very overused to the point of not having much meaning anymore.

Veiled-feeling non-PTSD. I like this term. Then that little voice says 'maybe everything's gone/going away' and then something else pops up and it's 'hello PTSD' once again.

Hodge-my therapist suggested using the term thriving instead of survivor because, like Evie said-it's never cured and is always there. But learning to thrive and live your life well in spite of the PTSD is a big thing.

OK, now that I've copied off of all of your papers...thanks.

Lisa

[Claire]

I dont use either really. I have PTSD but I refuse to be a sufferer. I do suffer with it but I am not a sufferer. To me the term sufferer feels defeatest. I am determined to reclaim my life and I refuse to let PTSD win. I am a survivor of my crash but not of PTSD because that's a thing I'm still working on. I'm lucky too. I often think to myself I'm lucky despite all the bad things.

[kers]

Interesting poll! I enjoy reading everyone's opinions.

When I speak about my PTSD, I simply say, "I have PTSD." In my head when I think about, say, the forum, I think "people with PTSD."

I don't really like the terms sufferer or survivor. Sufferer I dislike because it makes me feel like I have a sticky, gross disease that clings to me, and I don't want to feel like I can't be free of this. And survivor because that's a term for surviving trauma. Which, yeah, I did, but it sounds so...prideful. And like the trauma is the center of my life. Which, yeah, it is right now, but I hope it won't be. To me when I'm finially a survivor, it will be because I'm not defining myself by the trauma anymore.

My thoughts are kind of convoluted.

[batgirl]

Thanks everyone, I don't have much to say right now but I have really enjoyed reading everyone's responses! Thanks so much for sharing, you've all made great points.

[rt1967]

Thats a good question Batgirl its interesting how people see it differently.Thinking about it might say i have been diagnosed with disorder that i can't seem to understand or know how is seperate from who i am (whoever that is ) :-).It causes suffering to myself and those around me.

[Somber_Resplendence]

This may sound strange, but I never realized that there was another word I could use for what I was besides survivor.

I like sufferer much better though...I have suffered, and I'm sick of being told that I'm a survivor, because, well, I guess I'm sick of surviving...it's essentially all I've done my whole life and sometimes I honestly think 'so what if i survived?' Just because I survived a series of moments, and periods of time doesn't mean I'll survive in the long run...

Didn't mean to be so morbid, but hey, this is for PTSD right?

[Lisa]

I find the word survivor patronising for some reason... I don't know why. I have said both terms, it depends on who I am saying to and what I am trying to say. However, I do notice myself tending to just say "I have PTSD". As much as it may not be true, saying sufferer or survivor for me seems to say that it is all encompassing who I am and I resent that...So I tend to say I have PTSD. Because I also have a personality, and have other things. Like somehow it doesn't sound so definitive. Just my personal opinion, I'm not hugely offended if someone says "you are a sufferer/survivor" or anything, just personally prefer to just say "I have PTSD" myself.

[txmomof3]

I use both as I have times where my PTSD is under control....and then times when it seems to me controlling me.

[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