I feel disabled in the sense that I'm blocked in my everyday and social life. I can't even go and have a coffee with my brother without being scared that my husband will know about it and scared of his reaction. So yes this disables me a lot, I'm not ashamed and I seek help and strenght. Be strong

No appology necessary (at least to me) HiveGuy. I'm not only a little thick skinned, but I've also been unable to put "tone of voice" into the printed word, and have it come out the way I intended. lol

I think PTSD is a general term, and can be discussed at that level. Then, when you want to get into greater specifics, You have to drop down to the "incident" level... rape, war, abuse, etc. whatever is appropriate for a given situation. My trauma seems to be security. I duck & cringe at some sounds, but not others. I live in a different world now, but with many of the same issues. For example, parking garages are a "zone" I shy away from. Maybe Not for the same reason, but I imagine a rape victim would too. So I guess each case has it's own "parts of the whole".

I suppose it could be considered "Disabled", but I don't feel any derogatory intent in the term. Also, in the interest of full-disclosure, I have NOT been formally diagnosed with PTSD. I can't seek any therapy, for personal reasons. That's why I'm on this site. It's the only support available to me at this time. If that's a problem for anyone here, just let me know. I'm not trying to be invasive here, I'm just looking for answers where ever I can find them.

Sorry for rambling, I just all of a sudden felt like I had something worth saying. I get so Wierd, sometimes. ;)

I have spent decades going to college, working full time, and going to Grad school while working full time- even though I have also been hospitalized. I keep everything private so most people would be very surprised to know that I've been in locked mental wards.

At this point in time I am very tired of trying, trying, trying and being knocked to the floor by people I am trying to help.
So no I not only am not offended by the "disabled" label- I am very much thinking I would have it easier to claim it and live on a disability check.

well it doesnt disable me from working, but if it did, and I needed to claim disability I'd appreciate the designation

but it does, still emotionally disable me from any romantic relationship...and I'm Ok with that right now.

I would not put myself in the category "disabled" because I am still functioning despite CPTSD effects. It makes life a little more complicated but I look at "disabled" people as those with more challenging conditions or the same condition as myself with more challenging side effects. If I was unable to cope in daily life without some sort of assistance or service, then I would say I was disabled. I do like some of the suggestions in the article though.

My healing came about from not caring what the hell people labelled or said about me. My journey before PTSD occured went through workers comp and SSDI or disability. You are a number a thing in the machine of lawyers and medicine and money.

I have sat in many a doctors office or a deposition or in a lawyers officw where I was talked about like I was not there or a human being with feelings.

All this crap is just a diversion to keep you from working to get better everyday.

The most important thing in your life is to work dailt on your plan with your tools to heal. When a controversy comes up or distractions abide just get back to your daily plan and work harder. The less you think and the more you do the btter off you will be.