One day I will declare war on RSD as a concept. My current frustration is that people who often have complex trauma attribute their behaviour to RSD instead.

(My general feeling is that RSD is better explained as prolonged exposure to childhood (& often adult) criticism that could be better explained as a less serious form of CPTSD).

Like these are the symptoms of CPTSD:

* difficulty controlling your emotions
* feeling very angry or distrustful towards the world
* constant feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
* feeling as if you are permanently damaged or worthless
* feeling as if you are completely different to other people
* feeling like nobody can understand what happened to you
* avoiding friendships and relationships, or finding them very difficult

When people have RSD reactions, it often feels like the above. It’s extremely intense to experience, it is worse when you have no concept to explain it to other people, which is why I am hesitant to completely devalue it’s worth.

@roryreckons I have CPTSD and it feels like I have to constantly prove to everyone that I deserve to exist.

It feels like everyone I meet "knows" I'm a bad person.

I can't forgive myself for my mistakes, and I invent new ones or exaggerate old ones to obsess over.

It feels like everyone in the world is in one giant group chat swapping notes about what a shit human I am.

I am perpetually consumed by shame.

Having a label didn't cure me but it sure as hell has helped.

@cestfleuve @roryreckons I'm really glad finding a label helped you. I feel like that's so often the case, just knowing that there is a name for our suffering and other people who understand Helps.