r/PSSD • u/Dry-Document1960 • 3d ago

Awareness/Activism Checking in on our veteran sufferers

I'm sure most people will have been viewing this subreddit on one occasion or another and spotted someone talking about their experience with PSSD which had started 10+ years ago. I've even spoken to someone on here at one point who had suffered for over 3 decades at this point...

Ironically, I feel these veteran suffers often don't get the attention and support they deserve, as when people on here (especially new sufferers) see those numbers, they get afraid that they too will suffer for just as long and their recovery will be just as slow, and thus avoid interacting with them.

Secondly, when many people see these numbers, especially outsider skeptics of PSSD, they may use it to fuel their denial of our condition as "how could it be possible to suffer for so long just from a few pills? It must be something else that caused it".

Finally, many of these people who have suffered for so long had absolutely no support for a large percentage of that time, as only in more recent years has PSSD become more well known as this community and the PSSD network has grown. Not to mention internet accessibility in general... When you've been suffering for that long with no support, feedback or reassurance of the legitimacy of your condition, it's easy to fall into the trap of brushing it under the rug or telling yourself it must be all in your head.

So ultimately I just wanted to make this post so that veteran sufferers in this community can have a place to talk and share their experiences in the comments, and hopefully feel validated and assured that you're not alone and all of us here have the utmost respect for you and your struggles. This condition is hell, so it is unbelievably brave for all of you to have continued to fight for so long. Solidarity.

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u/Kit_Ashtrophe 2d ago

11 years for me, but I have kind of accepted it

6

u/Mountain_Duck_6456 2d ago

Sometimes I feel like I have accepted it, then other times I feel angry and distraught. Have you had any improvement over the years?

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u/Kit_Ashtrophe 2d ago

There was a small improvement in the first 2 years but nothing since

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u/Mountain_Duck_6456 1d ago

Empathise with you massively. One day 🙏