A gentle reminder for systems with severe trauma:
It’s okay to exist in spaces meant for systems, even if other systems’ trauma is not the same as yours.
It’s okay if you know your trauma was severe but dissociative barriers prevent you from knowing details or being able to name exactly what happened.
It’s okay if you struggle to relate to other systems who do not have the same trauma as you.
It’s completely valid to choose to share your trauma in safe spaces, as long as you follow the rules laid out to keep that space safe (i.e. TWs/spoilers)
It’s completely valid to choose not to share your story online or even acknowledge online that your experience constitutes as “severe.”
Posts showing support for systems “without severe trauma” or whose trauma “wasn’t ‘that bad’” do not invalidate your trauma. You are valid.
It’s okay if you’re not as high-functioning as other systems seem to be. (And remember — the internet version of someone doesn’t usually show an accurate picture of someone’s struggles)
It’s okay if you’re really high-functioning when the world seems to think you shouldn’t be. Your trauma, your system, and your experiences are valid.
Having a very large or polyfragmented system is valid. Having a smaller system is valid. Not knowing the size of your system is valid.
Struggling with severe symptoms is really hard and even when you’re dealing with that, I see you, I hear you, I believe you.
It’s okay if you do not have the bandwidth to support other systems or hear their trauma history, even if their experiences are different.
It is not your job to educate people on severe trauma unless you choose to make it your job. Do not let anyone else assign that task to you.
It’s okay to feel left out, forgotten, or invalidated seeing posts circulating that leave you out specifically. Your feelings matter. Others have their posts. This is yours.
I believe you. I wish you healing. You deserve help. You can get through this.
Please drink some water, put on your favorite shirt, look for shapes in clouds, or do something else that makes you feel present and safe. You deserve to feel present and safe.
