I'm very aware that many societal narratives don't accurately describe my experience.
Damn right they don't.
The constant guilt and self-blame I feel are probably linked to this phenomenon somehow, although I can't point to any specific way in which I'm a victim. I haven't been subjected to physical violence since my early 20s, and I am truly over that. So what am I supposed to have become a "survivor" of? -- what am I supposed to be fine about now? Having cancer and the physical and emotional changes brought about by the surgery? I definitely haven't "healed" emotionally from that. But my guilt and self-blame go back farther than that. Having a chronic illness? becoming disabled? I don't know. In the end, it seems like no one really completes this transformation. Life changes us. Society doesn't want to make room for that.
I must read the entire article. Thanks for posting this.
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Damn right they don't.
The constant guilt and self-blame I feel are probably linked to this phenomenon somehow, although I can't point to any specific way in which I'm a victim. I haven't been subjected to physical violence since my early 20s, and I am truly over that. So what am I supposed to have become a "survivor" of? -- what am I supposed to be fine about now? Having cancer and the physical and emotional changes brought about by the surgery? I definitely haven't "healed" emotionally from that. But my guilt and self-blame go back farther than that. Having a chronic illness? becoming disabled? I don't know. In the end, it seems like no one really completes this transformation. Life changes us. Society doesn't want to make room for that.
I must read the entire article. Thanks for posting this.