The Elephant and 10 blind men

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.

A HINDOO FABLE

It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl: "God bless me!—
but the Elephant Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: "Ho!—what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 't is mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"'T is clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he,
"the Elephant Is very like a rope!"

 And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

MORAL. So, oft in theologic wars The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!


https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_poems_of_John_Godfrey_Saxe/The_Blind_Men_and_the_Elephant
This story is applied to religion but would work equally well with PTSD.

I am reading several different books and websites on PTSD/CPTSD.  My own experience with PTSD started when I was 5, diagnosed when I was 45 and still struggle with it at 60.  I listen and read and pay attention and each person know their experience with PTSD.  So called "Experts" are blind to much of what is happening with PTSD since they rely almost exclusively on what people report about their experience.  Sorting through all the stuff and information takes effort and patience both of which I am lacking some days.

I say to every person that has PTSD or CPTSD or whatever set of letters you are living with, your perspective is yours.  Someone else's perspective is theirs and may add information to yours but their information is still run through your own personal view. Your journey will take many twists and turns and be influenced by those you decide to interact with in your life.  Good luck with sorting things out.  It is a work in progress and I am also still trudging along on this journey.