I am questioning strength

I do not feel strong, especially at times when people are prone to mentioning it. Is that [i]why[/i] it’s mentioned? If so, it never seems like a reminder of strength. It feels like a barrier has been put up.
When I am crying over a nightmare, flashback, or trigger, where is strength in that? Is it strength that I’m still alive? Am I being congratulated for doing something I don’t want? And what of the people who went through the same things and aren’t alive? I definitely don’t feel stronger than them.
Resignation, numbness, and acceptance feel like they play more a part than strength. Are those the strength being mentioned? If so, I don’t feel like I can take credit, other than working on acceptance in therapy. If I hadn’t done that, would I not be strong?
Strength seems like I had some some other option. What could I have done differently to have that praise of strength taken away?

Pfuzylogic · M

Emotional and “mental” injuries can be concealed and go totally undetected until exposed by criminal behavior.
As a high school teacher I was able to use my teen experiences as a tool for empathy, not judgement.
You are fortunate to have a therapist that you consider effective, not all are.
I look at bullying to be someone’s personal failure and indicative of someone that has lost the ability to care about others.