survivor syndrome

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a characteristic group of symptoms, including recurrent images of death, depression, persistent anxiety, and emotional numbness, occurring in survivors of disaster.

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Etymology

Origin of survivor syndrome

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Her only recommendation for it is to invite a psychologist to “advise the Ukrainian refugees about how to fight the survivor syndrome and how to fight depression.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 1, 2022

In the tradition of the movement, people in line accorded it an irreverent name – Aids survivor syndrome, or Ass – and took it very seriously.

From The Guardian • Nov. 29, 2016

West characterized Patty's reaction as the "survivor syndrome," saying that she felt her only hope of living "lay in winning acceptance by or becoming part of the S.L.A."

From Time Magazine Archive