Differences Between Combat And Abuse Related Ptsd

[Sideways]

@mary1979 - the more I read posts about this, the more I'm convinced that this is a cultural thing.

Here in Oz, the 'Spirit of the ANZACs' becomes an increasingly important part of our national identity every year. The respect for war heroes in Australia I think is growing, and the price that war vets have paid for our country is something that I think we are increasingly wanting to take responsibility for.

That's me wondering aloud really. I just seem to pick up on that difference between posts from the US and posts from Aussies. Maybe it's just me.

Either way, comparing traumas? Nothing to be gained there as far as I can see. Kind of like comparing different forms of malignant cancer - wouldn't wish any version on anyone, because it's all pretty awful.

 

[Ed Norton]

Exactly Ragdoll Circus nuff said

 

[Friday]

I wouldn't say there is less stigma with combat PTSD, maybe different but not less.

Civilians are afraid & the people who matter think you're weak. Fear and revulsion. It's outstanding. And people wonder why combat vets get all DGAF :sneaky:

 

[Ed Norton]

Friday :devilish: :tup:

 

[RussH]

I am not a combat veteran, so I cannot speak for them.
I have been a volunteer firefighter, and work for nine years as a medic, so I have been in some hairy situations, I have seen some horrible stuff, and almost been killed in an ambulance accident. None of that caused my PTSD.
I have PTSD from bullying- emotional abuse.

I personally think that combat related PTSD is socially acceptable. Again this is just my perception, so please don't anyone be offended, I think a person who suffers combat PTSD as seen as honorable, they are suffering because the served their country, and face life-threatening combat.

On the other hand, I am personally ashamed that I have PTSD from being bullied. I am afraid that the public perception would be that I am weak. So while I have done things and seen things in the line of firefighting/ EMT-Paramedic duty that could have easily caused PTSD; it didn't. Being bullied for a long period of time as a kid did. If someone ask me why I have PTSD, my answer leaves me ashamed.

I am not sure that john q public that doesn't have PTSD can understand how someone can have it when the have not been in combat. And certainly they do not understand bully caused PTSD, because their first thought is just get over it.

 

[scout86]

I personally think that combat related PTSD is socially acceptable.

I think that depends on where you socialize. My friends who are, or were, combat vets have said that it's not well received in the military. That's one of the reasons people are reluctant to seek treatment. I've had a military psychiatrist tell me that the some of the people he knows with PTSD are some of the finest people he knows and they'd be the first he'd chose to have his back, but admitting you have a problem can end your career. Then there's the whole "crazy vet" thing that @Florian7051 mentioned.

Otherwise? My own experiences are kind of all over the board and I don't tell many people. (I just let them think I'm nuts. LOL) I wonder how much of the perceived difference comes from our own rather warped (I'm a bad person!) perceptions?

 

[Ed Norton]

EVERYONE WITH PTSD CARRIES A STIGMA!!!!!

f*ck!!!

 

[RussH]

I think that depends on where you socialize.

I am talking more about civilian acceptance. I know the military does not, and I think part of that is they look at the PTSD sufferer and think there, except by the grace of God, am I.

 

[Sideways]

I'm kinda wondering if there's members here who DON'T feel stigmatised by their ptsd and DON'T feel ashamed by it...

Is anybody out there?? Does anyone like that actually exist!?!

If so, speak up and spill your secret!

 

[Ed Norton]

Shush classified :)

 

[anthony]

You would have to toss me into the, don't give a shit basket, if people know I have PTSD or not. But... I am combat PTSD. Honestly, I think there is stigma everywhere, regardless how you got PTSD. People don't understand what they don't know, simple as that.

A person cannot understand not being able to be around people, if they like being around people, for example. People will think its a choice, and at some level it may be a choice to reduce symptoms, but a negative choice that produces a positive result. People don't understand that when they can't feel it.

To be perfectly honest, PTSD is so prominent nowadays that most people know its associated to sexual abuse, natural disasters, terrorism, and obviously war. I think everyone is still viewed similarly though... whilst some people may praise veterans because they chose to fight for something which a person believes in, you have people who don't think that fight was valid and thus discriminate against the same person.

You will have people who have been raped who don't have PTSD, yet they can empathise with those who do have it from rape. They have experienced it and can now assimilate. You will still have those who think their recovery should be everyone's recovery, get over it and move on, type approach, even though they've experienced it... yet many of those same people are in denial about the impact an event had on them. That isn't resilience, but ignorance typically.

I honestly don't expect a lot to change towards mental health in the near future, because people do not understand what they cannot see or understand.

If you go out with a broken leg in plaster, people can see it, so they can empathise, sympathise, they will help you get up or down something, so forth.

Do the same with mental illness, nobody will come near you, if not they think you're deranged and need to be locked up from the public as a disturbance to their daily life. People often change their tune once it happens to them, but until then, ignorance reigns supreme. I was certainly ignorant until it happened to me.

 

[Ed Norton]

For me the stigma is a real and non finite problem cuz it directly interferes with my love(s)and my life but there's no self pity...

So my T and my treatment team well..I gotta break them up!

Lester


Not off topic; I'm not crazy there's a point. .besides I plagiarized a little in my above post so I'm at the least including references