Differences Between Combat And Abuse Related Ptsd

[BlueAquarius]

For myself I do think differently about combat related PTSD and abuse related PTSD. A few years back my therapist at a naval hospital wanted me to join a PTSD group. I was a military dependent at the time. I chickened out because I felt like there wouldn't be anyone to relate to and felt shame that I might be be the only abuse PTSD person there. Currently I am neutral about the differences and I think no matter what caused the PTSD, it still hurts the same.

 

[Deleted member 43454]

I see PTSD becoming a whole lot more understood by the public as NOT just military or combat related.
I've had a few people mention to me like, "Well you know you don't have to be in combat to get ptsd right?" To which I respond, "DUH."

Since I joined this forum when it was the combat sister site and what not I always said It wasn't a competition.
To me a sexual trauma sounds way worse than combat related. But I have only experienced combat related PTSD.

And to say that combat related ptsd veterans aren't stigmatized is down right non-sense. (idk who typed it)
But I get looked at like a monster or somebody who's a murderer all the time. Or in general a bad guy.
Thanks to all these bitch ass mass shootings from pogs.

 

[Mach123]

I thought I was different and then one day it came home to me that I wasn't. I know now my ptsd and the combat vets ptsd are both just that. I like how in my mind now sometimes I know things directly and I don't question it anymore, after that the issue is settled for me. That being said thank you so much to all the military here and everywhere. One of my sons is serving currently in the Army. He is in S Korea and one of my daughters is married to Navy vet with ptsd. I wear my 'proud parent of a soldier' tshirt. Proudly.

 

[anthony]

The simple answer to anyone discussing such a thing is, there is just PTSD — trauma type is vastly a bigger discussion.

 

[Blue Survivor]

I have PTSD from domestic violence. According to my ex-fiance: PTSD isn't real - not for soldiers, not for me, not for anyone. It is something that "people make up for attention," according to him. Which is why he is my EX fiance!

Trauma is trauma - try to keep that in mind.

And in my personal experience: yes, people tend to think that anyone with PTSD must have been a soldier.

In my area there are a ton of places for soldiers to get help but none for DV victims. While it's nice to see soldiers with so many options to get help, I do admit that I feel somewhat slighted because I apparently have the 'wrong' kind of PTSD and that somehow means that I'm not 'deserving' or 'in need of' any help.

 

[Sleipnir]

Unfortunately due to the nature of the DSM 5, PTSD is only defined in one way. In Europe however they use the WHO's ICD, which increases the range of PTSD.

According to their classification, they have PTSD which is mostly reserved for people who have experienced short periods of trauma, whether that involves an accident, sexual assault, combat, etc. The other classification they have is Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD). This form is usually diagnosed for those that have endured prolonged periods of trauma, such as POW's, Holocaust survivors, sex slaves, and some childhood sexual abuse survivors. From my reading, I recall that Veteran Affairs in the US was pushing to have this included in the DSM VI (along with Disorder being removed from the name).

Another factor I learnt during my own therapy is that there is a difference between the affects upon an adult compared to a child. An adult's brain has developed to a level where it has the capacity to make sense of the trauma. In children however, since the brain is still developing, and not having the "experience" to cope with the events, brain development is affected, and tends to impact emotional development. This can be seen when a person who suffered trauma during their childhood can regress to that maturity of that age when placed under stressful situations, leading to outbursts, withdrawal, etc.

As to there being a difference to how people suffer from PTSD, I can not say. I would see the difference being more related to how easy it is for people to cope and recover from the condition. Being in Australia, we follow the DSM 5, and based off that I have been diagnosed with severe PTSD, which I have been living with since I was around 13 years old.

I think the biggest concern is how the public perceives it. As the original poster pointed out, if you mention PTSD, people automatically presume it is combat related. They do not relate PTSD to other forms of trauma people can experience day to day, from people surviving accidents, assault victims, emergency services, etc. They also see PTSD as being potentially violent behaviour.

In conclusion, I would say the main difference between Combat- and Abuse-related PTSD is public perception.

 

[anthony]

Unfortunately due to the nature of the DSM 5, PTSD is only defined in one way. In Europe however they use the WHO's ICD, which increases the range of PTSD.

Correct, and incorrect. WHO is used globally, even in USA, Australia, etc. DSM is an American manual, yes. It is used in USA, Australia, etc. Many countries use both manuals, and both manuals cross reference one another. In some instances, one manual is used, and others, the other. Why? Because both bring certain things to the table much better than the other.

Talking PTSD, CPTSD. The ICD 11 is now just released, officially. CPTSD has only just, as such with its release, become an official diagnosis. That diagnosis can now be utilised globally, even in America, as there is now a diagnostic code. It is only whether an insurance company, if used and applicable to a treatment for a person, is involved as to which manual may be accepted exclusively. Most insurance companies have both standards for this reason, as between the two texts, some things are covered in one and not in the other.

The ICD 11 PTSD diagnosis now makes PTSD diagnosis harder, not easier or wider scope, than the DSM 5. You think the other... you are incorrect based on all the expert data and comments made available by the groups responsible for the diagnostic outcomes. As PTSD has become trendier in society, the experts are making it tighter to restrict it from criterion creep via interpretation from treating physicians.

ICD 11 PTSD: ICD-11 - Mortality and Morbidity Statistics
ICD 11 CPTSD: ICD-11 - Mortality and Morbidity Statistics

You can only be diagnosed with one, not both. With each release we will also see more specific and relevant classification of traumatic events that are causing said conflicts with PTSD diagnosis, such as: prolonged grief disorder (death). The APA (DSM group) are looking at similar things with future versions too, trying to stop creep into PTSD with emotional trauma that is considered "normal" as part of life events, which is an exclusion for PTSD, yet physicians are stepping around and discarding in labelling patients incorrectly. Back to trendy!

It is not simple. It is ever-changing. Mental health diagnosis is super subjective. Mental health diagnosis really is best guess for the diagnosing physician based on experience, knowledge and personal experiences and bias.

 

[Friday]

The APA (DSM group) are looking at similar things with future versions too, trying to stop creep into PTSD with emotional trauma that is considered "normal" as part of life events, which is an exclusion for PTSD, yet physicians are stepping around and discarding in labelling patients incorrectly. Back to trendy!

Hallef*ckinglujah

Trying to change public perception of PTSD as a pain scale (if it hurts this much it’s PTSD, and if it’s not PTSD then it clearly doesn’t hurt that much :banghead: ) will probably take a new trendy disorder for people to flock to. It needs a sexy name, with an acronym that’s easy to say, and hints at mystery and danger. Something with a oo7 in it probably couldn’t hurt. Or the word Tragic. We should get the people who name drugs for big Pharma involved in this process, instead of leaving it up to scientific minds, & good sense. Yo! Snake charmers! We want these people? Here. Those people? There. Caaaaaall to them.