Ptsd-always The Military?

[Anna]

Why is it, that whenever people think of PTSD they think about the military?

Why always the stereotyping?

Lately I have seen it a lot, especially in the media and all the hype.

It has really been getting my back up lately.

 

[BigBear]

The misunderstanding really eats at me too!

Bear

 

[Anna]

I know, and the stigma as well. It is wrong in so many ways.

It is like people want to believe the stereotype and do no want to understand the truth.

In general, I am sick of stereotypes and materialism in todays society. It makes me sad to be human sometimes.

 

[DMerish]

I think it comes down to two basic things: (1) Trauma to military personnel is "justified" on the premise that one's country has to be protected. There's a high incidence of PTSD in military personnel, and governments want the public to believe that they are addressing the issue. (2) PTSD and other psychological disorders caused from other events are not justified.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Do you think we appear weak because our PTSD isn't from war? Perhaps people can't believe that anything would be as traumatic as war so only war can cause PTSD?

 

[DMerish]

Do you think we appear weak because our PTSD isn't from war? Perhaps people can't believe that anything would be as traumatic as war so only war can cause PTSD?

Gosh, Solara, I those are really good questions that might warrent a separate thread.

Personally, I just think folks aren't very informed about PTSD in general.

I know very little about podiatry (foot problems). But if the government and the media made it a point to talk about gout being related to eating high amounts of oatmeal, more than discussing how gout is often related to drinking, then I'd probably connect gout with oatmeal. Make sense?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

True.

I heard that most PTSD isn't from war. (Can't verify the source; I tried doing a google search, but of course the Internet is subject to the same bias...)

 

[Misul]

I'm not sure why you'd think you were weak. PTSD from childhood abuse, such as in my case, happens when the child is too young to understand and often thinks it's normal. This causes our minds to develop differently. The repetitive nature of the abuse solidifies the trauma over and over again.

Yes, I wish there was more validation for childhood trauma. I'm not downplaying PTSD from war, but there is a stigma that they are suffering more than I am. IMO they are two totally different beasts that affect us in many different (and similar) ways.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

True again.

I just wonder....because I've gotten the response "I was molested and I am fine" response from people. I think they think I am weak because they are unaffected whereas I am pretty much at the bottom of society at the moment. They don't know about the rest of the abuse. Sexual abuse on one front, mental/verbal/emotional abuse on another front, physical abuse on yet another front. All at once. It was like a perfect storm. But I digress.

I think that PTSD from war is accepted as a given. The rest of us are met with skepticism and its almost as if we have to prove ourselves? Ha. If people wanted actual proof, I don't think I'd ever hear from them again!

Then I think well at least I get validation from my doctors, from my therapists. Many service persons can't even get that. I'll take their validation over the validation of society any day. At least it means that I can get treatment and don't have to fight the one organization (VA) that is supposed to treat military sufferers but often doesn't.

I'm not discounting Anna's sentiments. I know it sucks.

 

[Misul]

Whenever people want to hear my story, they can't handle it and change the topic. I don't think people want to believe in PTSD. There are too many that believe in harming children. I've heard so many people defend child abuse, it's sickening.

 

[mamachick]

This is so true. All good points here. In addition to ptsd being related to military, in the media traumatic brain injury is always talked about in regard to sports and military. There are many with TBI that are not athletes or military. I am one of those with the double wammy and some symptoms IMHO, I dont think they can seperate. Both cause personality change, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, etc.

They are studying brain injuries that are injured on a cellular level but testing is limited and not for general public, either is treatment.

 

[mamachick]

Some dont want to hear any "ugliness" and others just cant handle it. If they admitted that this could cause this kind of damage to you, then it could to their daughter or sister, or even themselves. Many people live lives in denial until they no longer can.