Anyone Else With Ptsd That Is Not From The Military Feel Slighted?

[Utapa]

I know that trauma is trauma and that there is a very wide spectrum of effects of an even wider spectrum of different people. First and foremost I respect all who have PTSD and do not think that one group or the other has it 'better' or 'worse' than another group. I personally have PTSD from domestic violence / spousal abuse, but I don't think that say, a rape victim has less or more trauma than me; I think we're all in this boat together. That being said, I have a rant about society and it's seemingly preferential support for those with PTSD from the military.

1. "Please let us know about firework use on days that aren't July 4th, a Veteran with PTSD lives here!" - I see these signs on lawns and social media. Are Veterans the only ones who are triggered by fireworks - no! I know I am personally very sensitive to loud sounds, but no one puts uo signs for me; I'm just expected to "deal with it."

2. All of these homes springing up for PTSD Vets. Um, hello? I would LOVE to have a place to go where people understand and support me, even if only for an hour. A place where no one tells me I'm overreacting or that I should just get over the past, or that I should just not think about the abuse I have endured and the pain will go away. Why is there not a place like that for all people with PTSD?

3. How can society accept and understand PTSD but only for Soldiers? So what, are the rest of us just big babies? Would we not also appreciate some understanding and consideration?

Does anyone else feel this way?

 

[Vodam]

No. No I don't.

 

[Ibo]

P.S. I am The Albatross, and I had PTSD before I was in the military and I had military sexual trauma and I still don't feel that way. I don't frankly see the benefit in it. But maybe it is assistive in some way to you? If not, nix it.

 

[Upewaz]

I don't resent the Veterans getting help or the spotlight. I applaud it! Anything that brings this disorder to the public awareness is great!
Anyone who gets any help, understanding or advocacy is helping everyone who has any level of PTSD. The lack of understanding is frustrating. It encourages secrecy and shame something none of us needs any more of. It is very difficult for society to acknowledge that there is so much violence going on in homes that from the outside look safe. It's highly possible one of those homes might be their own or someone's very close.
If people can start to accept the emotional and mental impact war has on military, considering war is longer than recorded history (like all abuse) I can only say, "It's about time!"

 

[Ugota]

I don't feel slighted, but I do think it's appalling that given domestic violence and childhood abuse top the list for PTSD causes in nearly every first world country there are NO resources for civilians suffering. Typically we are not only completely on our own, but fighting a public and medical establishment who most commonly think we are merely crazy and overreacting- we couldn't possibly have PTSD because we haven't been to war.

Veterans deserve support for their sacrifice. And what is in place is not sufficient. The problem right now is that there is no support for civilians at all. I have lucked into a little bit of (rather expensive) support. When I went, every single veteran client in the program was being funded by one organization or another that helps vets. Not a single civilian client was given a penny by any organization. There are commonly no free support groups for civilian trauma, only group therapy typically not covered by insurance and at least where I live to find counseling as a civilian by someone who's qualified means 150-200 out of pocket per session if you can even find a trauma therapist who's taking patients.

It's an issue of whether we ALSO want to support the masses, and whether at some point advocacy will cut through the common opinion that this disorder only affects those who have served. Because it really can be a significant obstacle.

 

[Utapa]

I'm definitely glad that Veterans are getting help - it is about time and even more should be done. However I do not feel that the rest of us should be left behind, so to speak. I just don't feel like any one group of those with PTSD should be helped over another group of people with PTSD resulting from a different cause are suffering too.

 

[Walihi]

No. At least it's a recognized diagnosis and not 'hysteria'
If it weren't for the military this would not be the case. Lots of advances have been made as a result of soldiers dealing with this.

 

[Winet]

Even here we have a Combat/PTSD site. Like you share, it is a spectrum but do I feel slighted? Not in the least.

 

[Akot]

If I felt slighted, that means I would feel jealous of veterans with PTSD. I would want what they have. I don't feel that at all.

I do agree with the sentiment of wanting better community supports and understand for those with civilian PTSD. But not so far as to what what vets have.

I have spoken to vets with PTSD and there is serious stigma and dumb assumptions that come with war and war trauma that civilian trauma survivors don't have to deal with.

There are also other factors. I was raped, and it was a civilian trauma event. It was awful but I had freedom to leave the abuser the town, everything, after I survived the rape. My friend who went through military sexual trauma at the hands of her next commanding officer could not leave the environment of her trauma without a very long process to leave the military, not even for a day, or else she would have been jailed for going awol.

I have been through the worst trauma my trauma therapist has been and felt with lots of tomb comments and insensitivity. I do not feel at all slighted when people take steps to help vets with PTSD. I celebrate it. The more there is any awareness of anyone with PTSD, the more it helps all of us.

Frankly, soldiers get a lot of crap that most civilians don't ever get even without having PTSD. A few signs about fireworks does nothing to counterbalance all the other crap they get.

Plus, there is a practical problem with what you want for civilian trauma. Signs for loud sounds relating to fireworks outside of the 4th of July is a very specific practical request. For civilian trauma, what kind of sign would there be? Please no loud sounds at all, for civilian trauma? No one is going to post that sign because it's not practical or doable. And it doesn't fit for everyone with civilian trauma.

I do agree that there is a lot of crap and stigma and dumb beliefs about civilian PTSD, and a huge need for education. But I would be careful of feeling like you want what vets have,

In the US, veterans have to go to the VA for treatment. The VA is more screwed up than any civilian treatment center I have ever seen. I have spoken to many vets who dearly wish they had civilian trauma instead.

Your frustration with people discounting civilian trauma is very justified. It makes sense to feel bad about how society treats all of us. But I caution you against wanting what vets have.

 

[Alobe]

Slighted? Really? Preferential support for military? Yes! Why? Because they deserve it!!! Because of what was mentioned in post #9 about the VA and many others. There are countless other issues that vets have to deal with that civilians don't

1. You want a sign? Make one.

2. Homes springing up for PTSD vets? Are you living under a rock? I won't even go there... you say you want a place to feel supported. Look around you and where you just posted this hissy fit of a post.

3. www.myptsd.com is raising awareness everyday. Just look at the traffic and the new members. Not only survivors but supporters. Even people just curious about what PTSD is.

Just because you don't get recognition as a civilian with PTSD or get catered to for it doesn't mean your overlooked or you don't matter. Civilian or Vet, we're all fighting PTSD 24/7. No one gets special treatment for this Hell.

Excuse me if I seem angry. The thread title alone did that.

 

[Oneder]

But I would be careful of feeling like you want what vets have,

I really don't see that in the OP's post. To slight is by definition: "to treat or speak of them without proper respect or attention." The fact of the matter is in my experience there is almost no attention given to civilian PTSD cases or the huge impact civilian trauma also has on society as a whole. Wanting to also be treated with proper respect does not mean you desire to take respect or standing from others.

Not everything mentioned in the OP is practical. But it's also important to really think about what could be done and how to support EVERYONE suffering from trauma, not just veterans. I have to disagree with

Preferential support for military? Yes! Why? Because they deserve it!!!

Every demographic has their own struggles. The treatment of a disorder, however, shouldn't be about any demographic. There are few to no resources for civilians. While the access to treatment options for military personal is not perfect, by a long shot (don't get me started on the VA) they do have access. If this was any other disorder with significant occurrence in the general population and veterans were the only ones with treatment access would we be arguing they deserve it based on the other difficulties involved with having served?

 

[Imoh]

Part of that is geographical. Where I live there are no vet services for 5 hours in any direction, but in my city alone there are;

- over 200 trauma therapists for CSA, Rape Trauma, Childhood Abuse, DV, etc.
- dozens and dozens of free groups for civilians (including many many special interest groups; DV Support groups, CSA Support groups, Transgender support groups, Child abuse Support Groups, GLBTQ, Teen, Young Adult, Elderly, etc.... Many of which also have free legal, medical, group housing, scholarships, etc.)
- nearly a dozen shelters & ongoing support & care for DV, 2 even accept men & their kids
- several religious sponsored programs (some you have to be a member, the biggest and best funded are open to anyone... That pay for counseling, clothing, housing, disability lawyers, etc.)

I lived in SanFransisco for a time, and that city makes my city's rape/sexual abuse/GLBTQ/etc. trauma resources look anorexic.

Now, I am talking dozens and hundreds, versus the over 10,000 resources available for chemical dependency available in my state alone (& AA/NA is only listed as one in that 10k list!), but CD is an even more prevalent & well known problem, with clear treatment parameters, and has had nearly 100 years to build up awareness. The more familiar we are with something? The more people deal with it? The more resources. But still, dozens and hundreds, versus none for a 5 hour radius.

Its just a matter of geography. I live in a super liberal west coast city with virtually no military presence. So the professionals who specialize in combat trauma? Don't come here. They go to places where they can have enough clients to pay their bills & feed their kids. The non-profits? Ditto. They go to where their target groups are. You don't find a lot of homeless resources in the posh neighborhoods. You find them where homeless people congregate. Same for trauma. My area is big on sexual trauma & victims services, it sounds like yours is big on military.

Have I been pissed the hell off about this? Yep.

Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.

It's harder than living in an area where there are no resources for anyone, IMO. Oh yeah. Tons of resources. For not you. Jealousy. Envy. In the 7 Deadly Sins list for a reason. Can eat you alive if you let it.

It's an old problem, and a very human one. I'm flat out envious/jealous of the resources available to people in my area, though I try not to be, on a fair regular basis. I have a complicated trauma history, I technically qualify for some of these programs, which has left me in tears of rage & frustration, furious & hopeless. Because the issues addressed? Aren't me. I am the thing that goes bump in the night. I am what the people using and running these programs hate and fear. I am everything evil & vile, disgusting & wrong with the world in their eyes. :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao: What's worse than nothing being available? Ha! That'll do it! :p Shrug. Oh well. Just geography.