People think it's funny

[Sailor_Jerry89]

Something I have encountered over the last week is people making fun of PTSD. During a training course I was instructing, I had one service member make a comment after the slides of the first lesson finished. The comment was "Man that was boring. These presentations are giving me PTSD" followed by laughing. Obviously I didn't feel comfortable addressing this in front of the students, especially since I have PTSD myself and social situations make me uncomfortable already.

The other time was more serious. I was sitting in my vehicle cleaning my sunglasses before driving to work when another service member decided to reach in my open window and grab my arm while I was looking down and focused on the task at hand. This caused me to have a panic attack, to which the other person LAUGHED. Luckily, another NCO was across the street (someone I know, and ranks are close (E5's take care of E5's, etc), so he ran over, 'corrected' the idiot and then sat there with me until I could calm down.

I don't know why people, especially people in the military, think this is funny, but it really isn't. Just wanted to rant for a minute. Has anyone else had similar experiences? Or is this isolated?

 

[DharmaGirl]

Oh, HELL, no, this is not isolated. I was an RN, and in my own ER, I was told, "if you can make it through nursing school, you can shake this off. 174 nurses are getting laid off and you don't see us acting like this". I was in there for SI. While I was inpatient, I kept screaming when someone came in my room, and they would laugh. My ex-husband used to come home, and if I was engrossed in something, 2 to 3 times a week, he would walk up behind me and say HI! I would jump through the ceiling every time and he would laugh every time.

 

[bring em all in]

I'm not in the military and don't know someone who is, but I wonder if those in the military joke about it to hide their own fears and insecurities? Of course even if that is the case it doesn't make it right!

 

[talon]

Something I have encountered over the last week is people making fun of PTSD. During a training...

There are many positives in your life employment being one of them . Today whilst in my local a former patient came up to me at the bar and introduced a rather distinguished looking gentleman to me as Bi-polar. I was then asked to tell this gentleman what i used to do. Knowing how vulnerable this man is at present I tried to convey that maybe his friend would not wish everyone to hear this. He replied but its true and it's ok. Should we therefore spread the word that we have a condition that can impact greatly or keep it private?. We have all made comments or said things we might regret in ignorance. Whenever my sister hears anyone calling a person with MH a nutter she is quick to state she is Bi-polar. This usually creates dialogue which educates.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Something I have encountered over the last week is people making fun of PTSD. During a training...

Bringemallin I had a father who was 20 yr. U.S. Navy military (on ships most of his early life) and he was moored next to U.S.S. Arizona (he was on U.S.S. Vestal) when Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. That said, my Dad never received any psychological medical assistance even though he confided of having night terrors and nightmares up until his death in 2008 (he was 84). He was extremely violent and abusively tortured me throughout his life here on earth.

Everyone else had a problem seemed to be his stance and/or it's like Bringemallin posted - my Dad unsucessfully tried to hide his military (Pearl Harbor pain and torment) fears and now hindsight My Dad was a psychological tormented prolonged complex ptsd ticking time bomb that went off many times while he was alive. One of his old sayings to me: "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." Another of Dad's sayings was "Get this place shipshape!" and "Wipe that look off your face!" And I believe he learned how to shove his precious feelings so far down inside of him that severe drinking problems and extreme rage (abuse) were extremely unhealthy and toxic vents to let it (fear and pain) out. (My Dad hit a Kentucky State Trooper square in trooper's face). Dad had extreme rage issues (undiagnosed and untreated prolonged complex ptsd) of which I received the brunt of his extreme violence and torture.

It's been my personal experience that unless the person I am talking with is/has suffer/suffered or has someone they know who struggles with ptsd, or they are an educated professional (psychological) most people do not have basic knowledge about ptsd/sufferers. I believe with more and more veterans and their families coming forward with their ptsd symptoms that now the V.A. and the D.O.D. are having to listen more closely and act and assist our beloved courageous military veterans.

I use to be very upset about V.A. not showing consideration for the ptsd veteran let alone not concerning about the families of the ptsd veteran who are directly effected in at times very adverse psychological terms; (I was even misdiagnosed for nearly 2 decades with bi-polar instead of corrected in 3/12 diagnoses - and now it is important for me to learn all that I can about p.c. ptsd, not for others, for me. It's not about blame, it's about recovery and taking the masks off of PTSD, so veterans, sexual assault victims; domestic abuse victims; police; fire; Adult Children (PTSD diagnosed) of U.S. military veterans can seek and receive treatment. Hoo-yah! JadesJewel

The military use to refer to ptsd as shell shock, battle fatigue, exhaustion, bad nerves, etc. Military also denied that many of our beloved veterans contracted agent orange issues, etc. I have had triggers, flashbacks, and panic attacks brought on by people who are rude, who cross boundaries and who are sick themselves. This world's full of hurting people and sometimes hurting people hurt people.

 

[DharmaGirl]

Whenever my sister hears anyone calling a person with MH a nutter she is quick to state she is Bi-polar.

I usually tell people I have PTSD, if they make a comment. It does educate. Slowly, but it does.

joke about it to hide their own fears

This is really the reason, I think. Especially when a well respected member of society has a breakdown, my God!, it could happen to anyone. Apologies for the punctuation.

 

[Friday]

For those who know? Laugh or cry.
For those who don't? Who the hell knows why clueless people do anything?
For idiots & assholes? Well. There's your answer right there. :shifty: ;)

 

[Sailor_Jerry89]

Update:

The people during the training were new to the service.

The one who caused a panic attack was in for a year or two, and was just an idiot.

 

[J'qel]

I have a couple of things I have to tell people to avoid. I know at least one person has done the mental eyeroll at what he thinks shouldn't be an issue. ( Calling someone a "Shit"-it was my abuser's go to word and frequently used while beating me ) He's an ass anyways. He's had a happy soft life that's just starting to catch up to him now that he's developed an illness. It's made him less prickish, but he's still got the baseline jerk awards behaviour.

Honestly, When folks start joking about it, I just despise them for it. Probably not a helpful way to look at it, but anyone who thinks that they can joke about stuff that's literally crippling is in the same boat as folks who make fun of people with physical disabilities. I don't have to like them, and if they want me to, then they'll need to up their game. If they don't care-I don't have to deal with them, simple as that.

I am, however, Canadian, and we can be the Kings of the (polite)Cold Shoulder.

 

[Muted]

Update:

The people during the training were new to the service.

The one who caused a panic at...

I think people don't truly understand it and I think it's portrayed and perceived often as a weakness, which I understand the downsides (I deal with them daily), however, having PTSD has given me deeper insight, awareness, understanding, empathy and abilities I didn't have before.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

I have a couple of things I have to tell people to avoid. I know at least one person has done the mental...

Well said @J'qel; not funny! And I don't have much to do (if at all) like you with people especially offenders who think it's ok to make fun of crippling abuse. Well said @J'qel. (hugs).

 

[Deleted member 37085]

I think people don't truly understand it and I think it's portrayed and perceived often as a weakness,...

Me as well @Gia1019; yet I have very low tolerance for those who as @J'qel shared - roll their eyes at me or disconnect after they've asked integral question(s) about my ptsd, etc. I too am learning more and more about ptsd and my symptoms and behaviors, and becoming more in acceptance of who I am with ptsd. (hugs) @Gia1019. Thank You.