Ptsd-always The Military?

[usmchicpl5811]

I would start with numbers and time. Combat seems to really pump em out at a fast rate during a specified period.

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[Abstract]

I don't believe it is about numbers at all. The statistics I have seen say there is twice as much PTSD in women than in men. Although I haven't seen the statistics differentiating between combat and other traumas I would imagine a lot of trauma in women relates to abuse and a good percentage of men relates to abuse and assault as well as combat. I think I have heard woman make up less than 15 percent of those working for the armed forces. Wild guessing and very unscientific but it therefore seems unlikely that combat would in any way produce more PTSD. I believe sexual and physical assault produces high rates.
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[rainy_daze]

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

Even then, there are those who know a little about PTSD, and I had the awfulness of a friend saying to me "Oh, so you were abused as a child then?" when I was trying to explain why I had PTSD. I was pretty speechless. "Yes, but you must have been abused as a child, because that's why people get it", was another response from this friend. Really, I should have told this person to go to hell.

I think there is such a disgusting array of reasons as to why people develop PTSD. I'm sure that will make sense to a lot of people on here. It isn't just being in the military. It isn't just suffering abuse as a child. It can be a number of things. People can experience similar things to you, and not develop PTSD. It's so much more complicated than the way it is presented by the media and TV shows, in my opinion, and people are ignorant because they think they know the causes, but they don't.

Maybe it's just that the media don't really care? Reporting on the army is easier than reporting on the aftermath of childhood trauma? I don't know.

The only good thing that can come from more media coverage of PTSD is a greater understanding. I know what you're saying Anna. Let's just hope in time there will be less stigma and real help for army personnel, and in time a greater understanding and more help for the rest of us at the same time.

 

[rainy_daze]

I don't believe it is about numbers at all. The statistics I have seen say there is twice as much PTSD in women than in men.

Maybe it's about suicide rates in the army? I do agree with you though Abstract, but I also see USMs point, if it's about statistics in the sense I thought. Also, there's the whole "shell shock" from wars throughout history, maybe that's why the media latch onto PTSD and the military. It's been happening for so long in that career.

 

[Abstract]

I have to admit I really don't know that much about the statistics when it comes to combat PTSD Rainy Daze.

It's been happening for so long in that career.

I would imagine though that there was plenty of abuse, accidents, maybe more trauma from natural disasters and deaths, rapes, assault etc back in the past too.

 

[rainy_daze]

I see why it's annoying to be stereotyped. It means if you ever discuss PTSD with someone, they don't really believe you. I suppose I was trying to find reasons why the media tend to focus on one thing, rather than the disorder as a whole. In the UK mental health issues are often ignored, in my opinion, unless the campaigns are coming from charities.

It'd be good if we had a historian on here, to point out things that might have been people suffering from PTSD. You're correct though Abstract, that was the disgusting array of reasons I was referring too. It's awful.

 

[usmchicpl5811]

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

Media?? Wartime?? Combat??

Why always the stereotyping?

Who is stereotyping? Do you mean not mentioning PTSD of other sorts? Its like PTSD making popcorn that keeps popping for years. Still popping.

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

A large group of people suffering from affects of war at one time. PTSD. Anytime a large group of people are being treated for the same injuries from the same cause in the system at a certain time are going to be referred to more often. Not citing specifics but rape and such falls into that also.

Females in the military whether serving in combat or not are common victims of sexual assault or harassment. Probably over 3/4 of all veterans come from backgrounds with childhood trauma before stepping foot into basic training. A good majority are trying to leave bad family and abuse behind to start fresh. People tend to criticize or overlook one persons trauma for another as if all people are ill affected by things equally. I think covering childhood trauma for all would be overwhelming to report since it only grows in numbers constantly under all circumstances.

News is also factual and primarily based on current events. This isn't about taking the lime light away from anyone elses suffering or discrediting civilian victims. Anyway, I wasn't being that literal in my first post was just stating basic observations, literally. USMC MP

 

[usmchicpl5811]

I don't believe it is about numbers at all. I think I have heard woman make up less than 15 percent of those working for the armed forces. I believe sexual and physical assault produces high rates.

Numbers and time cohesively. I would have been more descriptive to mean anything else. Fast, speed, bodies, now, at once. Large percentage....etc.

 

[rainy_daze]

I agree USMC MP (sorry if I didn't write out your name properly) that the news is based on current events, these events being what the media classes as current, and currently in the UK child abuse is being reported on, a lot. PTSD, however, isn't, unless it is related to combat PTSD. (I disagree about them reporting facts correctly, but that is another debate entirely)

As I said already, the media have latched onto that, but it's one cause. I don't think I feel discredited as such as a person who suffers from this in everyday life, maybe I feel a little ignored by my own government who do not have a minimum time set on waiting lists for treatments regarding PTSD, you sit on a list for years and no one cares. It's not like that for physical health problems - the NHS (National Health Service, paid for through taxes) tries to meet targets for that.

I would like there to be a little more awareness of sufferers in general, as this would lead to better care in my country for people who cannot afford treatment. That's my point of view, based on the culture that I live in and the media reports that I see. I was trying to answer why it is that people associate PTSD with the military and I liked what DMerish said:

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?

With one question, it raises many questions and many points of view, that's why we're in the discussion page.

I don't doubt that some people join the army to escape abusive backgrounds USMC. I don't doubt that combat PTSD sufferers need help. I would just prefer it if awareness was raised for everyone suffering. Any media coverage regarding PTSD can only lead to greater understanding though. Hopefully.

 

[DMerish]

I was just reading through the treads, and think my choice of words may have unintentionally produced the wrong impression and maybe even offended :eek: which was very far from what I was trying to communicate.

I think it comes down to two . . . (2) PTSD and other psychological disorders caused from other events are not justified.

In writing this ^ I didn't mean to imply that I think PTSD and other psych disorders aren't caused by other events. What I meant was that because military activities are so strongly justified and receive a lot of media coverage, that the the other events that cause PTSD and the people affected by it aren't noticed as much.

I think there is such a disgusting array of reasons as to why people develop PTSD.

I agree with ^ this entirely, and I agree there isn't enough being done to addrss the causes and provide affordable treatment for PTSD or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) either! It's sickening and sad, very sad.

If what I originally posted made anyone think that I think child abuse or any other type of trauma isn't a "justifable" trauma that can produce PTSD, I am truely very sorry for not writing more clearly.

Drew :oops:

 

[maddog]

At the risk of seeming a little simplistic, I think that the primary reason that PTSD is still widely associated with military personnel/combat is down to tradition and history. PTSD was first named and applied to identify and diagnose the post-traumatic symptoms of veterans returning from war. It's how the term first came into existence. Obviously, as time passed and the understanding of mental health improved (at least a little!), the term and the corresponding disorder were expanded to include other forms of trauma and their effects.

But just as HIV was first considered to be a disease suffered only by homosexuals, and obesity was only ever the result of overeating, society latched onto a cause-effect relationship between war and PTSD that has been slow to change in some quarters and still persists in many, as do all stereotypes and simplistic cause-effect relationships.

Not defending this view of course, but I do believe that's the primary reason for the ongoing association.

Maddog

 

[Raj]

When I was diagnosed again recently by a counselor and a Psychiatrist with Major Depression and "PTSD", it confirmed weakness in my mind! This is what my abuser keep saying as well as some veterans I know. You have not been and are not physically capable of serving so you must be weak in the head if you "think" you have PTSD.

What many of us civilians and veterans as well is equally traumatic in my "not Weak Mind".