Stereotype Of Ptsd In Society

[Anna]

It kind of annoys me the stereotypes people have of PTSD in society. Sure it is due to lack of education or knowledge on the subject.

I noticed a lot of people seem to think it is something only the military or soldiers get after battle. They seem to also have very negative nasty views on it.

I stay out of these discussions if people bring it up, also it is a reason I would never ever divulge to anyone my illness except on this forum and to my partner. I feel sometimes sad that society has such strange and negative views about mental illness.

Has anyone else experienced this or seen it?

 

[Spiderallis]

The US military is making an effort to educate the general public, but that just furthers the assumption that only service people can get PTSD. It's making progress, long ago it was called 'shell shock'.

 

[Barberian]

When I tell people I have PTSD and retired from the military they usually assume I was a Soldier or Marine. It even happened last night when I took my dog to the vet for an emergency. The animal control officer's husband was a soldier (PTSD free, but lost part of a leg during an aircraft movement on the flightline). PTSD is not common for people who served on an aircraft carrier as I did. My PTSD comes as much from having my life threatened by my own troops as much as anything else.

As for the rest of the stereotypes, yes it can be annoying. People see a poorly written stereotype played on tv by lazy/bad actors and they think that is the way ALL people with PTSD act. I do have to admit that yes, sometimes I may act like what is portrayed on tv, but that is the exception, not the rule. I wasn't in direct combat on the sands and in the streets so I don't dive for cover, but I do jump out of my skin, and at times lose control and go into a rage.

 

[Shellbell]

There is a lot of stereo-typing of all mental illnesses. PTSD included.

With PTSD, some people believe it can only be combat related. Many don't understand it is caused by the big 'T' trauma's that are existence threatening. There is a lack of education about this. There are mental health professionals getting diagnosis wrong and not using correct diagnostic criterion.

Unfortunately, there is a also alot of self diagnosing and then there's the people saying they have it to falsely claim benefits etc.

The new even more specific diagnosis criteria in the DSM V will rectify this, but not the stigma that goes with it.

Mental health is often misunderstood.

 

[Orglethorp]

I've also noticed that the general public associates PTSD with military service. I don't mind it so much in terms of what sort of assumptions people make about me. I considered joining the air force, and I still think it's an honourable thing to do, so I would have no problem with being mistaken for a veteran other than to feel guilty about being shown respect for something I didn't do.

The association between PTSD and military service does annoy me in one particular situation, though, and that's researching stuff on my own. I hate finding a good article only to get half way through it and realize that none of the examples apply to me, making it less useful.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

You bet there is so much ignorance out there. A church closer to a cult in the dark ages had people tell me that I was demon possesed and I worshipped satan. I am glad I do not live around there anymore. I am doing so much better than I used to. But the ignorance of these toxic people sure did a number on me and my family. I am glad I am far away from them now. Now I just keep my mouth shut. No point in exposing myself to anymore looki loos or ignorant people.

I can do fine good now. It has ben quite the journey.

 

[matthios]

I'm going to kick the beehive here: what shocks me is the stereotypes and misconceptions people WITH ptsd have about those with ptsd. I don't know that many people with it in my non-web life (two) but both of them have some very, very bizarre ideas of what it is (and what it isn't). Both of them had diagnoses more than a decade ago, so part of it may simply be their doctors' fault.

Of course, look how much attitudes/understanding/awareness of cancer has come in the last thirty years--maybe the same'll happen for ptsd.

 

[Orglethorp]

Matthios, what sort of ideas about PTSD do they have that you're referring to?

 

[matthios]

A lot of the "what it isn't" category comes to mind... mostly about changing social abilities/tolerances. A lot of people seem to think flashbacks, dissociations, and "flipouts" only get triggered by physical threats to physical safety, not emotional/psychological threats to well-being. While our traumas may have been physical in nature, that doesn't dictate the only times we are triggered are physical.

Similarly, the degree to which sleeplessness not only is impacted, but can impact daily functioning/state of mind is, in my opinion, greatly understated/misunderstood. For a lot of people, they can't comprehend what three hours of sleep FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK (not per night) does to your brain... let alone what it's like when you've had four weeks in a row of it. Hypervigilance plus intrusive thoughts plus nightmares equals onedgemuchwhyyesiamthankyounotatallmmhmm. (intentional for effect)

 

[InHell11]

I think people think its something one only gets if they've fought in the military because it was first known as a condition people in the military could get from being traumatized. In or after WW1 it was known as shell shock and its been more recently that they've realized trauma in general, not just military trauma can cause PTSD. But of course sometimes the overall society is a little slow to catch up on relevant information it seems so that stereotype still exists.

I have had people try to argue I can't have PTSD because my traumatic event...or actually events, now I realize its more than just the one wasn't 'traumatic' enough or because I haven't been in the military. The only reason it is probably more common in the military is rather obvious to me, but clearly there are other things that can be traumatic as well.

 

[AngelaMarie]

I have had that happen a lot. People thinking that only people that went to war can have PTSD. It will take a while, but eventually as people are educated about it more I think there will be a better understanding.

 

[Shellbell]

Yes I agree, PTSD is common within the military as they are exposed to repeated traumatic events.

As to whether other trauma is severe enough, most people who suffer trauma don't get PTSD. Not everyone who suffers severe trauma will get PTSD.

But the trauma does have to fit the diagnostic criteria to be a trauma that is severe enough to cause the victim to believe their (or witnessing someone else's) existence is threatened.

The brain needs to switch into that survival mode to cause PTSD. There are many trauma's that can cause this e.g. car crash, rape, child sexual abuse, severe physical assault, witnessing a sudden death.