Posted on Feb 19, 2014
Is there a stigma within the active military regarding PTSD and treatment of it?
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Due to my time in service, I have been diagnosed with PTSD and have sought assistance in dealing with it. In the civilian world, I have been able to chart my own path for a career and am able to maneuver my schedule when needed to compensate. I have also sought help through hypnotherapy which has been EXTREMELY helpful in getting to root causes instead of just dealing with symptoms through cognitive therapy. I have been out of the military since 1999, and then PTSD wasn't really even acknowledged. How is it viewed in service now? Are there negative ramifications for diagnosis or admission?
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PTSD
PTSD
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 14
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<p>Unfortunately, the news media likes to blow things out of proportion most of the time and for the most part report only on things that have a negative light - and once there's 'blood' in the waters the sharks go crazy (in other words - the competing news agencies). Once they get a 'buzz word' they don't let go of it (so that it sticks into everyone's head) they treat it like a dog with a bone.</p><p>True, some of our brothers and sisters in arms do go through some really terrible experiences and not all of them can cope with the atrocities of conflict. Unfortunately, the services have ben very slow to make good help available to our personnel coming home and no matter what they say - there is still a stigma placed against those that do actually go for help. The ones that don't go for help and try to adjust themselves more times then not wind up doing something that feeds into the news media's propaganda machine - thus in a way making it almost like a self fulfilling prophesy. </p><p>Sometimes I wonder if the employment rejections I get are from individuals that buy into the media's conception of us who have deployed overseas and made it back in one piece. </p>
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SGM (Join to see)
100% correct - the media blows it up and portrays most of us as damaged in some way and a risk to other and most employers will be very cautious.
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SSgt James Guy
It took me 40 years since I came home to go to the VA because at the time, unless you were in full combat you could not possibly have PTSD or any other diseases. Mortars and rockets didn't count. Apparently the VA didn't think the Air Force didn't get effected when their friends were killed during mortar attacks.
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I think that many potential employers use this as an excuse to not hire veterans as they don't want to deal with people thinking or saying things or that they believe the media hype as well.
This goes back to the discussions we have had about veterans and difficulty finding and getting jobs, many of the so called military friendly companies talk a good talk, but when the reality comes forth they just do and say for the government perks, and since mental stigma is a hard discrimination is very difficult to prove, many just use the excuse they are going a different direction to avoid the issue all together.
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I've been out of the military for 5 years. Most of my friends and family would say that I have some degree of PTSD that I am dealing with, but I am just now (within the past week) starting to reach out and get some help dealing. I would hear about these "worst-case" scenarios on the news and I would think, yeah I have some anger issues but I'm not as angry as THAT guy so I guess I don't need help. Yeah, I have some sleepless nights, but not as many as THAT guy so I don't need any help. Yeah, I have a few other issues, but not as many as THAT guy so I'm fine. But the truth of the matter is that it's not a contest. If my experiences in the military are still affecting my day-to-day life then I could use some sort of support. I still don't like calling it PTSD but that might be my own personal hangup. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. I don't know. But I know that the bonds that were formed in my unit are some of the strongest relationships I have, and if I'm having a rough time I've got more than enough ears available to listen.
I'm not really sure if that answers the original question or not. I may or may not have gotten a little sidetracked...
I'm not really sure if that answers the original question or not. I may or may not have gotten a little sidetracked...
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CMDCM Gene Treants
Specialist Meadows, reading between the lines, you may have "enough ears to listen to you." But I think you may have to ask yourself if they are the correct ones.
It really sounds as if you might want to consider addressing some of these issues with a more professional audience and seek counseling. Just a suggestion from someone who has a little first hand knowledge of what you are going through. Good luck.
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