Can Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD") develop in non-combat situations? Can fighting against actions of fraud, waste and abuse?

I don't really buy the office work as a PTSD situation. As for can it happen in non combat situation? You bet! Training accidents can be very violent. Watch in the late 80's as 3 troops were cut to pieces on Fort Carson by a Bangalore. That messed with the heads of many of our guys on the range that day. Also seen a guy get his head smash at NTC on board a APC. Our Medic went into depression over that. In Germany seen a man get shot at Red Leg in Heilbronn. Killed him instantly. I could go on but you get the message quick. These are not normal situations. Seen some of the hardest guys I ever met crack when they lost a buddy. Seen an entire company break down and cry on a roll call when we lost our guys at Thundar Ally. Units are close. I'd say closer then most family's!

According to the DSM-5, yes. I'm not sure it requires an internet forum poll to validate. But, simply claiming PTSD because of stress isn't enough. The criteria is pretty well defined

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/dsm5_criteria_ptsd.asp

PTSD can absolutely develop in peacetime. It’s mistakenly associated with combat only. Whereas it has many forms. Some even include dormant traits caused by childhood issues. Or even just work stressors that can break an individual down. One event traumatic enough to cause shock to an individual can cause a reaction powerful enough to cause changes in an individuals life. Those changes are classified as PTSD

I know soldiers that were diagnosed with PTSD while serving state side without a doubt. Stress is stress.

Not sure how to reply to that. I have been out for 15 years, but 5 years ago a building fell on me in Omaha. (It was a bad day) I do not know about PTSD but I do not want to go in a large concrete structure anymore, Any one who wants to see the pictures look for INI omaha, jan 2014

I think it's a slippery slope when it comes to diagnosis and not being a Psychologist because everybody has an opinion and tends to compare to others. When I was talking to a Psychologist hired by the V.A. to talk about my PTSD to figure out a disability rating he told me for the purpose of figuring out the disability rating to think about the traumatic events that I felt like I could have been killed during the event. He didn't discredit the other things that are traumatic that happen like a really bad car accident that I had a mild concussion from. So ever since then when people talk about PTSD diagnosis my first thought is did that person think that they could have been killed during the event. So if there were threats made against that individuals life and they felt like those making those threats against that individuals life could fulfill those threats and made different advances to prove that they are serious and that individual was/is always looking over their shoulder waiting for somebody to kill them then I would say there is something there but since I'm not a Psychologist I don't feel like I would be a good judge to say PTSD or something else. I'm sure there is a diagnosis out there and PTSD seems to be the most popular these days and sadly seems like a lot of people like to self diagnose as well.

I am so glad and tickled that my question concerning PTSD on RP has invited a very healthy discussion between my compadres. Some disagree that PTSD can develop outside of combat situations, while a vast majority of us experienced, first hand, PTSD outside combat conditions. A few found cures for their ailment, while others are still discovering a befitting cure. Many are not terminal cases, while a sizable portion are acute.

My complaint, while on active duty, was not investigated. I question the IG today and the IG claims that all concerns in my complaint were addressed, but there are no reports of investigation on-file with the IG, even under the FOIA and Privacy Act. How should I tackle this IG without inviting reprisal? I welcome your votes, comments and above all, your advice.

Thanks my Brothers, Sisters, and friends.

Absolutely.

Great contributions to this excellent discussion on PTSD. Some understand that PTSD can be chronic and others thread a tale of deception, non-permanent conditions, and curable wounds. In all, the best are confused it seems. Thanks.

As far as leadership problems, I have experienced them and they are frustrating, In peace time, Police, Sheriffs and Fire Fighters can have the same problems. The only thing I don't support is the use of the term for many aspects that occur in life.