Do labels help or hurt those suffering from PTSD?

It's funny that you should mention that topic I just had a conversation with one of my coworkers who is married to a veteran that suffers from one form of PTSD Where that he's hyper vigilant but he has a friend that suffers from PTSD that is suicidal. I have PTSD in the form of I don't handle death well so I think having a massive label Hurts everyone because they tend to slap us with the same ideology I function very well in society and this veteran does as well because he's a police officer. So I think sloppiness all into one label is bad but if we take the time to educate people about what PTSD is that it is not one all encompassing thing that it is just an umbrella for many different aspects of that not everybody has the same aspect of it by that same token I have also discovered that certain members Will use the term and the idea that oh I have PTSD to excuse their bad behavior

Labels are destructive. At one point, many many years ago, I was going through a rough time - I was given an "open" (!!!) prescription for Valium. Every time I dared to disagree with my SO, or be unhappy about ANYthing whatsoever - he said "go take one of your happy pills!!!". I wasn't allowed to just be "human" - everything was blamed on the label.

Both. It's people who use them for good or bad. Many times we interpret labels and opinions without the thought of how they affect others. Acceptance of a person and approval of their actions and choices are two different things.
I have received negative labels from being a Veteran and having PTSD. More people accept the negative ideas of who and what we are than others who are more receptive to the military. Although they are a part of me, they don't define and limit my life. I'm not going to summarize my military experience to anyone. It's idiotic and immature to 'ASSume' things about someone without facts or data to back it up.
Those of us who have experienced certain things can empathize and help those who have more recently experienced PTSD or are needing help.

I think that it's a little of both. It depends on how you feel about your self and how the people around you feel about you.

Labels are a necessity in certain cases such as the Medical Field but I don't agree with the practice of labeling anyone because of a condition they may or may not have. Treat All with the due respect they deserve and as Human Beings with needs. Some of these labels didn't even exist when I first joined the Navy in 1969 and some of the medical issues Veterans face today did not have a recognized name for their conditions in Wars Precious to Vietnam Either! These labels have evolved to help our Veterans, not to rob them of their self esteem or worth. Just my humble opinion Sir!! Doc Bradshaw

First hand experience, In just going to lay it out there for you so you have a better understanding where I come from. Being the 'molested girl' was a very difficult time growing up. Everyone knew about it, but I was silenced by everyone else's anger over it. I had unknown complex PTSD, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder and as an adult diagnosed with Anxiety and Panic Disorders. No one understood me.I really felt alone. I didn't know my diagnoses as a child, but underwent a ton of therapy. I had been molested and raped multiple times by my biological father during weekend visitation from the age of 4-11. I also endured physical and emotional abuse by my step father during that time frame and longer, which I never came out with, I thought it would only make the situation worse. At age 16, I was going through normal teenage things, wanting to hang out with my friends, I liked boys, I was in sports, and did mostly well in school. I was very shy though, I was always afraid of what everyone else thought of me. At 16, I was no longer coping well with life as it was, and downed a whole bottle of extra strength Tylenol. I really wanted to die. I didn't want to feel the pain I had felt so much and the lack of understanding anymore. Around an hour later, I called the local PD and told them what I had done. My plan was to fall asleep and die and it wasn't working out the way I had thought. All I could smell was Tylenol and I had very sharp pains in my head. By Gods grace, I had called at the right time. The Doc said an hour later and I would not have made it. My body absorbed all the Tylenol and my liver prolonged 3 seconds. They were able to reverse it and I made a full recovery quickly. I got into abusive relationships and endured more abuse later. Everything held me back, everything affected me, so yes it all defined me for a long time. My best friend died by suicide during my first pregnancy. I've been through alot, but what didn't kill me, did make me stronger. I decided to stop letting everything kick my ass and therapy helped me regain coping skills, people around me that were positive encouraged me to grow, while my family continued with their controlling ways. I had enough. I thought I was through it all until my family members pulled on my last nerve. I didn't realize getting out of Iowa would be the best thing for me and my family, but it was. You see, I had worked through everything, I was coping, doing much better, but the control aspect kept hanging me up. I feel so much better here. My PTSD triggers are far fewer than before and I actually feel like Im living now. I am happy here, and so are the kids.

Mike, I really don't care what others think about it. I don't wear it on my sleeve, but when asked why I can't do some things, go to certain places, or start to spin up whenever people start getting a bit wild, well, fuck em. I don't need to make apologies or excuses.

Labels are subjective to how a Groupon individual sees a person, thing or group. I don't know in marketing it helps but personally I try not put much stock in what others think.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Yes. PTSD, which is not just a military issue... (It effects 1st responders, accident and assault victims, and many others).... seems to still be looked at as an bad thing, a weakness... This a especially true with regards to veterans with PTSD. Or, even worse, someone with PTSD from military service is considered unstable, based on the diagnosis of PTSD.... Where I work, you can't be certified by U.S. Army Cadet Command if you have a documented diagnosis of PTSD, or state you do... (HIPAA). That is sad, and not right, as they unilaterally disqualify many great instructors for a condition that the military had a hand in... and based solely on the label... PTSD = No-Go... SGM Erik Marquez