CW2 Jonathan Kantor 96660 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have PTSD.&amp;nbsp; I don&#39;t hide it.&amp;nbsp; I have terrible insomnia, which requires I make my stomach a pharmacy at night and I have hyper-anxiety as well as other issues related to PTSD.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Here&#39;s what I want to get at: &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Is PTSD a stigma in your organization?&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Do Combat Units have more aggressive stigmas about this?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Are Soldiers scared to talk to counselors about their issues because they fear losing their security clearance?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;How do you handle PTSD with your troops?&amp;nbsp; With yourself?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Do you discuss your affliction with your Troops?&amp;nbsp; If so, why?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The reason I want to discuss this is because it is a growing problem.&amp;nbsp; I didn&#39;t get help at first because I was worried I would lose my security clearance.&amp;nbsp; Fortunately, I had some leaders who recognized the problem and was supported along the way.&amp;nbsp; Based upon my experience, I am not quiet about my diagnosis.&amp;nbsp; I use it to show my Soldiers that even their OIC has PTSD and got help.&amp;nbsp; I do this so I can encourage my Soldiers to get the help they need without fear of losing their clearances.&amp;nbsp; I find that the culture of the Army has always been about driving through and persevering regardless of our personal issues &amp;amp; maladies.&amp;nbsp; The culture is changing, which is good for the force and our Troops.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt; 2014-04-08T14:07:29-04:00 CW2 Jonathan Kantor 96660

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have PTSD.&amp;nbsp; I don&#39;t hide it.&amp;nbsp; I have terrible insomnia, which requires I make my stomach a pharmacy at night and I have hyper-anxiety as well as other issues related to PTSD.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Here&#39;s what I want to get at: &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Is PTSD a stigma in your organization?&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Do Combat Units have more aggressive stigmas about this?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Are Soldiers scared to talk to counselors about their issues because they fear losing their security clearance?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;How do you handle PTSD with your troops?&amp;nbsp; With yourself?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Do you discuss your affliction with your Troops?&amp;nbsp; If so, why?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The reason I want to discuss this is because it is a growing problem.&amp;nbsp; I didn&#39;t get help at first because I was worried I would lose my security clearance.&amp;nbsp; Fortunately, I had some leaders who recognized the problem and was supported along the way.&amp;nbsp; Based upon my experience, I am not quiet about my diagnosis.&amp;nbsp; I use it to show my Soldiers that even their OIC has PTSD and got help.&amp;nbsp; I do this so I can encourage my Soldiers to get the help they need without fear of losing their clearances.&amp;nbsp; I find that the culture of the Army has always been about driving through and persevering regardless of our personal issues &amp;amp; maladies.&amp;nbsp; The culture is changing, which is good for the force and our Troops.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;

2014-04-08T14:07:29-04:00 2014-04-08T14:07:29-04:00 SFC James Baber 96945

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;I have always tried to be honest with my troops and my leaders, I was diagnosed on 3 separate occasions before I actually received help from anyone within the military, 1st upon return from DS, 2nd from Bosnia, and 3rd from Kosovo, each time either the doctor or the clinic cancelled the appointments, at that time though it was more of a stigma, so I never pushed the issue, but upon our return from OIF I, there were many more SMs being diagnosed and the problem was more recognized and pushed to try and help those with the issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I actually reached out 1st this time after returning and telling the doctor about the previous deployment diagnosis&#39;s and what had happened, he was surprised I was as calm about it as I was, and I also told him why. I used to wake up in the middle of the night during my 1st marriage from nightmares and also had night sweats and other issues, when I was 1st diagnosed with sleep apnea, I was told that my PTSD could have been a contributing factor since I held it in for so many years and never received help or counseling for that and the other issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But by my 2nd OIF III rotation I was all over it with the meds and letting my Soldiers know it was not a derogatory thing and if they were having issues to let me or their colleagues know so we could get the necessary help early to assist with dealing with it so as to not allow it to fester as it did with me for so long before I was able to get the right help and assistance. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is a growing problem, but I also think it is over diagnosed as well, while many SMs are true sufferers, I feel many use it as a crutch as well to either get out and get benefits or to cover some they have done wrong or illegal to prevent them from getting into trouble.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Perfect example, while I am not saying SPC Lopez didn&#39;t have issues, I don&#39;t think he had any PTSD, I truly feel and believe he was using that as a way to defer the problems he was having at work, he was utilizing the self-referral as his way to get around the issues off repeated denials for transfers, going on leave (he had asked 2x prior before the issue with his mother passing and had been denied over several months), so there was more there than is being let out. His deployment to Iraq was at the tail end of OND and he spent just over 4 months there and was not around any combat operations or any insurgent attacks, so there was no events that could have inflicted the normal buttons pushers of PTSD for the deployment. He had issues but it was not related to a deployment from over 2 years prior for only 4 months, so the self-referral for PTSD and self-diagnosis of TBI was all BS to cover for something else going on.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I hope that more true sufferers are able to get help and assistance they need and can be open and honest not only with themselves, but their loved ones and colleagues and Soldiers as well.&lt;/p&gt;

2014-04-08T19:59:09-04:00 2014-04-08T19:59:09-04:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 97232

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It all depends on the leadership. I&#39;ve seen a Soldier MEB&#39;d, retained, demoralized, yelled and screamed at, then received a bad NCOER for lack of military bearing. All while having their clearance suspended and denied treatment. (Commander and behavior health would not sign off for inpatient treatment).

2014-04-09T04:40:59-04:00 2014-04-09T04:40:59-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 98230

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;There is a stigma in the Army in relation to PTSD. In my present organization we have lots of Soldiers from every MOS here, from mechanics to the secret squirrels. Most of the individuals are here because they are &quot;taking a knee&quot; from the grind. Most discuss their conditions openly and offer insight when they can and if they see that it will help. We are encouraged to seek assistance from not only professional counselors/doctors but from peers as well.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Now I have been in past organizations where this was not the case. I have seen Soldiers berated, belittled and demeaned because of it. But there is a flip side to this as well. It doesnt help when the soldier in question doesnt help their cause by coming out and telling the CoC whats going on or seeking the appropriate help. I dispute the notion that soldiers dont know where to turn to, while it maybe out of date and out of touch with its target audience the Army&#39;s PTSD media campaign does put the where to, the how to and the when to out! &lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I believe there needs to be frank and honest conversations at levels above my paygrade to really get down to the Joe level and fix the system that is broken. I also believe we need to make Basic Training a hell of a lot more intense. It would aid I think in not only preparing soldiers for a high stress environment but weed out those that might not be able to endure the mental rigors of the above listed environment.&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2014-04-10T07:59:34-04:00 2014-04-10T07:59:34-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 107125

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sir,&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There are two types of disorder within PTSD. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and PTS (Post Traumatic Stress).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Majority of Soldiers are exposed to PTS while only few are exposed to PTSD. The difference between these two factors is that PTSD causes complete &quot;shut down&quot;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The root problem starts with Soldiers who are exposed to PTS. These two reasons are the cause that would progressive worsen the symptoms of PTS and developing PTSD.&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1. Soldiers are more concerned about their fellow comrades who deployed with them. Therefore, Soldiers tend to miss their own PTS symptoms.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2. Army Stigma of Behavioral Health indicates weakness.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have lost two friends from suicides in two consecutive months. They both suffered from PTSD which started from PTS.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I am exposed to PTS.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My way of handling my PTS is a monthly talk session. Whatever the subject maybe I just talk. In my most recent session, my psychiatrist supposedly brought out my flashback. Ever since then, I noticed a significant improvement in my behavior, anxiety attack, and etc.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Of course being a medical profession, I know how to indicate my problems. Problem is Soldiers do not.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I see ways to fix this problem through two interventions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1. Have medics be trained by psychiatrists on identifying signs and symptoms of PTS or PTSD.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2. Have BN psychiatrist available in BN A.O. Just like Aid Station, why not have small Behavioral Health Clinic available for our Soldiers, providing the resources they need?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Army pushes the fault to leadership quiet often. I am not disagreeing, but it&#39;s hard to identify the problem. My buddy who had committed suicide was a medic as well. I consistently asked him how he was doing and tried to reach out to him. Not only myself, the whole chain of command did. However, he was too good at hiding his feelings.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As much as leadership is important, do know, leaders do care directly or indirectly. What Army needs desperately is the resources for our young Soldiers to use. Train the medics, provide small BH clinic. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

2014-04-21T00:57:59-04:00 2014-04-21T00:57:59-04:00 PO1 Private RallyPoint Member 107789

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>OOFF!<div><br></div><div>This one can be a "hot button" topic if there ever was one.  I won't tell you that there aren't people out there doing precisely what Cpl Fittizzi is suggesting.   What I can tell you is this - you walk into a room of people, no matter what size and watch the Veterans size each other up.  Those that have been there, done that downrange know what I'm talking about.  There's a look....can't put a name to it, can't tell you how to recognize it.    Somehow there's a recognition...it's there, you can't fake it.  "IT" just is...you know it when you see it - that's all I can tell you.</div><div><br></div><div>But there's more to this - war and it's environs change a person - searingly.  The effects come in all shapes and sizes - each person is affected differently and each person responds differently.  But there are commonalities for the great majority of us affected, which is how the help gets started.</div><div><br></div><div>There are things leaders must acknowlege and push hard for: the recognition of and acceptance that PTSD - or whatever the trendy name will be tomorrow - is a fact.  Military leadership that takes the hardass approach and refuses to let their people seek help are - in my opinion - doing themselves, the military and society in general a disservice, to say nothing of making a bad decision for their unit.  Yes, leadership comes in all forms - but this particular issue is NOT one that commonly accepted and developed leadership is professionally or personally capable of handling without doing more harm than good.</div><div><br></div><div>We, leadership, must accept and plan for our personnel to need that assessment and treatment.  Yes, the workload will not ever stop.  Families will always need our folks more than the unit does.  The inspections and drills and planning and workups will never cease.  Think of that soldier, airman, marine or sailor in the same vein as you would any asset in your inventory.  If that particular item needs to be adjusted/repaired/maintained,  do you keep running it at full speed knowing that it will probably break down at the worst possible moment in broad daylight with the worlds news watching?  Or do you ensure that asset is taken care of so that when that asset is REALLY needed when the stinking feces is force-fed into the high-speed rotating device with the entire unit standing in front of it you know you can count on that particular asset - knowing full well it's "good-to-go" when you really, truely need it.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

2014-04-21T20:37:39-04:00 2014-04-21T20:37:39-04:00 CH (CPT) Heather Davis 108016

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><p>Chief:</p><p><br></p><p>I am very transparent when it comes to childhood PTSD due to generations in my family has served in every War. My Grand Father was in the Army and he was MIA for a year and when he came home he unknowingly transmitted his PTSD to the next generation.</p><p><br></p><p>My Father was in WWII and he was only 15 years old and years latter he unknowingly transmitted his PTSD to myself.</p><p><br></p><p>Their are many forms of PTSD, ranging from genetic predisposition, neurochemical vulnerability, and childhood molestation that emulates combat related PTSD. The complex trauma of excessive abuse, creates a addiction prone family dynamic. Sexual addiction, and PTSD become the web of obsession and addiction due to emotional cut-off. The repressed anger, and un-resolved childhood sexual abuse create a rigid and disengaged family environment that creates a legacy of vulnerable children.</p>

2014-04-22T01:30:43-04:00 2014-04-22T01:30:43-04:00 COL David S. 108623

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would join with some others and verify that the Army, as an organization advertises that it is helping soldiers, but actually the units won't.  I is simply too much for them to deal with.  Many soldiers are shunted to the side and ignored. Leadership really doesn't adress the problem well. Is there any wonder that suicide rates are so high. 

2014-04-22T22:03:19-04:00 2014-04-22T22:03:19-04:00 COL David S. 108636

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The growing problem is because while the Army " recognizes" the problem, the units don't or won't deal with it. Units often punish the person that is seeking help  The concern with suicide rates and PTSD is one that leaders need to address. Frustration of soldiers needing help and not getting it is a real problem not being addressed

2014-04-22T22:11:02-04:00 2014-04-22T22:11:02-04:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 111256

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If anyone really wants to know, send me your email address.it may blow your mind. I don't want to post it here.

2014-04-25T17:02:37-04:00 2014-04-25T17:02:37-04:00 SGT James Elphick 111278

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think it depends on the unit, even down to company and platoon level. In my experience PTSD was not taken seriously and it almost seemed like our unit or the Army was intentionally avoiding it. Our first post-deployment debriefing never amounted to anything and our second one was designed to override the first so that any prior experience was not taken into account. However, at the platoon and company level there was a much greater outpouring of support due to the fact that we had KIA's on our first deployment. So there was great camaraderie between soldiers in our platoon and company and we helped each other but beyond that there was little support for us to get help.

2014-04-25T17:36:25-04:00 2014-04-25T17:36:25-04:00 Sgt Randy Hill 132012

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Many military people fear getting help because of the stigma. I admit I did not get enough help for anxiety until I went to VA. It is a good question how do military mental health officials handle the cases they know about?

2014-05-21T15:10:42-04:00 2014-05-21T15:10:42-04:00 SFC Mark Merino 256264

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How are things ging for you these days <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="170954" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/170954-cw2-jonathan-kantor">CW2 Jonathan Kantor</a> ? Any relief of symptoms?

2014-09-26T06:12:45-04:00 2014-09-26T06:12:45-04:00 SPC Rebecca Lovie 281956

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>you may be interested in an idea I have to help people. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.risespiritualcadence.weebly.com">http://www.risespiritualcadence.weebly.com</a> is the website I started last spring, but I have kind of lost my motivation ....I believe implementing a Positive Faith-driven march or run to cadences that are uplifting might help restore the peace, pride, and emotional rest of those who suffer from depression and anxiety. Coming together and uplifting each other and bringing the Holy Spirit along could also help soldiers with the transition to civilian life. Veterans could get a chance to sing cadence in a group again (I know I miss it) and be building emotional/spiritual/physical strength. <br /><br />for example:<br />Up in the morning and I start to pray<br />Lord please make me<br />make me broken<br />so I can be healed <br />cause I'm so callused <br />now I can't feel<br />I want to run to you <br />with heart wide open<br />make me broken<br />make me broken<br /><br />Chaplains could help for active duty and transitioning soldiers and vets could help other vets and anyone from their communities who wanted to join in.<br /><br />Right now this is such a work in progress, forgive me. <br /><br />Any input or ideas you would like to share would be greatly appreciated. <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/003/957/qrc/2178326_orig.jpg?1443024819"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://www.risespiritualcadence.weebly.com">RISE</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">RISE is an organization with the purpose of getting individuals to come together to walk or run in a formation while shouting out Spiritual Cadences that are Inspiring, Motivational and Uplifting....</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2014-10-17T13:25:23-04:00 2014-10-17T13:25:23-04:00 SPC Andrew Griffin 1004091

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Not Good Enough! Because most Leaders lack EMPATHY! The "Mission First" Military is the Catalyst for it!

2015-09-29T21:58:53-04:00 2015-09-29T21:58:53-04:00 2014-04-08T14:07:29-04:00