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Over the past few years I've been interviewed by a lot of local newspapers, radio and televisions shows in my effort to raise awareness of issues we as Veterans are facing. Several of these interviews include me talking about my personal battle with PTSD and while I use the acronym when I say the words I only call it Post Traumatic Stress. Because of this, I am asked why I drop the word "disorder". Personally, I feel that PTSD is NOT a disorder. It is my brain's normal reaction to an abnormal situation. I feel that everyone that has gone through what we have gone through come back differently. To me that isn't a disorder.<div><br></div><div>So my question to the RP group is what are your thoughts? Do you view PTSD as a "disorder"? What thoughts, if any, do you have about people labeling it a disorder? Do you think this is why many Veterans choose to ignore it rather than seek treatment based on the general public's view of what disorders are?</div><div><br></div><div>I know what the doctors say, I'm just interest in what others think.</div>
Posted in these groups: 
PTSD
PTSD
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 27
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I also agree that it lends a negative connotation to be labeled a "disorder" when it is a reaction to trauma. It has a clinical definition, but for the lay person, it has a stigma that isn't very flattering. I prefer to drop the D as well if given the choice...
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I agree with you in part with the way it is perceived. I also don't believe it is a disorder I think it is more of a happening. It is your brain responding to some thing traumatic that you have witnessed. I personally don't like being "labeled" with a disorder.
Yes I believe troops to work hard to ignore the signs that pertain to this "disorder" I lived with it as a kid by watching my dad, It has taken me years to get him to receive "help" due to public perception.
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I see soldier's being diagnosed with PTSD that truly are just suffering from PTS, those with the actual "disorder" are more than likely Depressives or Bi-Polar like myself. It requires more time/money/effort to properly diagnose Depression, bi-polar and other mental disorders, so the military has been saving time by just slapping PTSD on people's records.
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SGT Ben Keen
While I agree with you that some Veterans suffer from stronger effect of PSTD I'm just looking to see how Veterans feel about the label "disorder" being attached to them. While there is no debate that the anexity, depression, bi-polar and other mental effects associated with PSTD effects us for the rest of our lives, I personally don't like be labeled with a "disorder".
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To all the responses...it is gratifying and eye opening to read all the responses. I have been diagnosed with PTSD... so what? All the responses are very intellectual, but in the long term, who cares? The word (disability) is really not all that much of a issue. Each of us deals with any myriad of personalty quirks...this makes us "individuals", not robots.
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SGT, I suffer from PTSD... But not from the military... And yes, I believe it is a disorder, because for 1) it wouldn't have the word "disorder" in it if it wasn't, and two, its a chemical imbalance in the brain causing medication to be a treatment. Name one chemical imbalance in the brain that ISN'T a disorder and DOESN'T need medication. Everything is a disorder. In my eyes.
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1SG (Join to see)
Mr. Daley,
You know what I do for my PTSD... Color with my eight year old. Nothing more calming than trying to color between the lines.
V/r
1SG Haro
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SPC Charles Brown
Yes, PTSD is an actual disorder. In the military its origins go all the way back to the Civil war when it was first called "Soldier's Heart". Over the years it has been called by many different names; from Shell Shock to PTSD. The name has been softened and as a result of that questions such as this have arisen. This is my opinion, and may differ from yours, but it is just as valid as yours.
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<p>I personally while being a sufferer or classified as one have always felt the disorder part was extremely overrated or focused on. People can have PTSD that have never been in the military, my wife has it because she had to see and deal with losing each of her parents within two weeks of each other when she was nine years old, and she has never put on a uniform at all. </p><p><br></p><p>So no it is not a disorder, it is a physical and mental reaction your body and mind go through in relation to a traumatic experience or occurrence. </p>
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SGT Leigh Barton
I'm probably butting in at the wrong time, however, since the original thread was started by a victim of PTSD that has been publicly interviewed, it would seem to me that he is actively attempting to address misconceptions concerning the disorder. That allows for some degree of latitude in the nature of the comments on the responding posts as even improper perceptions of the public become valuable to the host of the thread for this purpose. I stated my professional opinion earlier in this thread and stand by it. However one point that we all might agree on is the designation of the disorder COULD be a little more palatable. Possibly on the order of Chronic Post Traumatic Stress or something on that order.
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SFC James Baber
Since there was no attempt to intimidate, you just proved you yourself may need a thicker skin as you allowed one comment about your short time in service to trigger your last tirade, and to even exemplify your high horse even more on your feelings about something that is opposite of what you stated or supported, and to correct you as well, you never provided any proof other than to state in your responses to me that per medical science which is not proof other than an opinion without the statistical data, so again you proved nothing other than your own opinion. As you put it, I will now bow out since you feel the need to argue with everyone that is not in the same frame as your opinion.
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LTC David B.
Gentlemen, this is what messages are for. Publicly attacking, attempts to bully, embarrassment, etc should not be the norm. Please take your discussions there. Having this conversation in this thread shows disrespect for the originator. Thank you.
As for the initial question, don't get hung up on the name. Is it a real problem, of course it is. Does it get abused? Absolutely. Does someone need treatment every time there's an incident? Not by any stretch. Do people try to make it out to be something it's not? No doubt, especially if it will benefit them in some way. A name is a name. The main thing is it recognized and even though it abused, those who really need the help, can now get the help.
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SGT Leigh Barton
Compliments sir, however if the stereotype I mentioned in another response is preventing victims from seeking treatment, it would be advisable to apply a little more discretion in the designation we use.
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I believe it to be an adaptation caused by extreme stress. If we keep calling it a mental disorder the stigma still rears it ugly head. People become defensive instead of talking.
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PTSD is pretty clearly defined in the DSM. I think the greater issue is the tendency to overclassify Post Traumatic Stress as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There is a clear escalation of symptoms and time required for a valid PTSD diagnosis. I think referring to every case of adjustment disorder, acute stress disorder, or any other failure to adapt, as PTSD is the real issue.
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My recommendation - let's keep our eye on the big picture.
To the warrior suffering the psychological effects that, for the sake of this discussion, were triggered by the shock, horror and terror of combat, do you think he or she actually cares if they're classified with PTS or PTSD? They don't care - they just want help to make the suffering stop! Not receiving proper treatment in a timely manner has resulted in a current statistic of 22 veterans committing suicide each and every day.
PTSD is a mental disorder. Why - because of the neurological changes that take place in the prefrontal lobe, the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the medial prefontal cortex following a traumatic event such as combat.
The DSM is nothing more than a diagnostic tool. It was written to "assist" a clinician in forming a diagnosis of their patient. The "final" diagnosis is determined by the clinician - not the DSM.
Society has stigmatized those who served in either Iraq or Afghanistan - regardless if they saw combat or not. Change the name from PTSD to whatever you want, it really doesn't matter. Society will continue to associate the fact that you served in a combat zone, therefore you must suffer from PTSD.
Let's forget about terminology and get our Brothers & Sisters in Arms the help that they so desperately need!
To the warrior suffering the psychological effects that, for the sake of this discussion, were triggered by the shock, horror and terror of combat, do you think he or she actually cares if they're classified with PTS or PTSD? They don't care - they just want help to make the suffering stop! Not receiving proper treatment in a timely manner has resulted in a current statistic of 22 veterans committing suicide each and every day.
PTSD is a mental disorder. Why - because of the neurological changes that take place in the prefrontal lobe, the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the medial prefontal cortex following a traumatic event such as combat.
The DSM is nothing more than a diagnostic tool. It was written to "assist" a clinician in forming a diagnosis of their patient. The "final" diagnosis is determined by the clinician - not the DSM.
Society has stigmatized those who served in either Iraq or Afghanistan - regardless if they saw combat or not. Change the name from PTSD to whatever you want, it really doesn't matter. Society will continue to associate the fact that you served in a combat zone, therefore you must suffer from PTSD.
Let's forget about terminology and get our Brothers & Sisters in Arms the help that they so desperately need!
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