What changed our outlook on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:04:26 -0400

PTSD used to be looked at with a kind of stigma that prevented many from seeking help. Today it is far more acceptable to go seek therapy and or medication for this issue, but have we gotten to a point where many actually claim to suffer from the disorder without actually having it just to seem like part of "the club"? Why has PTSD become some kind of badge of honor these days?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2017 2:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:09:45 -0400

There are still some stigmas attached with it but it's because of a shift in culture and leadership. I don't believe it's a "badge of honor." There is still a negative connotation to it. Especially among civilians. Some think that every veteran has PTSD and that we are just crazy people because we have it even if someone has never been diagnosed with it. I have never seen where it's viewed as a badge of honor though. Mental illness in general still carries a stigma in our society overall.

Why do people claim to have it? They want disability and if they can convince a medical professional that they do have it...well not much you can do. I don't think it's worth it to claim a mental illness just to get some extra benefit but that's me. I don't think most do it to be "part of a club." They could though.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 1 at 2017 2:09 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:09:48 -0400

When I realized it wasn't just a problem for "others"...

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jun 1 at 2017 2:16 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:16:41 -0400

"Today it is far more acceptable to go seek therapy and or medication for this issue"
I agree, though many still view it as "a kind of stigma" and refuse to seek treatment due to the possible second and third-order effects, either immediately or in the future as a local, state, or federal government decides to use that diagnosis of PTSD factor in restricting a right.

"Why has PTSD become some kind of badge of honor these days?"
I don't think it has, I think it has become the complaint of choice of the last 15 years used to defraud the government of benefits. Like "unspecified back pain" was used in years prior, in the military and civilian worlds..., PTSD is used now by those wanting to get medical and financial benefits they otherwise would not be allowed..and PTSD like that old back pain deal can not be disproved by medical doctors...

Response by CSM Tony Blair made Jun 1 at 2017 2:17 PM

CSM Tony Blair — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:17:41 -0400

After talking to older vets, they made me understand that this is a life long battle, there is no quick fix. And if after their life long struggle, made me see, there is hope.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jun 1 at 2017 2:33 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:33:29 -0400

You can't be a "Real Veteran" without PTSD. The VA lowered their standards in order to quickly resolve thousands of claims. Now we have thousands of Veterans who were traumatized watching the news on Television. I was diagnosed in 1983, while on a locked ward in a major University Hospital. PTSD was not compensible by the VA and didn't exist according to the Army. It disqualified me from my Law Enforcement Career when retirement was only five years away. What could I do? I went back in the Army, where it didn't exist. That is how I became a Ninja.

Response by GySgt Bill Smith made Jun 1 at 2017 2:41 PM

GySgt Bill Smith — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:41:23 -0400

I have seen on many social medias outlets vets use the PTSD as a badge of honor or as some type of sympothy card. Maybe it is another way of validating they served. But don't dare question their PTSD, even if it was from bootcamp.

Response by CPT James Burkholder made Jun 1 at 2017 3:05 PM

CPT James Burkholder — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:05:13 -0400

My outlook has never changed. I think the problem has been present since WWI, but during that "Great War" and WWII, and even Korea and to some extent VN, we had significant numbers of the citizens and their families a part of it, whether they wanted to be so or not. Vets returning, even those spit upon during VN, still had neighbors, classmates from high school, and work colleagues to talk to, to reminisce and even cry over what they lived through. Now we have a volunteer military. Vets return after service have no real support other than the professionals - - most of whom can't actually relate to the guy/girl because they rarely experienced the same thing. Giving our present day vets support groups who actually know the experience would probably do more good than all the shrinks and social workers that are presently trying to deal with the problem the men and women face. Giving our present day vets access to that camaraderie they had during service would really help them.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jun 1 at 2017 3:51 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:51:15 -0400

The ones who suffer like me, it our battle don't feel sorry for us because I don't want no one to feel sorry for me because I've been doing this for years and it's been hiding for a lot of them until I couldn't go any longer. Now the world knows and it's like I committed a crime or something.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 3 at 2017 1:14 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 01:14:54 -0400

Nothing...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2017 2:28 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 02:28:41 -0400

soldiers being separated for misconduct who suffered from PTSD