Why don't Soldiers seek help for PTSD?

SSG Robert Burns — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:21:49 -0500

Whether it be combat related, sexual assault or domestic violence related; why do Soldier seem to want to battle this on their own? We don't go to war alone, why fight this alone? How do you think we could get more people to seek the help they may need?
If you could get therapy anonymously would you? Do you think others would be more likely to?

Update:
Please take a look at this. http://www.PTSDecompress.com and tell me what you think.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Nov 12 at 2014 11:25 AM

MAJ Dallas D. — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:25:10 -0500

SSG Robert Burns I think it is a combination of things being both the stigma and fear it will hurt their career.

In the military we believe we are the strongest, toughest, etc. and we can't be beat. We see anything that would not paint this picture as making us weak. Sad but IMHO true.

Response by SPC Kristen McCrea made Nov 12 at 2014 11:32 AM

SPC Kristen McCrea — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:32:59 -0500

I don't think it can be narrowed down to a specific factor; I think these factors work together to negatively influence a soldier's decision about seeking help. All of these factors are legitimate ones, and together, they can seem overwhelming (especially to a person who is already depressed or having problems coping with daily life).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 11:36 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:36:45 -0500

Because it's just hard to face everyone and make yourself vulnerable to something that scares you.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 11:42 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:42:46 -0500

I think for Soldiers who are victims of sexual assault and choose to file restricted reports it almost forces them to have to deal with it on their own. For those reasons is probably why they file restricted reports anyway.

Response by Sgt Jennifer Mohler made Nov 12 at 2014 11:45 AM

Sgt Jennifer Mohler — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:45:09 -0500

They don't recognize it in themselves.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 11:53 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:53:15 -0500

All of the above and more. Some don't want medication. Some see the waiting list and say, "screw it" and others really don't think anything is wrong. They think if they're not having nightmares or black outs, then it's everyone else with the problem, not them.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Nov 12 at 2014 12:00 PM

SSG Tim Everett — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:00:53 -0500

I no longer believe there is a stigma associated with it, not in terms of military service. If a general can come out and say "I have this" then nobody should be afraid.

However, I do fear how it will affect a civilian career. I've seen first-hand what admitting treatment for PTSD will do, both in a court of law and prospective employment. Civilians hear PTSD and they think "this crazy m&@#er could come shoot up the job if I fire him!" We don't have a means to publicly combat that perception.

As for serving members, I think people try to tough it out and act like they're fine, when they really aren't. That whole "suck it up" mentality.

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Nov 12 at 2014 12:25 PM

SFC Melker Johansson — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:25:20 -0500

I think that most fear how it will affect their career or they don't realize how much it's actually affects them. I do not have PTSD, but I have had my own struggles. I did not seek help for my issues, because I was fearing the impact on my career and I didn't really comprehend the extent of my own condition. I knew that I was struggling in certain areas, but I thought that I would be able to overcome that on my own. Unfortunately, I was unable to do that and was forced to seek help a few months ago. I was in for a real life changing surprise after a few therapy sessions.

I ended up finding out that I had the following comorbid conditions.

- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
- Alexithymia

Now, I don't really care who knows anymore.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Nov 12 at 2014 12:46 PM

CPT Richard Riley — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:46:17 -0500

You're asking to undue decades or centuries of stigma and belief about an issue that has dark corners and dead ends all around it. Many commenting before me have said soldiers are told to 'suck-it-up' and drive on ... so how do you do an about-face and tell them they should seek assistance for something they most likely don't recognize?

Will anonymous assistance and therapy improve the odds? Maybe. This is so much more than behavior modification. Unfortunately in the present there are a multitude of questions with few if any answers yet the need for solutions is immediate.

Sadly, as much as I'd like to have an answer or solution, I don't.

Response by SGT Darla Jarvie made Nov 12 at 2014 12:57 PM

SGT Darla Jarvie — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:57:32 -0500

Most do not really realize it is PTSD until something bad happens that shakes them to the core by then they think it's to late.

Response by SPC(P) Samantha Moore made Nov 12 at 2014 1:09 PM

SPC(P) Samantha Moore — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:09:39 -0500

I wish All of The Above was a choice, because I have had comrades tell me all of those reasons stated.

Response by SFC Wesley Leonard made Nov 12 at 2014 2:21 PM

SFC Wesley Leonard — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:21:39 -0500

All of the above. Yes anonymity would help.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 7:28 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:28:44 -0500

The U.S. military still hasn't got it's $hite together and made it stick when it comes to removing the stigma related to PTS / PTSD. There are still a huge majority of military leaders that do NOT truely believe that PTS is treatable. Even now, with all the time and effort invested in detailing the truth about PTS there are so very many leaders that refuse to accept it.

Some day perhaps......

Response by TSgt AnnaBelle Bryan made Nov 12 at 2014 7:34 PM

TSgt AnnaBelle Bryan — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:34:33 -0500

What people are unaware of is that it's very few who get kicked out due to PTSD. It's usually because there might be a more serious condition and coupled with PTSD.
I know plenty of mil personnel who received mental health treatment while deployed and are still in and kicking ass and taking names (proverbially). Some have commissioned.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 9:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:17:40 -0500

I think the mentality of "I can deal with this on my own, I don't need help because I'm mentally strong and resolute, I can do this." I guess I see it as a combination of all the above given reasons; the stigma, career, what other people think, and facing a reality as well as the reason I've stated.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Nov 13 at 2014 12:53 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 00:53:24 -0500

All of the above.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 6:53 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 18:53:11 -0500

The stigma is less then it once was. There are still some issues. For instance, a SSG I know...who is a very strong candidate to be a Warrant Officer was disqualified for having once reported PTSD and seeking treatment. The Soldier was allowed to continue service, why should he not be able receive a commission as a Warrant Officer. I will tell you, this single incident "re-stigmatized" reporting/seeking treatment for PTSD for a lot of Soldiers.

SFC L

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 10:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:25:20 -0500

SSG Robert Burns, if a new Soldier seeks help for something, it just feeds into the stereotype that the senior Soldiers have labeled us. They already call us soft, p*ssies, spoiled, and entitled. It's best not to give them more ammunition, just ride it out and see what happens.

Response by TSgt Aubrey Sheffield made Nov 17 at 2014 11:56 PM

TSgt Aubrey Sheffield — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 23:56:35 -0500

Bottom line, if you are known to have PTSD you are looked at negatively by most of the population. Yes it needs to be available to get help without everyone knowing.

Response by SPC Kel Rowland made Nov 18 at 2014 8:01 PM

SPC Kel Rowland — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:01:42 -0500

The Stigma from potential employers and even while serving are too high... They need to lower the penalty for being honest with yourself and your family...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 9:05 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:05:18 -0500

Well lets take a look at some of things still out there:
Stigma, yes it still there, why? Poor leadership, toxic leadership, perhaps

Problems getting care, not enough doctors, maybe Command did give the Soldier
enough time to get care and maybe they didn't think he/she needed it

A belief that psychological problems tend to work themselves out

Lack of trust for any mental health professional

A lot of times we do it to ourselves, "I'm not bad enough to need treatment, I can do this on my own"; Soldiers don't want to be labeled

Denial is VERY strong they will bury ourselves in a bottle (and other addictions) and blame everyone else on the planet, for the troubles they will actually admit to, before admitting they may need help. They are trained so strongly to be the tough one and to "soldier up" that they will darn near lose everything before admitting they need help, or to even become AWARE that they need help (some of them are so used to acting and feeling this "way" that they really don't recognize they are the ones that are not okay).

Now SSG Tim Everett brought up stigma and no one should be afraid. One of notable changes that may be slowly happening is lessening the stigma associated with PTSD and other mental health disorders. The biggest challenge is being able to change people's minds. Seeking mental health care doesn't harm your career but when you aren't being able to do your job because of personal issues that can harm your career.

Encourage alternative approaches, relaxation techniques, exercise and other ways to help people who don't want to be labeled with a disorder. A lot of our service members don't want to go to a mental health therapist, but they will go someplace, somewhere away from prying eyes and learn skills for wellness to increase their resiliency.

For too long we have perpetuated this concept of "suck it up and drive on", it's ingrained in our military culture and it will take decades to reduce this mentality, it's harming us not helping. We have to understand physical health is just as important as mental health.

That was my couple of cents worth.

Response by SSG Paul Oliver made Nov 25 at 2014 10:56 AM

SSG Paul Oliver — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 10:56:28 -0500

This is a great question SSG Burns because it focuses on the why. Yes everyone needs to get help but what is preventing it? You are focusing on the cause. Once you find the cause you can find the solution that helps everyone. For me it is because of how we are seen if we have it.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 27 at 2014 3:18 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:18:21 -0500

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/my-attempt-to-help-www-ptsdecompress-com-anonymous-help-for-ptsd

My attempt to help. www.PTSDecompress.com Anonymous help for PTSD. Can I get your feedback? |...

www.ptsdecompress.com 2 weeks ago I started a discussion/survey about why people don't seek help for PTSD. After reading all of the responses I had an idea that I decided to pursue that I think can help immensely. I thought what if there was a place you could go to to get help for PTSD anonymously? Whether it was from Combat, Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence. That way there would be no fear of the stigma, nothing in your medical records,...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 5:20 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 17:20:40 -0500

I would suggest that they do seek help. All of them. But, they may not seek help in an appropriate or effective place.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 27 at 2014 8:36 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 20:36:53 -0500

I was between Because of the stigma, Having to face a reality they do not want to and Other, see comments i choose see comments. I did not think i did enough while in Iraq to have PTSD that i was not worthy of it. I know it sounds silly to think of PTSD and worthy in the same sentence. But that what i thought. After 4 years of trying to deal and my marriage starting to fail and work starting to fail i took my wife's advice and started to get help. I learned allot that a person can only take so much trauma in there life before you cant take any more trauma the trauma sponge is full. And turns out after my therapist started digging i had a lot of trauma in my life and Iraq was the straw that broke the camels back.

Response by SPC Todd Fitzgerald made Dec 18 at 2014 2:24 PM

SPC Todd Fitzgerald — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 14:24:06 -0500

I think it's because we know that mental health specialists have personal and professional liability at the forefront of their concerns instead of patient well being.

As SPC Moore said, I wish I could have checked all of the above.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Jan 27 at 2015 5:10 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 05:10:20 -0500

I have multiple friends with PTSD no I am not medical but as someone with that problem I see it in my friends who have it from one degree or another. I beg them to go and seek help because I hear the stories they share with me are eating them up. My friends are both Active and Guard. It boils down to this someone has put the fear of the system in these soldiers and have them under the impression that if the seek help for or are found to have sever PTSD they will be removed from duty, loose security clearance, loose leadership position, never be promoted again. I have heard so many things I shake my head. And the regs are simple if you are a threat to yourself or others yes you can be removed from service. But if your walking around in life with PTSD your not a threat YET avoid help and you could be. Especially to yourself and your family please people get help for you and your spouse they suffer to. I kept my clearance (TS/SCI) was promoted and was never removed from service. I was retired due to physical injuries if not for that I would still be in service. I do not like sharing this but if it saves a brother or sister I can take being embarrassed.

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jan 27 at 2015 6:06 AM

Sgt Adam Jennings — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 06:06:53 -0500

I believe because of te stigma attached to having PTSD basically covers all of the other answers on itself. Everything up there is a reason and part of the stigma attached to PTSD. It's a shame to that it is that way, that can't help it.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2015 8:46 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:46:24 -0500

Our culture tends to avoid counseling in general. The average couple will be stuck and struggling for an average of 6 years before they seek help, and by then a lot of damage has been done. I think the better question for this discussion is why do people avoid counseling in general. If we had a better acceptance of counseling, perhaps treatment for PTSD, depression, anger, and other issues would have a higher prevalence rate of treatment.
The tough part about people seeking therapy is that there are so many different forms of therapy and every therapist has a different personality. I encourage people to seek therapy/counseling, and if they do not like their therapist or the form of therapy being offered, do not give up on therapy. Go try another therapist who most like will utilize a different form of therapy.
The great news is that there is healing for those with PTSD. I utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in my own counseling and have used it to clear up symptoms of PTSD within three sessions. I just spoke to another chaplain who uses EMDR as well and he shared a story of a young man who could no longer do his job because of the smell in his workplace. After a few sessions of EMDR, he has good to go. The chaplain saw him later and the young man reported that he was doing just fine.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 27 at 2015 2:45 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 14:45:16 -0500

All/None of the above.

Why don't you go to medical when you are Sick/Injured?

If you are so sick or injured that you need to stay home, you may as well go to medical. But medical is at work, so you may well go to work.

I can't tell you the number of times I worked through an injury, or a Migraine, or a whatever. Why go to medical if they are just going to tell me to:

1) Drink more water

2) Change your socks

3) Have some Motrin

True story. 15 days after I got married, I was still on leave, wife had gone back to work (she was a Marine as well). She comes back home for chow. Tells me my face was looking funny. I'm like haha, screw you (because that's how Marines talk to each other). Couple hours later, I get up and look at myself in the mirror.

Apparently, half my face isn't working. (Bell's Palsy). I call my SSgt, and ask him for the phone number for medical, so I can make an appointment to medical for the following morning. He asks why.

15 minutes later, he's at my house, because he thinks I had a stroke, and we're arguing about me going to the Doctor, because "It's not a big deal."

Keep in mind, I had no idea that it was Bell's Palsy at the time... and it's entirely possible that half my brain was fried... and "It was a big deal."

But ask yourselves this. How injured do you have to be, to actually go to medical? How often do you just self medicate (Motrin, Tylonal, Alcohol, whatever) instead?

I know I've said on more than one occasion "I don't g to hospitals... there's sick people there."

Response by SPC Brandon Spray made Feb 20 at 2015 9:15 AM

SPC Brandon Spray — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 09:15:52 -0500

Because of the way the government is labaling them once they ask for help. I have been asked at least 10 times if I own guns, same answer everytinme. How does me owning firearms have to do with me being here for my back and knees? Stigma and what the VA/goverment can do to you if they say you are incompetent. Scary shit if you ask me!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 12 at 2015 12:15 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:15:30 -0400

All of the above plus not wanting to give up certain rights such as their Constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms.