Have you ever met a PTSD "drama queen?"

SGT John Rauch — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:19:32 -0400

Have any of you ever met someone who claims PTSD for attention? Im sure a lot of us have, for example, I met a guy who claimed to have PTSD because he had to fill out his will before deployment. What is the most ridiculous ptsd explanation you have ever heard, and how did you respond?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 19 at 2015 5:22 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:22:43 -0400

Unfortunately I have. I tried to be reasonable with that person. Didn't work as well as I had hoped.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 5:33 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:33:22 -0400

At my old VA we had a guy in the PTSD Dom for basic training. And he wasn't afraid to admit how hard he had it compared to everyone else.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 5:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:35:12 -0400

YEP
The end.
LOL

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 5:54 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 17:54:15 -0400

I've got an uncle claiming 100% disability for PTSD that he picked up in fake combat watching his fake buddies die on fake missions he never went on. He's a real winner. Of course, if you ask him, he's Rambo's more badass cousin. It's like he thinks nobody would simply ask his CO or look up his service record.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 6:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 18:17:19 -0400

I have seen this over and over again. The worst case was Pre-Traumatic Stress. We had a Bradley driver that was assigned to a crew that was in some heavy fighting on their last deployment. The SFC Bradley Commander had a Silver Star. The PFC driver said the stories of war gave him PTSD. Once we found out we didn't know what to think. He still deployed. I ran into the Fobbits PTSD also. I would often run into guys with the "while you know how it was for us out there." I would ask them what they did. I would come to find out that they were a 42A assigned to the Division HQ at the VBC. That guy got taco bell and burger king everyday. I usually reply with something to the effect of this, "not really. I wasn't as bad ass as you and in all that danger. I was only an infantry squad leader in southern Baghdad. I have it easy compared to what you went through."

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 19 at 2015 7:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 19 May 2015 19:23:22 -0400

You are now my point man!

Response by MSgt Brian Welch made May 19 at 2015 8:33 PM

MSgt Brian Welch — Tue, 19 May 2015 20:33:28 -0400

Yes, it's why I stay away from the VFW. They seem to have to one up each other and I just won't degrade my service by weaving tales. You know, I don't care what you did in the service, you served. The military isn't hollywood. Not everyone is special forces. Those that cooked my dinner, they were apart of it. I may have paved a runway that you ran missions out of. It's all important and doesn't need inflation and to inflate a story to PTSD levels just ratchets it up a bit.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made May 19 at 2015 9:59 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 19 May 2015 21:59:55 -0400

Anyone who's deployed to a combat zone is not the same person when they come back. I'm not saying they got PTSD, I'm saying they're not the same. I'm not the same as I was, I've never claimed PTSD. Am I normal? What's normal?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 11:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 23:51:50 -0400

I've seen the real and the real fake. If the flaugers only knew the struggle. Smh

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 19 at 2015 11:58 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 19 May 2015 23:58:54 -0400

I have never been diagnosed or tested for PTSD. I took a pre test online just for fun, and I tried to answer the questions the best I could and there is a high chance I might have it. I don't use PTSD related symptoms as an excuse and its not something I joke about. People who claimed to developed PTSD from hearing stories or looking at pictures or watching film footage are a joke. They make me sick. I will share what I think about them if I ever run into people like that. I totally do not care whose feelings I hurt.

Response by SSG John Erny made May 20 at 2015 12:34 AM

SSG John Erny — Wed, 20 May 2015 00:34:36 -0400

Well back in the day of Alvin York it was called shell shock; then it was called combat fatigue. If one goes under the test of fire are you going to come out the same person? I think not. The question is does that make you normal to have a negative reaction to a hostile environment or does it make you normal?
The vets that told stories when I was growing up said that if someone was not afraid under fire they were either a liar or crazy. If you like getting shot at you may be in fact crazy; if you do have baggage left over you may just be normal.
That leads to stolen valor among those who have served; those who claim to be Rambo when they are not. Those who would embellish what they have been through, this is nothing new. In fact it is likely thousands of years old.
Look at those who served in the past; started their war in North Africa, then served in Italy, then invaded the beaches of Normandy and managed to come home. Many of them are called by Great Grand Father, Grand Father, Or Father by us. So put things in perspective and be honest with yourself.
Some people cannot take the evils of war; others find a way to deal with it. So if someone is broken do not judge them but offer to help. If they are trying to bloviate their experience then ignore them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 5:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 05:42:00 -0400

I don't comment on PTSD symptoms because I'm no doctor.

Response by SGT David T. made May 20 at 2015 8:38 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 20 May 2015 08:38:21 -0400

I have seen this as well as those who become the label and cannot move past it.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 10:06 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 10:06:01 -0400

I have been diagnosed with it, and I tell people that I have. I don't go overboard with it or go into details - I tell people only because I see one or two in the unit I am speaking with that you can almost tell also have it. It's just the look in their eyes that pretty much spell it out to me. Without going straight up to them and putting them on the spot, I just share my story to let them know that getting help doesn't make you less of a man or woman, less of an Airmen or Soldier, etc, and won't hurt your career (I still have my Top Secret and am currently a full time acting First Sgt).

Yes, I've met the types that need to tell everyone at all times that they have it, use it as an advantage to get out of duties, etc. Like any other segment of society - you're going to have bad eggs in every bunch. Do what ya gotta do. I've had commanders ask if they were profiled from doing certain duties because of it, and when the answer was no (it was always no), then they were ordered to fulfill the duty. That usually shut those few up real quickly.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 12:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 12:00:11 -0500

Great topic of discussion. I have met the PTSD drama queen. I'm not an expert on PTSD but I think there are levels of PTSD.