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Much has been done in recent years to raise awareness of Combat-Related PTSD. The statistics are now well-known: approximately 1 in 5 service members returns home with some degree of PTSD. What is also well-documented is the rate of suicide among veterans of all eras - 22 per day. The truest question remains - has all of this increased awareness decreased or increased the stigma of PTSD? While I feel that the efforts are to be commended, awareness without education has only increased the stigma. I see it and hear it every day online and in the real world. Yes, many more are aware of PTSD. The issue is that the increased awareness has not bred understanding.
People fear what they do not understand. PTSD is grossly misunderstood. While many feel the best way to battle the stigma is to confront it head-on, it has been proven to do more harm than good. How many times have I heard it: "Yeah I know what PSTD is - it's when soldiers come home from war and their minds are broken." While this isn't always exactly, word for word, what I hear, the meaning is the same. PSTD was not a typo. If people can't even get the acronym right, what hope do we truly have of earning their compassion and understanding? What is the end result of this stigma? Employers fear hiring veterans, with and without PTSD. Too many think that having PTSD makes us dangerous and a threat to the safety of other employees in the workplace. As a result, the stigma of PTSD hangs like a cloud of ignorance over all veterans - with or without PTSD. If employers believe that PTSD is dangerous, how likely do you think it is that they are going to take a 20% chance that the veteran they hire is going to have PTSD? If PTSD was a legitimate threat to the safety and stability of the work environment, would you, as a hiring manager or HR rep, play Russian Roulette with the efficiency and effectiveness of current employees? I think not. The stigma of PTSD has limited veterans' options for employment and made it even more difficult to live a fulfilling professional life. Like me, many veterans are relegated to positions not befitting their experience or education. It's time for this trend to stop. As Executive Director of a new non-profit, Support No Stigma, I propose a new method to fighting this stigma - education of the general public on what PTSD actually is and empowering veterans to take charge of their own professional destiny by teaching them about entrepreneurship. This can't happen in a vacuum. I need people to step up and join the conversation, to join the cause. Learn more about what we are planning to do to change the PTSD landscape for veterans everywhere. Don't shout "PTSD!!" from the rooftops. Enter the conversation with medical professionals, students, HR departments. Help them understand the TRUTH of PTSD and encourage them to empower veterans with or without PTSD. 6/15/2013 05:41:33 pm
I to have a husband who after 48 years of trying to deal with this was diagnosed with classic case of PTSD-along with this he has had five storkes,In late Oct. of last year,an urgent,emergency admittance was made for him to be admitted to one of our long term care center,on a secure floor,for his own safety.All these years I knew and the children knew something was wrong with Dad,no matter how many marriage counselors we saw,and or psychologist,not one of them stop long enough to ask if he had ever served time in the army and had they asked,I truly believe they would of not had the right questions to ask.It was at my insistence,that he be seen at the OSI clinic,to be assessed by the Veterans psychiatrist,who first spoke to my husband for his long term memory is still pretty Intact ,when he spoke to me on our original meeting he stated that my husband who enlisted at the tender age of 18,was a well man,but did not leave the military a well man,in fact to this day he was still dealing with this PTSD-it exists all right,and it was only then after this psychiatrist explaining to me after we both had answered his questions,that I had the biggest light bulb moment as to what was really our situation that we were trying to deal with,I now know when he was having his flashback and unware of this I was also was bringing flashbacks to him,un knowingly,by just asking him to help me howe the garden of little things where he would simple state I have to go for a walk and of course the alcohol and over the counter drug abuse,where I was ordered to not disturb these as I would prepare his suitcase,for he worked out of town 88% of our married life,I also was unaware until he admitted to the the Veterans psychiatrist that he would drink enough to the point of blackouts with the cocktail of over the counter medication ,with his hopes of being able to sleep without having these terrific nightmares,to this day he still has them,even though the Veterans psychiatrist made an immediate referral for my husband to be seen by a Geriatric psychiatrist.where they both concurred medications,they hoped would quell this PTSD symptoms and also help the typical five stroke patients symptoms,which is barely touching him.Therefore,our golden years that we had planned soon vanished.like a broken ,popped ballon,and we are now left with a limp piece of sting,mine with the good memories that I try to keep alive,and he now a shell of a man,asking what did he do wrong to be in a placement center and why can't he come back home.It is not he who did anything wrong,but I certainly do blame this damn PTSD for taking away,the vibriant and loving man he could be and at a snap of a finger,he would turn like Jeckell and Hyde,It is definitely a disorder,I agree that has to be brought to light for and to the layman,and also to many of those high ranking polished black shoes in our government,who I would love to see them have to wear,those heavy big boots,that heavy equipment and even do classic training,then and only then,they still would have no idea what our spouse and their families are going through,for they still would not have any idea of the whole situation,for they would not be there putting their lives on the line and seeing and smelling the atrocities that our military spouses have lived through and some still living through this. 6/16/2013 11:12:53 am
Lise,
Good for you Max! I keep trying to educate myself because I want the soldiers in our program to feel at ease with us. One of the soldiers mentioned to me that he respected the fact I never came up behind them or spoke until I had someone's attention. That was a conscious effort on my part due to my ongoing "education" to not startle someone. And it is an ongoing education. I thank you for the part you play in that.
Kudos to you for your bravery, honesty, and this blog. Your passion and drive to turn things around is more than admirable, especially considering the "stigma" and the fact that most veterans suffering from PTSD can barely accept the diagnosis themselves, never mind share it with the world. Comments are closed.
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Max HarrisAs I continue my life with PTSD, I will share my challenges and discoveries on this blog. Archives
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Note: This website offers links to resources and venues for veterans to discuss PTSD. Any opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions of the website administration and are not a substitute or supplement for professional treatment.