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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>
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PTSD
PTSD
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 27
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I'm going to share this .. It took 18 years for me,, to finally see .. its not so much a pts for me, i get shakes, panic attacks, nightmares, cold sweats, I can't sleep, and I'm always scanning a crowd.. We all do.. the problem is while we are working together on or off mission, we know who our enemy is. The civilian world is a disaster compared to Military lifestyle.. Its like being fed a drug and then have it taken away .. the problem is an ingrained lifestyle just does not go away .. we are military for life, well some of us are.. And living in the Civilian world, you just can't put the genie back in the bottle .. it doesn't matter if it is a Disorder , a Mental problem .. it needs attention .. there is so much more to it then emotional stress, and mental issues , it goes much deeper.. and feeding us drugs and sleeping 16 hours a day does not cut it..
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I think the issue has to do with the way the psychs classify disorder in DSM 4 and 5. Basically anything outside of "normal" is a disorder. Since the only place you find "normal" is on a washing machine, it pretty much means everyone has a disorder. While 4 made diagnosis of PTSD among military and law enforcement difficult, 5 modified the criteria to take into consideration training that would force certain symptoms below the radar. <br>The real question is, can you adapt your reaction to your new environment? Do you even want to try?<br>
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SGT Thomas Sullivan
Some of this is exactly why I questioned the military for putting me out with Bi-polar disorder, when it is fully treatable with medication and periodic counseling, kind of like those with PTSD.
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I don't think it's the word "disorder" that causes the stigma. It's the entire term. For example people who say they are OCD. They rarely mean that in a negative way. Some even say it proudly and it's often looked at as a positive. The word disorder doesn't change that.<div>DIS-order simply means I have something that I can't get in order. Whether it's eating, or post traumatic stress, and I need help to do it or fix it. (get it in order)</div><div>We all have stress; marital stress, kid stress, financial stress, whatever. Once those stresses present with medical symptoms it becomes a disorder in my opinion. For some people that level of stress is high, others low. Someone can see someones head get blown off and be fine, another persons life could be ruined by it. </div><div>I think someone with PTSD is more concerned about the symptoms than with someone pointing out they have a disorder.</div><div>I tell my folks, I have PTS....you don't wanna see my "D!"</div><div><br></div>
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