Three PTSD Myths: Ending Stigma of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

There are many myths about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Due to the stigma of mental illnesses such as PTSD, myths are common. The best way to address a myth is by educating people with the truth. So here are three myths about PTSD.

PTSD Myth One: Only Military Service Members Get PTSD

While PTSD is popularly associated with military service during a time of war--while I was writing this I found several websites targeted toward military service members with PTSD--this is not the only way to get PTSD (Understanding Combat PTSD blog). According to Dr. Aphrodite Matsakis's I Can't Get Over It, PTSD can be contracted many ways. She writes:

PTSD symptoms are estimated to affect, at the very minimum, some 8 to 9 percent of our population. Recent studies show that PTSD develops, on average, in 25 percent of those exposed to a traumatic stressor:

• In 2 percent of those exposed to an accident of any kind
• In 25 to 33 percent of those exposed to a community disaster
• In 25 percent of those who experienced traumatic bereavement
• In 30 percent of Vietnam veterans
• In 65 percent of those experiencing nonsexual assault
• In 84 percent of battered women in shelters
• In 35 to 92 percent of those who were raped

For example, I have PTSD from surviving abuse. Although I am a veteran, I acquired PTSD prior to joining the military--I just hadn't had symptoms. PTSD does not always manifest immediately; in fact, to merit the diagnosis, symptoms must be present for at least a month. You may be wondering, "What are the symptoms of PTSD?" Read on, for there are PTSD myths about that, too.

PTSD Myth Two: PTSD Is Only Flashbacks

Flashbacks are the best known symptom of PTSD, but they are not the only one. According to HealthyPlace, PTSD criteria include reliving the event through nightmares, flashbacks, hallucinations or severe distress when triggered, as well as three of the following avoidance symptoms:

• Avoidance of thoughts, feelings or conversations related to the event
• Avoidance of people, places or activities that may trigger memories of the event
• Difficulty remembering important aspects of the event
• Significantly reduced interest or participation in important activities
• Feeling of alienation from others
• Reduced range of affect (visible emotions)
• Sense of a foreshortened future

Two of the following hyperarousal symptoms must also be present:

• Insomnia or difficulty staying asleep
• Inability to concentrate
• Hypervigilance
• Angry outbursts or irritable mood
• Exaggerated startle response

Flashbacks are not the only symptom. For example, I have flashbacks only when under intense stress. My PTSD symptoms are dominated by avoidance of triggers of the event, nightmares, and hypervigilance.

PTSD Myth Three: People With PTSD Are Violent

TaskAndPurpose.com reports¹:

Several classic war movies, as well as sensationalized media coverage, have helped perpetuate the “crazy war vet” stereotype, which is an inaccurate depiction. PTSD is not characterized by psychosis or violence. Rather, symptoms of PTSD surround coping with the memory and implications of a traumatic experience (e.g., distressing memories and changes in mood). Furthermore, “crazy” is never the best word choice. “Crazy” is not a diagnosis, rather it is a damaging and stigmatizing label.

VeteransToday.com agrees, explaining²:

Symptoms of PTSD vary depending on the person with the disorder. Angry outbursts and violence don’t always occur, even if the illness was brought forth by events involving violent crime and torture. Ultimately, how a person reacts to a traumatic event is dependent on their individual attributes and sensibilities. For example, additional symptoms may include memory disturbances and the inability to connect and reconnect with others. The severity of each symptom increases and decreases and almost never remains constant.

I'm a pacifist and while I have lashed out, it's not my normal behavior. PTSD does not make a person more dangerous--mental illness in general doesn't make anyone more dangerous. The myth of the violent psychiatric patient must end.

So those are three myths about PTSD. What are some myths you've heard?

Sources

¹ Holtz, P. (2015, February 3). 8 Common Myths About PTSD Debunked. Retrieved October 26, 2015.

² 10 Common Misconceptions about PTSD. (2011, March 6). Retrieved October 26, 2015.

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