In this first episode of a two-part series on the PTSD Bytes podcast, host Dr. Colleen Becket-Davenport discusses some common myths surrounding PTSD with Dr. Kelly Maieritsch, clinical psychologist and director of the PTSD Mentoring program that supports PTSD specialty clinics throughout VA.
Myth: Only military Veterans and people in combat zones get PTSD.
Fact: Anyone who experiences or witnesses a traumatic event can develop PTSD.
Many different experiences can lead to PTSD—not just combat. These can include physical and sexual assault, serious work accidents or natural disasters. These events can occur at different points in your life—ranging from childhood to adulthood—whether during military service or not.
Myth: Everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.
Fact: Traumatic events do not automatically lead to PTSD, and everyone reacts differently to trauma.
People who experience traumatic events have a wide range of reactions, including constantly thinking about what happened, experiencing increased anger or fear, or having a hard time concentrating. Feeling upset or distressed are common reactions to trauma and, for many people, they begin to decrease over time. It is when these expected reactions do not get better over time that individuals develop PTSD.
Myth: PTSD occurs immediately after a traumatic event.
Fact: Symptoms of PTSD may take months or even years to appear.
For some people, normal-type reactions quickly transition into stronger reactions that negatively affect day-to-day living. For others, these reactions only start to affect them later on in life. Some adults do not have PTSD symptoms until retirement. Work may have helped distract them or bury their feelings about trauma for years.
In this video, Veterans describe why they were hesitant to get PTSD treatment:
Myth: PTSD is a sign of weakness and people with PTSD are broken.
Fact: There is no evidence that people living with PTSD are incapable of getting better given the right type of treatment and support.
Individuals living with PTSD manage all of their day-to-day tasks while having to constantly worry about events triggering memories of some of the most terrible experiences of their lives. In other words, people with PTSD take what we do on a daily basis and add additional struggles on top of it, which makes them resilient, not weak. And based on years of research, we know that people with PTSD can feel better.
If you want to better understand the wide range of experiences of people with PTSD, a good resource is the website AboutFace. On the website, there are many videos from Veterans spanning six decades of military service sharing their personal and heartfelt stories about their different experiences with trauma, PTSD and recovery.
You can learn what PTSD treatment is like from the Veterans’ point of view as well as from the providers’ point of view. You can also watch videos from family members and friends discussing what it’s like to care about someone who is struggling with PTSD symptoms.
Additional links
- Additional VA article on common PTSD myths
- National Center for PTSD’s guide on supporting a loved one struggling with PTSD
- Learn more about the AboutFace website on PTSD Bytes Episode #22
- PTSD Consultation Program (for VA and non-VA providers)
- Learn more about VA mental health apps
- Find mental health treatment at VA
- More PTSD Bytes episodes
If you are a Veteran who is experiencing a crisis or supporting a loved one who is, call 988 and press 1 for immediate assistance, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat.
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Never realized I had PTSD until it really hit me hard with my bad memories of combat coming back into my mind. It has taken years now to realize that I do have PTSD and it is burning a hole in my mind at times as I remember some combat situations. This all started about 30 years ago and I have been out of the military since 1968 approx. It’s not hard to remember the bad times in Vietnam hanging out of a helicopter firing an m-60 machine gun almost everyday for a full year just to stay alive. It was kill or be killed.
I have never been professionally diagnosed with PTSD even though I am a VA Mental Health patient with a good nurse practitioner. She apparently missed my history of symptomatic anxiety when I was in the initial counseling phase with her and a VA psychologist. She did acknowledge that I needed to be on either a antidepressant or an anti-anxiety medication or both. Anyway, I went on Prozac and Buspar for a while, but discontinued the Buspar and stayed on Prozac. My old nemesis was finally discovered on YouTube of all places and was revealed to be CPTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder). This is the kind that started developing many years ago after my father’s suicide and continued snowballing from one after another seemingly traumatic emotional event to my present day (74yro) . Events have included being drafted for Vietnam in 1972, being drafted out of college, going through a marital divorce in 1984-85, having to sell the house in 1986, and sabotaging my technical career with Motorola by being arrested and convicted of Florida DUI accident in April 1985 which imposed serious sanctions. After I found my way through that ‘snafu’ I quit Motorola over a serious mental health breakdown and nothing has ever seemed to go my way career wise or otherwise to an overwhelming extent again. To go along with the ‘rambling wreck’ from Georgia Tech, I’ve spent the rest of my precarious life trying to stay upright and supporting myself. I am now retired and on social security and VA health care. Thank God for that!
Most of these “experts” are so full of sh-t it is unbelievable,
To say a veteran PTSD/MST decreases over time is heartless. If a person hasn’t personally experienced sexual/assault should never use a platform of this magnitude to make such statement. Everyday I’m reminded of my assaults and grooming for me their self-satisfaction. There’re constant times I’m retriggered been living with this trauma since 1981. Yes, I’ve received therapy and still in therapy/CBT, yet those assaults are always present. I have good day but the bad days over shallows those good day. I ‘ve wanted to end my countless times. My faith in God of this universe has intervene.
read bellow
i am trying to apply for a housekeeping job in prov
It seems that VA per say doesn’t apply the rules equally across the board. I have two PTSD events from 1980 and then the last one from 1991 when having to deploy to Turkey/Iraq unarmed, knowing that a hostile force surrounded us on three sides and safety were 100 of kilometers away. The fear of what would happen and how would one defend themselves if this force decided to attack. Furthermore, our government defines “Combat as individuals receiving: Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger pay.”
I have lived with PTSD for 50 years. I got a TBI when in the military service and have tried repeatedly to get help and compensation, but got little help because I didn’t serve in an area of combat.
Thank you for sharing this. You should be able to get care for a TBI related to your military service at VA, and we’re sorry that you have had these experiences seeking care. Unfortunately we’re not able to provide care or assist with benefits, but you can call the national VA hotline that investigates Veterans’ complaints concerning their VA health care. That number is 1-800- 488-8244. We hope this information helps.
I only wanted help medically with my PTSD. After months of trying to just get help with only the run around, I went to my medical provider. She put me on some meds, got me feeling better now then ever. No thanks to the VA.you let this vet down. It’s sad we go and defend this country, and get treated like crsp. I will be letting young people know about my care if asked. Returning the favor.
Thank you for sharing with us. We’re sorry that you have had these experiences accessing PTSD treatment. Unfortunately we’re not able to assist with VA care issues, but we do have a couple recommendations for you. First, you can speak with the patient advocate at your VA Medical Center. They can work to address your concerns by acting as a liaison between you and your care team. Get in touch with them by calling your local VA Medical Center and asking for a patient advocate. Or you can search online using your local VA name and “patient advocate” – the top result should be a website with that person’s name and contact information. There is also a national VA hotline that investigates Veterans’ complaints concerning their VA health care. That number is 1-800- 488-8244. Finally, you can learn more about PTSD treatment options at https://ptsd.va.gov/PTSD/understand_tx/tx_basics.asp. We hope this information helps.
My wife has had a lifelong struggle with sleep, medications and substances which cause sleep or drowsiness, and anesthesia. She is in reasonably good health for a woman in her 50s but developed severe sleep issues after a complete hysterectomy and crippling insomnia following a case of COVID.
A memory was triggered during a recent discussion with a friend who spoke of a time who son was knocked out and could not remain awake (a common reaction for severe head trauma). My wife spoke of time when she fell striking her head on the playground when she was 7 or 8, she wasn’t sure what had happened but suddenly realized her friends were gathered around her inquiring if she was OK. Like most kids, she was embarrassed and went thru the rest of the day like nothing was wrong, but struggled with confusion and a burning desire to sleep as the day wore on. Her mom recognized something was wrong when she got home and after learning she had fallen striking her head during recess called her grandfather ( medic during WWII) and was told not to let her go to sleep and seek medical attention if she displayed additional symptoms.
My wife said her mother kept her busy until her normal bedtime but often yelled “you can’t go to sleep until bed time.”
My mother, her mother and a sister were RNs and dealt with the consequences of my ADD numerous times during my childhood (ha ha ha I have suffered several “knock out” blows during my 70-years). As a veteran, an engineer who worked in “heavy industry,” and then an DOD environmental toxicologist after a return to school, I have been trained to recognized brain trauma.
My wife’s lifelong issues with “falling asleep,” fighting the effects of anesthesia, and becoming ill after taking sleep medications are classic responses to a PTSD event, one which most of us would laugh off as being unimportant.
My name is Bobby Gipson, a Arny Combat Veteran that served in Vietnam.
I walked this earth for 46 years, from 1972, when I returned home to no fanfare or welcome home parties, to 2017, when a Marine friend of mine told me to go & see someone in the VA because I have PTSD, what the hell is that?
I knew something was wrong with me because of all my symptoms compared to that of compound PTSD.
I had a voice tell me when I got out of the military in 1974, “not so fast son, now you’re going to start living in a holy hell” & they couldn’t have been more right.
Alcohol, drugs, anger, avoidance, loss of marriage & kids relationships, you name it I’ll check all the boxes. Yes even I thought about suicide but I wasn’t going to let it win & me quit.
So, in 2017 I walked into VA & asked for help. I was carrying a lot of pain with me but you wouldn’t have been able to tell it by the way I carried myself. No one had heard my story or I couldn’t tell anyone because they just didn’t understand & they never walked in my shoes.
Since that day in March of 2017, the VA has been my savior more times than many. I’ve been taken in as a family member which also I don’t have but always cherished to have one.
I’ve been receiving the therapy that’s been so helpful for me & very blessed to have the best therapists sitting across from me.
So enough about me, what I want to get on my soapbox about & to send this message all over this country of ours.
While going to mental health therapy in Las Vegas, Nevada, who I’d like to have this person recognized, Dr. Amanda Wallick, who should be the poster child for mental health therapy.
She mentioned to me about a place in Helena, Montana called Fort Harrison.
This place is a diamond in the rough for all veterans regardless of era of service,. I was the only Vietnam Vet amongst Iraq & Afghan veterans, so I was a fish out of water, the pops & their history all rolled up into one but was welcomed amongst them. Still I faced an unknown & a uncertainty when I left Las Vegas heading towards that destination that had accepted my presence.
This is also a VA hospital, pharmacy, etc. There’s no veteran turned away.
They deal with Substance Abuse, Alcohol & Drugs & PTSD.
From the time you report, you walk in & the nursing staff welcomes you, takes you to your own room, goes through every piece of your clothing & whatever else you brought, takes your car keys from you if you drove, immediately hooks you up with a pharmacist, who I’ll name later that’s unbelievable as far as being skilled in his field. In just 10 minutes of talking with him, he prescribed me different meds from the ones that I was prescribed in Vegas & totally made me feel so much better.
By the way, you have to leave all your meds at home & bring only a list of them.
For 45 days, you’re housed with Substance abuse & PTSD veterans. You’ll receive 3 square meals a day, with vitals taken & meds given out at certain times of the day or night.
They have town outings in case you need something from the store because you’re in total lockdown but you don’t ever feel like you’re in jail. It’s a warm, friendly, catering, supportive atmosphere. If anyone needs any further details, I’m available for comments or concerns.
Now the best part, 5 days a week from 9am to 4pm, classes, yes I said classes. Group classes taught by the very best, talented, instructors I’ve ever heard, sometimes all the veterans are involved in groups or separated by Substance or PTSD.
At this time I’d like to have you recognize, all the counselors, teachers, peer support & nurses on this campus environment. Their efforts were genuine, not just a 7:30 to 4:30 day on the clock. They’re all giving it their all day after day with whoever walks through their doors or is seated in their classrooms searching for help. A place to feel safe & working with all the different personalities. I sure wished the Vietnam Vets had this place to go to back in the day. The days I spent there, were a definite steppingstone & progress in my battle with PTSD. I give them all a standing ovation for the large part they’re playing towards the many veterans going through their pains. I will always be a believer & an advocate for RRTP program which stands for Residential Rehab Treatment Program in Fort Harrison, Montana. I don’t know all their last names, so forgive me on that part: Curtis, Julie, Ericka, Stephanie, Christine, Bethany, Antwoin, Dr. Bennet, Dr. Jen Rivers, Ryan, Dr. Keaton Labreal & I’m so sorry for more of the staff, nurses & others I’ve failed to mention.
But this institution & people should have a plaque raised in their name & tireless efforts. A place where it should be nationally recognized for all it’s work in helping hurting veterans coming back to our country & wanting to get well & not just being another statistic.
Thank you for your time
Bobby Gipson, class of 1/9 – 2/5/2024
It is very true about being able to handle day to day activities with PTSD. I/we veterans have done a great job of camouflaging PTSD over the years and forever being on guard for the moments when something fairly mundane can trigger a reaction. Then we have difficulty explaining to the people around us “what the hell just happened.”
I have mentioned to my VA primary doctor of PTSD symptoms surfacing within the last ten-years (2013) of terrible experiences performing my military duties during the Vietnam war Surfacing is evident I was too occupied in employment to maintain the experiences low key….Now into retirement Iam struggling with surfacing of bad experiences and yes with nightmares, kicking and violently such… Good to know AboutFace and Podcast.
I have had PTSD since Vietnam. The VA has gone out of their way to deny me treatment and hurt my family and I. The VA will do anything to avoid paying benefits – and I mean anything. The average of death, for my brothers and sisters who served with me, was 47. I have lived well beyond that, for some reason, and I feel obligated to protect and serve their memories. Many committed suicide , after suffering abuse from the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Many, like myself, suffer from Parkinson’s Disease, PTSD, etc. and are left on our own, to suffer and fade away. The VA sucks.
Thank you for sharing your story. We’re sorry that you have had these experiences seeking PTSD treatment. Unfortunately we’re not able to provide care or assist with benefits, but we do have suggestions for you. First, to access the treatment you need you can speak with the patient advocate at your VA Medical Center. They can work to address your concerns by acting as a liaison between you and your care team. Get in touch with them by calling your local VA Medical Center and asking for a patient advocate. Or you can search online using your local VA name and “patient advocate” – the top result should be a website with that person’s name and contact information. There is also a national VA hotline that investigates Veterans’ complaints concerning their VA health care. That number is 1-800- 488-8244. Finally, since you mention your interest in protecting and serving the memories of those with whom you served, you might be interested in connecting with Veterans service organizations, such as the Disabled Veterans of America (https://www.dav.org ). They offer advocacy and opportunities to connect with other Veterans. We hope this information helps.
I kept my secrets neatly tucked away from the rest of the world for over thirty years. I was so fired up and ready for the long run. Because my trauma began in the earliest part of my commitment, the goal of being a career soldier was gone before I had a chance to be that model soldier I was in ROTC and throughout basic and AIT. There was no “Me Too”, it was plain as the words of the president at the time; ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’. That was not just about sexual orientation, it was referring to military sexual assault, unwanted advances, any type of abuse that would put an officer at risk of losing their commission and a slick talking recruiter to be reassigned, the same way the clergy is handled when survivors step up and speak out against them. I had never told anyone, but my actions that followed clearly indicated that I had a problem. Although I have nine chronological years , my active duty service time suffered greatly. i
spent most of my enlistment in the IRR, am=nd finally towards the end of my enlistment I had been diagnosed and started medications, and I was ready to do what I was there for, but unfortunately we were a month or so away from 9/11, I decided to not reenlist. Last year I found the courage to speak up, but I get that the act of speaking up does not go unnoticed. For two years I have been looking for a privste therapist. I really needed to get it all out, but I am not very trusting of others, so I tried to get a doctor through the VA and the first thing she told me was that the VA has stopoed prescribing one of the three medicines I take daily and after finding a combo that helps me so much to this, I have a productive day, I am not comfortable with a new regiment, I have been taking almost everything on the market, but this combo works. And as much as would like to not admit that when I was trying to get in to see a therapist I couldn’t get the VA or UTMB to prescribe the meds withoutban appointment ad after the appointment it can take 7-10 days for something that might halp you with managing your illness immediately. As previously mentioned, I am not happy to admit it but I had to resort to buying the neds on the streets, I understand policy, but I need the VA to understand how huge the impact is when veterans, especially the ones with PTSD, is and the extent they will go to to “feel better”. It’s situations like this that raise suicide and incarceration numbers. Of course I might have a dirty UA, I am buying a house, moving back to daily operations and i live with my biyfriend’s mental health issues.Just the latter alone is enough to drive someonen mad, but just as I had donewith my unacknowledged memories , I tried to just put it all back. and even further this time, and now it’s not that easy so when one cannot porescriptions, the streets become the pharmacy. So I get to complete buying my home, continue to balance budget, and reach for the kind of strength only found in Grandma’s hands.
Not blaming the VA, just stating what I am currently dealing with because I can’t get my medicine, but i know its accessible because it was filled within the last 60 days. PTSD Vets are a very special group of people who have been had some form of trauma in their past thst will always have a tight grip on our lives. Some meds we can’t stop taking cold turkey , yet the same meds are being denied by the doctors, the VA JCOS, More veterans are going to lose this fight unless someone can relate the denial of meds and they gave been left behind.
Sometimes ptsd never goes away. I have had it over 60 years but it wasn’t recognized as such or treated as such.
Charles I understand what you are going through and have gone through. You are my brother in arms. The VA has gone beyond the law. Fight on brother.