What are the odds of getting post traumatic stress disorder, outside of the army? Personal experiences please?

Question

I'm entering the army soon and have seen exclusives on army and military PTSD and i was just wondering what are the risks of me getting that my self. If you could include personal references whether its yourself or a friend I would appreciate that. Also if I could get some opinions from physcological professionals. Thank you!

Answer 1

My friend got PTSD when she found her Mom after she had committed suicide. She thinks its her fault and has to be on a bunch of meds and its very hard for her to be alive.

But she is getting help and getting better.

I think the odds of getting it are what branch of the army you're in. If you're on the battlefield, I say you probably could because tons of bad things happen in the army and you'd probably see sad little kids crying and dying and people dead.  

Answer 2

PTSD is caused by a psychologically traumatic event involving actual or threatened death or serious injury to oneself or others. Such triggering events are called 'stressors'; they may be experienced alone or while in a large group.

Violent personal assault, such as rape or mugging, car or plane accidents, military combat, industrial accidents and natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, are stressors which have caused people to suffer from PTSD. In some cases, seeing another person harmed or killed, or learning that a close friend or family member is in serious danger has caused the disorder.

The symptoms of PTSD usually begin within 3 months of the traumatic event. However, sometimes they surface many years later. The duration of PTSD, and the strength of the symptoms, vary. For some people, recovery may be achieved in 6 months; for others, it may take much longer.

There are three categories of symptoms. The first involves re-experiencing the event. This is the main characteristic of PTSD and it can happen in different ways. Most commonly the person has powerful, recurrent memories of the event, or recur-rent nightmares or flashbacks in which they re-live their distressing experience. The anniversary of the triggering event, or situations which remind them of it, can also cause extreme discomfort. Avoidance and emotional numbing are the second category of symptoms. The first occurs when people with PTSD avoid encountering scenarios which may remind them of the trauma. Emotional numbing generally begins very soon after the event. A person with PTSD may withdraw from friends and family, they may lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed and have difficulty feeling emotions, especially those associated with intimacy. Feelings of extreme guilt are also common.

Answer 3

People who lock away their feelings during and immediately after trauma are much more apt to get PTSD than those who feel them either in the moment or shortly, thereafter.  It's often survival instinct to turn them off duuring the moment, but keeping them off after is the part that is unhealthy.  It is burying feelings that need to be processed.  The sooner you do, the healthier you stay.  Don't confuse being a tough, emotionless guy with being a man.  Men feel, and healthier ones feel a lot instead of seeking to stay half way in shock.  The other thing to know is that you are taking orders.  What you do is at another's command.  What happens is not your fault.  Forgive yourself if it goes bad.

I don't know the odds, but child abuse and rape are common and are very common sources of PTSD.  Going through the trauma in bite size pieces that can be tolerated helps process what's been locked away.  The memories never leave, but the haunting and total life consuming nature diminishes and becomes manageable if they doesn't mostly fade altogether.  

I wish you well over there.  Take care of yourself physically and emotionally.  A lot of people want you back home safe and sound.

Answer 4

I am not a psychological professional.  I am a State Chaplain of the Vietnam Veterans of America.  From your question if I take it at face value you are weighing your odds which is a very logical thing to do before any major action.

So lets use logic to answer your question.  PTSD is a normal human reaction to an abnormal life event.  It is caused by an event or series of events which traumatize the person.  

Certainly the odds of experiencing a traumatic event are influenced by the profession we choose.  If you become a combat military man then your odds of experiencing trauma are higher than someone who is perhaps a Children's Librarian.  However the librarian is not immune from trauma.  Perhaps the library is engulfed in flames and one of the children is burned alive before your eyes.  The librarian could be in an automobile accident, raped, assaulted, or any number of possibilities.  

Also know that everyone who experiences a traumatic event does not develop PTSD.   Two people could experience the same thing and one would recover in a short time while the other could be effected for the rest of their lives.  

To reduce your over all risk of PTSD it is helpful to maintain a good support system of family and friends because you may need them in a time of need.  Further you will be needed by some of them in their times of need.  Also be careful of alcohol and drug use.  If something happens do not be afraid to seek help.  You will not be the first to have the problem or the last.

Answer 5

For myself, being a battered wife cause PTSD.  I get episodes when my stressors are over-whelmed from many different things.  When my son was arrested and sent to prison, I had a very bad episode - saw a 'man w/hat in my apt. which was actually my imagination, but it caused quite a bit of flash-back type pain.  At times when I'm feeling very blue, I can get a flash-back of 'out of this world' pain which is from the 'bad years' that I locked away that wasn't able to deal with.  I'm still not able to deal with much of that time frame and it's been 40+ yrs ago.  

PTSD is triggered by different things for different people.  The best advice I can give is to talk it out with you CO, medic or clergy if something bad happens while you are in the Army.   Keeping it locked up doesn't help as it can fester and eat away at you causing some serious stress issues.  And also keep in mind that Stress Can Kill if it isn't dealt with properly.  Stress Attacks are very bad.  I've had 2 of them and they get worse with each episode.  Good mental health is very important.  You might want to discuss this issue with your minister for your own peace of mind before you start your basic training.  

My oldest son had a bad case of blues, whatever, in his senior hs year.  He went to the Army and was able to conquer what ever it was that had made him so terribly unhappy.  He not only blossomed into a really great young man, but he re-upped and made it to Sgt, before having to leave due to knee injuries.  

Look at the bright side, if you are required to do things that you wouldn't normally do, kill the enemy, etc, always remember that is what wars are intended to do.   Many of our Vets have had to do things in the service of our country that they wouldn't do as a civilian.  They talk about their victories, medals, and losses of friends, but are mentally healthy.  

Best of luck to you in your service career!