"Why I'm Skeptical of PTSD Claims... And You Should Be Too"

[DA SWO]

Part of the issue is how they developed the standards for PTSD.
My first eval you needed three "triggers" to get a PTSD diagnosis, then it was dropped to one for awhile.
My last evals they had a sliding scale where you were diagnosed with none, mild, moderate, severe; which (IMO) is a more accurate way of doing the diagnosis.

 

[Marauder06]

A recent article in The Guardian made me think of this article again:

"I know I’m going to catch hell from my brothers and sisters in the veteran community on this one, but it needs to be said: I’m becoming skeptical of some PTSD claims, and you should be too."

 

[DA SWO]

A recent article in The Guardian made me think of this article again:

"I know I’m going to catch hell from my brothers and sisters in the veteran community on this one, but it needs to be said: I’m becoming skeptical of some PTSD claims, and you should be too."

I am skeptical, have seen too many frauds.

I know of one case where 30 plus witnesses gave sworn statements that the Vet was/is lying about his experiences, and I still haven't seen where the Attorney General's Office (I can not say what state) hasn't indicted.

I also think the VA is willing to give a PTSD Diagnosis out for CYA reasons, and as a way to disarm a segment of society.

Ironically, I've also seen a shit load of people who need that diagnosis who are unwilling to admit a problem exists (generally (my experience) type A hard-chargers)

 

[reed11b]

Examining The Narrative of 22
This falls in the same the category. One thing many people miss, is that the population that makes up the vast majority of the Military (Young Adult Males, Caucasians in particular) is also the population with the highest suicide rates in the civilian world. It's awful, and almost all of us have lost someone to it, but I feel that the 22 a day thing falls into the same playing the victim card as the exaggerated PTSD claims.
Reed

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Examining The Narrative of 22
This falls in the same the category. One thing many people miss, is that the population that makes up the vast majority of the Military (Young Adult Males, Caucasians in particular) is also the population with the highest suicide rates in the civilian world. It's awful, and almost all of us have lost someone to it, but I feel that the 22 a day thing falls into the same playing the victim card as the exaggerated PTSD claims.
Reed

I made it up to the point that they stated "1 GWOT vet a day commit's suicide, ONE". Here is an idea, one vet of any war killing themselves a day, is fucked. As for the 22 a day, I don't give a fuck what war they served in, or if they reason was because of PTSD, etc. What I care about is my brothers and sisters offing themselves on a daily bases, because this world, more specifically this country has become so fucked up, that they would rather check out than spend anymore time in it.

Not venting on you Reed, I love ya bro, but this shit fucking pisses me off to no end, and its not something to be taken lightly about in a bullshit article.

That said, maybe society as a whole should reexamine this current bullshit culture being forced down our necks, of poverty, limited (only with special permission) freedom, and emotionally unstable "you hurt my tenderhearted feelings" bullshit, with regards to the veteran suicide rate.

Or maybe the veteran community should stop offing themselves, and start offing some of these pussies who ruined our lives having us fighting in wars that used up our bodies, minds and souls, while they profited in every possible fucking way, and who are still trying to profit from our god damn recovery. While forcing us to seek substandard medical care, while watching our families suffer because we are all fucked up.

I'm going to push away from the keyboard and take a walk now. Y'all have a great night.....fuck!

 

[Marauder06]

Other than that article by OAF, I don't think I've ever seen anyone say it's 22 GWOT vets. A vet is a vet. And vets DO kill themselves at a higher rate than the general population. The OAF article stresses that the original data was "incomplete," umm... doesn't that mean that there are potentially MORE dead veterans that are not being counted?

OAF missed the boat on this one.

 

[TLDR20]

I made it up to the point that they stated "1 GWOT vet a day commit's suicide, ONE". Here is an idea, one vet of any war killing themselves a day, is fucked. As for the 22 a day, I don't give a fuck what war they served in, or if they reason was because of PTSD, etc. What I care about is my brothers and sisters offing themselves on a daily bases, because this world, more specifically this country has become so fucked up, that they would rather check out than spend anymore time in it.

Not venting on you Reed, I love ya bro, but this shit fucking pisses me off to no end, and its not something to be taken lightly about in a bullshit article.

That said, maybe society as a whole should reexamine this current bullshit culture being forced down our necks, of poverty, limited (only with special permission) freedom, and emotionally unstable "you hurt my tenderhearted feelings" bullshit, with regards to the veteran suicide rate.

Or maybe the veteran community should stop offing themselves, and start offing some of these pussies who ruined our lives having us fighting in wars that used up our bodies, minds and souls, while they profited in every possible fucking way, and who are still trying to profit from our god damn recovery. While forcing us to seek substandard medical care, while watching our families suffer because we are all fucked up.

I'm going to push away from the keyboard and take a walk now. Y'all have a great night.....fuck!

Maybe you should have continued reading.

 

[TLDR20]

Other than that article by OAF, I don't think I've ever seen anyone say it's 22 GWOT vets. A vet is a vet. And vets DO kill themselves at a higher rate than the general population. The OAF article stresses that the original data was "incomplete," umm... doesn't that mean that there are potentially MORE dead veterans that are not being counted?

OAF missed the boat on this one.

I disagree pretty hard here. The general consensus(right or wrong) everywhere is that GWOT era vets are killing themselves at a rate of 22 a day. That is a stigma that can be hard to overcome. For us in school, or entering the workforce there is a perception that we may be damaged or suicidal, and that is propagated by this #22 stuff. I have been asked questions that verify this, and the #22 thing was referenced as a current generation problem.

Obviously veteran suicide is a problem. The rate is higher than the general population. That sucks. But the point of the op Ed was to point out it isn't us killing ourselves, and I agree that guys might be pushed that way due to the perception that they are "fitting in".

I lost a friend to suicide myself, he was a GWOT vet, but I don't think that played into his suicide as much as a lot of other shit.

 

[AWP]

Given the recent focus on CTE within the NFL I'd like to see more autopsies on suicide victims to check for brain damage. Even going past the obvious like TBI from an IED strike, how many of you had a jump or two or whatever "ring your bell?" How many other events? Doing H2H and after awhile you have a headache from being someone's take down dummy....are we sure that didn't lead to some dings or mild concussion?

Veterans, even without an IED, are probably exposed to more head trauma than many other groups within society. Do we take as many shots to the head as an NFL player? No, but CTE and its thresholds are still being worked out.

None of this even touches the burn pit/ Agent Orange/ Desert Storm syndrome/ contaminated water or other possible health issues which will take a toll on our bodies and minds. Do we really understand the causes behind the suicide rate or do we generalize and say "PTSD" or war "messed him/ her up?" Do concussions or a certain amount of brain trauma lower one's threshold for PTSD and depression? What combinations make us more susceptible to taking our lives? We're losing too many for this to have a cut and dried source.

 

[Brill]

That is a stigma that can be hard to overcome. For us in school, or entering the workforce there is a perception that we may be damaged or suicidal, and that is propagated by this #22 stuff.

Within the USG workforce, the perception was/is viewed as reality and it is very common among DOD civilians who support combat operations (via networked systems and through "Pred porn").

 

[RackMaster]

Given the recent focus on CTE within the NFL I'd like to see more autopsies on suicide victims to check for brain damage. Even going past the obvious like TBI from an IED strike, how many of you had a jump or two or whatever "ring your bell?" How many other events? Doing H2H and after awhile you have a headache from being someone's take down dummy....are we sure that didn't lead to some dings or mild concussion?

Veterans, even without an IED, are probably exposed to more head trauma than many other groups within society. Do we take as many shots to the head as an NFL player? No, but CTE and its thresholds are still being worked out.

None of this even touches the burn pit/ Agent Orange/ Desert Storm syndrome/ contaminated water or other possible health issues which will take a toll on our bodies and minds. Do we really understand the causes behind the suicide rate or do we generalize and say "PTSD" or war "messed him/ her up?" Do concussions or a certain amount of brain trauma lower one's threshold for PTSD and depression? What combinations make us more susceptible to taking our lives? We're losing too many for this to have a cut and dried source.

My neurologist said something very similar and basically said any damage adds up. Even if there's no physical hit to the melon, severe shaking causes damage; the melon can only bounce around inside the shell so much.

 

[DA SWO]

My neurologist said something very similar and basically said any damage adds up. Even if there's no physical hit to the melon, severe shaking causes damage; the melon can only bounce around inside the shell so much.

One reason why Parachute Training is listed as a qualifier for Dual Compensation when you retire.

 

[Ranger Psych]

wait what? dual comp?

 

[DA SWO]

wait what? dual comp?

Let me look it up, there are a couple of qualifiers (I think it's only for 20 and over retirees)

 

[Ranger Psych]

Yeah, I'm not worried about it. CRSC is better than the other program making up for concurrent reciept.

 

[J.S.]

In 2013, the LA Times completed a study concerning modern veteran suicide. It concluded that around two GWOT vets commit suicide daily.

One more step was required to make the comparisons relevant. California veterans under 35 are about 80% male, and nearly half are over 29. A straight comparison to the general population in that age group would be less than ideal, since suicide and accident rates vary significantly by gender and age.

The Times adjusted the non-veteran death rates so they reflected the age and gender mix of the veteran population.

As the story explained, suicide and accident rates were substantially higher for veterans. Over the six years examined by The Times, 329 California veterans under 35 took their own lives. That amounts to an average annual rate of 27 suicides per 100,000 veterans.

If that rate were to hold true across the country, about 530 young veterans are committing suicide each year — roughly 1.5 each day.

A misunderstood statistic: 22 military veteran suicides a day

 

[Red Flag 1]

In 2013, the LA Times completed a study concerning modern veteran suicide. It concluded that around two GWOT vets commit suicide daily.

One more step was required to make the comparisons relevant. California veterans under 35 are about 80% male, and nearly half are over 29. A straight comparison to the general population in that age group would be less than ideal, since suicide and accident rates vary significantly by gender and age.

The Times adjusted the non-veteran death rates so they reflected the age and gender mix of the veteran population.

As the story explained, suicide and accident rates were substantially higher for veterans. Over the six years examined by The Times, 329 California veterans under 35 took their own lives. That amounts to an average annual rate of 27 suicides per 100,000 veterans.

If that rate were to hold true across the country, about 530 young veterans are committing suicide each year — roughly 1.5 each day.

A misunderstood statistic: 22 military veteran suicides a day

Why the bold print?

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Let me look it up, there are a couple of qualifiers (I think it's only for 20 and over retirees)

The double dip is for 20+ year's w/ service connected disability ratings. Guys like RS and me can only draw one or the other, excluding CRSC.

Yeah, I'm not worried about it. CRSC is better than the other program making up for concurrent reciept.

I still haven't applied for CRSC, not sure on the process, but had a buddy who was drawing like $150, so I just kinda blew it off. I received my permanent retirement orders (off the TDRL) last March at 90% (100% with the VA). Was it worth the time doing CRSC? Also how difficult was the paperwork, did you have to go see someone, or just do it on your own? I need to file it but been procrastinating like a turd.

 

[Ranger Psych]

The criteria for CRSC are odd and not that well documented, however in my case it was well worth submitting for.

 

[J.S.]

@Red Flag 1 very graciously sent me a PM concerning my post in this thread, and I would like to apologize for straying outside my lane. I try my best not to interject personal feeling or advice into any of my posts, I was attempting to offer up data that I felt would add to the discussion. The bold print was a quote from the study and I bolded to identify it as such, not to emphasize personal commentary or challenge anyone. Again, I profusely apologize for giving advice where I clearly do not rate. I will definitely do better in the future and read more, post less.