- 4 of 7 - Percieved Stigma
Imagine this, a seasoned veteran with multiple tours of active duty, participated in life threatening missions, and was exposed to the gruesome aftermath of exploding improvised explosive devices (IEDs) claiming countless lives of comrades. The horrors of IED explosions, clearing buildings, and engaging in relentless hand-to-hand combat situations haunt the veteran and lead to the development of severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite the horrific and persistent memories causing emotional turmoil, the veteran refrains from seeking help due to the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the military. The veteran believes that admitting vulnerability would jeopardize career opportunities and wreck strong bonds forged with fellow soldiers. As the effects of untreated PTSD deepen, the veteran struggles to maintain relationships and perform activities of daily living such as showering, changing clothes, adequate sleep, and eating enough to sustain weight. Eventually, the veteran’s spiral downward gains momentum through substance abuse and experiencing the grips of the abyss – a bottomless chasm void of light, sound, or signs of life, all because the perceived stigma associated with seeking help prevented the veteran from addressing the internal wounds from active military service.
November 11th each year marks Veteran’s Day and in the US, we honor those who are serving and have served in the military. My family ancestors through current day family members have a strong percentage of those serving in the military – patriotism is robust. As I continue my journey, #MissionStigmaFree, to learn about stigmas through the end of 2023, I chose to investigate stigma and the severe impacts it may have on veterans. Perceived stigma is the 4th of 7 main types of stigmas I am exploring.
While my opening paragraph describes the effects of perceived stigma on a veteran, I want to be clear the story is not intended to be a representation of all veterans or even anyone I know directly. I wrote the brief story for the sole purpose of expressing what impacts of perceived stigma may look like for a veteran. In general, veterans might think that people view them in a negative or unfair way because of serving in the military and these perceived stigmas can affect self-esteem, mental health, and willingness to seek help or talk about their experiences.
More specifically, according to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the prevalence of PTSD among military personnel is estimated to impact about 10%-20% of those who serve. It is also anticipated that the reported percentage is low due to perceived stigma in reporting and other factors such as deployment requirements, personal expectations of resilience, and access to support systems.
The National Center for PTSD is a valuable resource for understanding perceived stigmas among veterans. They have conducted studies to learn about how veterans feel about the way others see them. They also provide ample resources supporting family and friends to provide help, or for self-help optoins, as well.
Thank you to all who serve or have served – you are greatly appreciated!
#veteransday #thankyouveterans #freedomisntfree #neverforget