The earth is flat. Money buys happiness. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not real; it is just in your head. Some myths carry greater consequences than others. Myths about what PTSD is, who it affects, why you might have it and what can be done are unfortunately, common and harmful. Not being able to distinguish between fact and fiction can be the difference between living with hope and promise and living with despair for someone with the diagnosis.
Myth: Only Weak People Get PTSD Identifying truths about PTSD is challenging given that it is not easily understood either by someone experiencing the related psychological symptoms or by their family and friends. Being uninformed contributes to numerous misconceptions about the disorder, such as having PTSD means you are not mentally tough. That plays particularly well in the military culture where standards of toughness are high and implemented with rigor. Stress reactions to combat situations such as having nightmares, increased anxiety and reliving a traumatic event, are not necessarily indicators of PTSD but if they persist beyond a short-term period it could result in a diagnosis. Some service members may be reluctant to acknowledge these symptoms for fear of being considered weak in character or unreliable, two further myths which keep them from seeking treatment and benefiting from support.