When I became a police officer in 2009, I was suffering from PTSD due to my deployment to Afghanistan. I spent years learning how to manage my symptoms and get it under control. As I faced my internal struggles, I had to deal with the operational demands, lack of understanding from my peers, and the stigma around mental illness.

Despite the progress made in the last 20 years related to PTSD diagnosis and treatments, there is still a substantial amount of stigma and misinformation about PTSD and those who suffer from it. I personally saw this result in people not understanding how they feel, not speaking about their experiences, and not seeking treatment when required.

This article seeks to shed some light on the common myths to break down barriers and increase awareness for those who may be experiencing PTSD. Some of these, I believed myself or saw others battling these beliefs.

5 Common PTSD Myths:

1.  “Given enough exposure to traumatic events, getting PTSD is inevitable.”

Although you may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms after exposure to a traumatic event, developing PTSD is not a guarantee. The studies into prevalence vary greatly, but on the higher end, it is estimated that around 20-30% of first responders might develop PTSD during their careers. Regardless of the prevalence, numerous factors contribute to whether you will experience it during your career.

You do have the ability to reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD, and the factors in your control include applying positive coping mechanisms, building and utilizing a support network, and accessing therapy when required. It is not helpful to internalize the belief that you will inevitably get PTSD because it might blind you to seeking treatment early on.

2.  “Struggling with PTSD means something is wrong with me and I’m weak.”

PTSD involves complex biological and psychological processes, and many factors contribute to whether you will develop PTSD. You could apply all the correct positive coping mechanisms and still end up with PTSD even if you did everything right. Suffering from any mental illness, particularly PTSD, is not a sign of weakness.

Recognize that your struggles are a normal response to abnormal situations, and it’s okay that you are not okay. One of the biggest challenges with mental illness is that it is invisible to the outside person. When I was struggling, I felt quite alone. I am a vocal advocate for mental health because I know what it feels like to think something is wrong with you and you are alone in your struggles.

3.  “Only really bad traumatic events lead to PTSD. Mine weren’t bad enough.”

A traumatic event is defined as exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, whether directly experiencing it, witnessing it, learning it occurred to people close to you, or experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s). The more extreme the event, the more impactful it might be. However, susceptibility to PTSD involves many factors more than just “how bad” your traumatic event was.

Everyone’s experiences after exposure to traumatic events are unique, and how you respond to them is unique to you. Individual perceptions of trauma and subsequent reactions vary substantially. Comparing yourself to others is a losing battle. Regardless of what caused your PTSD, you are no less worthy of support and recovery.

4.  “I can’t do anything about how I feel, I just have to live with it.”

If you are struggling with PTSD symptoms, it can sometimes feel like this is just what your life is like now. Whether the symptoms have come on gradually or you’ve been enduring them for a while, it can be difficult to see the path out of the struggle. Fortunately, PTSD is generally very treatable.

Treatment often involves different therapy options to reduce the severity of your symptoms and regain a normal quality of life. Medications can be effective in taking the edge off your symptoms to make therapy easier to manage. The treatments work. You just have to take the step to go.  

5.  “My struggles are normal. There’s no way this is PTSD.”

When your profession involves repeated exposure to traumatic events, you will regularly experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress combined with the normal stressors of shift work. When you ride the cycle of trauma to trauma and dealing with your stressors, it’s easy to become blind to the symptoms. You end up explaining away your symptoms because you are used to them. You can’t see the problem it’s become until it’s too late.

It's important to frequently take a step back and ask yourself if your coping mechanisms are really effective or not. If you are experiencing numerous symptoms of post-traumatic stress, they last for more than one month, and they cause significant distress or impairment in your life, you may have PTSD. Professional help is required to get you back on track. In general, the sooner you receive treatment, the faster you recover.

Conclusion:

PTSD is a complex condition that has numerous causes and factors. Although awareness around it has improved – particularly in the first responder community – there are still a lot of misconceptions, judgments, and stigma. Everyone is responsible for reducing stigma and creating a culture where members are encouraged to speak up and ask for help when required.

If you suspect you may have PTSD, your best course of action is to see a therapist to discuss your situation, particularly one who specializes in trauma therapy and first responders. You have nothing to lose if you go and a lot to gain. You are worthy of the support.

Your options include peer support groups, help lines, therapy, and reading more about PTSD and mental health. If you are in a crisis, please reach out immediately for support. Doing so takes a lot of courage, but you can get better.