Dispelling Myths about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

As a warrior, you may encounter traumatic experiences during your military career. These events may occur while on deployment, in training, or even at home. As a result of a traumatic event, you may experience periods of anger, trouble sleeping, nightmares, intrusive memories, sadness, and more. If these concerns persist for more than one month, they may be signs of PTSD.

Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. However, it is one of the most common invisible wounds of war.

It is important to talk to a health care provider if you or someone you know has any concerns. Getting help is a sign of strength. Below are five common PTSD myths:

Myth: PTSD is always combat-related.

Fact: PTSD can be caused by many types of traumatic experience, including house fires, car accidents, and sexual assaults. Remember that any perceived threat to your safety can cause PTSD. Reaching out early can help you manage your symptoms and is likely to help you feel better.

Myth: Service members can never recover from PTSD.

Fact: Seeking evidence-based mental health treatment early may significantly improve your symptoms. PTSD can reoccur but using the coping tools you learn in treatment may significantly decrease the intensity and duration of your symptoms.

Myth: Service members with PTSD have all of the same symptoms.

Fact: There are many possible PTSD symptoms; everyone experiences PTSD differently. Some service members have nightmares and trouble concentrating. Others relive the event through flashbacks and have intrusive thoughts about their trauma. To learn more about flashbacks, read the article “Strategies for Coping with Flashbacks.” A mental health provider will work with you to develop a custom treatment plan to meet your specific needs, once you seek care.

Myth: Getting help for PTSD will hurt my ability to get or maintain a security clearance.

Fact: All military roles require a background check, and most require a security clearance. There are some uncommon mental disorders that can impair your ability to safeguard classified information and hold a clearance or position of trust.. However, the vast majority of service members who seek mental health treatment are able to get or maintain a clearance as long as they are proactively and responsibly addressing their symptoms, and aren’t impaired by struggling with a serious mental disorder. For more information regarding security clearances and mental health, read DOD Instruction 6490.08 and the infographic, "Five Things to Know About Mental Health and Confidentiality".

Myth: Only service members experience PTSD.

Fact: Anyone who faces a traumatic event can develop PTSD. It can affect people of any age, sex, race, or income level. Families living with a service member coping with PTSD are also likely to be impacted.

If you or a loved one needs additional support, contact the Psychological Health Resource Center 24/7 to confidentially speak with trained health resource consultants. Call 866-966-1020 or use the Live Chat.

Additional Resources:

Sources:

  • Bisson, J. I., & Olff, M. (2021). Prevention and treatment of PTSD: the current evidence base. European journal of psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1824381. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1824381
  • Blais, R. K., Tirone, V., Orlowska, D., Lofgreen, A., Klassen, B., Held, P., Stevens, N., & Zalta, A. K. (2021). Self-reported PTSD symptoms and social support in U.S. military service members and veterans: a meta-analysis. European journal of psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1851078. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1851078
  • Schrader, C., & Ross, A. (2021). A Review of PTSD and Current Treatment Strategies. Missouri medicine, 118(6), 546–551.
  • Shepherd-Banigan, M., Shapiro, A., Sheahan, K. L., Ackland, P. E., Meis, L. A., Thompson-Hollands, J., Edelman, D., Calhoun, P. S., Weidenbacher, H., & Van Houtven, C. H. (2023). Mental health therapy for veterans with PTSD as a family affair: A qualitative inquiry into how family support and social norms influence veteran engagement in care. Psychological services, 20(4), 839–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000742
  • Thakur, A., Choudhary, D., Kumar, B., & Chaudhary, A. (2022). A Review on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Therapies and Recent Case Studies. Current molecular pharmacology, 15(3), 502–516. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874467214666210525160944
  • Thompson-Hollands, J., Rando, A. A., Stoycos, S. A., Meis, L. A., & Iverson, K. M. (2022). Family Involvement in PTSD Treatment: Perspectives from a Nationwide Sample of Veterans Health Administration Clinicians. Administration and policy in mental health, 49(6), 1019–1030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-022-01214-1
  • Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. (2023). VA/DOD clinical practice guideline for the management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. (Version 4.0). https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/ptsd/VA-DoD-CPG-PTSD-Full-CPG-Edited-11162024.pdf

Updated June 2025