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Post by jockthacker on Dec 18, 2017 10:44:34 GMT -4
I found the PTSD article informative, and concise. The truth remains that soldiers returning from war are the classic example of patients suffering from PTSD. There must be more articles—preferably scientific journal articles—in order to advance the public understanding of PTSD. Public understanding must advance in order to create acceptance, which will encourage trauma victims to feel comfortable seeking psychiatric consultation. As a whole, mental health still has a stigma, which is unfortunate because PTSD is only one of many psychiatric disorders and the #me too article displays reluctance to seek treatment. In general, knowledge comes before acceptance, and we are witnessing a transition towards the public acknowledging sexual trauma as a legitimate cause of PTSD, as well as encouraging victims to seek treatment.
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Post by eliasadrian on Dec 18, 2017 11:03:21 GMT -4
Starting the first article was a little difficult because at first it sounds like another "woe is me," and nobody else matters. I agree that in too many ways women (amongst other groups) have been underrepresented in various ways, but that doesn't mean we should put other groups down. Just because PTSD is focused on men returning from war doesn't mean it's bad or the men with PTSD returning from war are bad, it just means that we and the media aren't focusing on all the right facts. We should still talk about men returning from war with PTSD, but it obviously shouldn't be our main or only focus. I think in the past it has been our main focus because these men have chosen to risk their lives in a career that protects our country, and historically the military has been mostly male. Again, I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but moving forward and making changes to how we view the world doesn't mean we have to put other people or groups down.
I think the media distorts many issues and we don't fully understand the extent of various disorders in all people, regardless of sex, race, religion, etc. Hopefully the #metoo campaign is better and more inclusive than the first article makes it seem. It's fine if the campaign focuses on women, but it doesn't need to discount other people who also suffer from PTSD or are victims.
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Post by Jade Alfasi on Dec 18, 2017 11:10:18 GMT -4
I have seen a good amount of training and attempts to combat this issue during my time in the military. It is a serious concern and has a very high rate along with suicide in the military. We had to take yearly classes in which we did role playing, how to recognize, and how to react to different situations. Except for a few specific units there were few to no women compared to the number of men. The only concern I have about articles like this is the resulting backlash from trying to make the cause at the forefront of so many issues. I was asleep in the barracks one night and a few guys were hanging out talking about a particular female they liked. The next morning, somebody told the female what they had said and she reported it to our chain of command saying she felt like she was being sexually harassed and she was developing PTSD. Is sexual assault and PTSD serious issues, of course they are. But it has to be something that is well addressed but not to the point where it is an excuse used because of an irritation of another person.
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Syed Raza Ali Qadri
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Post by Syed Raza Ali Qadri on Dec 18, 2017 11:12:20 GMT -4
While I agree with the statements from both articles, I believe the issue goes way beyond PTSD. Media and pop culture play a huge role in public ideology, and they have seldom portrayed any mental illnesses accurately. These days, all it takes is one sensational headline to grab everyone’s attention and spin the public view on certain issues. We need more responsibility when it comes to journalistic ethics, so we can be sure that the public is only receiving verified facts and not sensational news pushing a personal agenda.
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Katherine Christensen
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Post by Katherine Christensen on Dec 18, 2017 15:58:22 GMT -4
PTSD is usually associated with veterans, especially in the media. Films and TV shows will focus on a veteran who recently came back from war and starts to have the symptoms of PTSD. For me, I don’t recall ever seeing PTSD linked to sexual abuse on television. Media should focus more on sexual abuse and the trauma it inflicts on women for years to come. Women should be able to tell their story without being judged or blamed. If media changed its focus to the most common cause of PTSD, maybe more women would have a better understanding about what they are going through and to realize that they are not alone. Yet media needs to be accurate when filming about PTSD. If inaccurate it would defeat the very purpose of showing how PTSD and sexual abuse are linked. The #metoo campaign has helped some women come into the spotlight with less fear and more togetherness. It is easier to share your experiences with others who have also experienced something like it. It helped more women stand up to those who have sexually abused them and may help bring them some peace and justice.
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Post by Besong Ogork on Dec 21, 2017 10:35:12 GMT -4
The #MeToo campaign has been something I have noticed on social media for a couple of months. It has been very empowering to see these women, who suffered various ordeals os sexxual assualt being encouraged to share their stories. The campaign has brought strength and hope to many who didn't believe in the system. However, upon reading this article, I too just realized I did not pay mind to the aftermath following the abuse. Sexual abuse is a very traumatic experience for many who face it and I couldn't agree more with the article that awareness needs to be raised in regards to sexual abuse and the sequelae of events that follow especially PTSD.
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Post by Jessica Dowda on Dec 27, 2017 16:41:29 GMT -4
I agree with the article, when I think about someone facing PTSD, I think of a male soldier, like Owen on Grey’s Anatomy. Mostly because that is the only exposure I have had to on the topic of PTSD. The top causes of PTSD in males, according to the First Aid book are number one, sexual assault and number two, combat. The top causes of PTSD in females are number one, child abuse and number two, assault. Yet, as it is portrayed in the media, I still don’t think about sexual assault causing PTSD in males. As I have seen with Hollywood’s portrayal of PTSD in males that have a history of combat, we have been able to educate a large portion of the population. Going forward, Hollywood and the media should make use of their power that they have in reaching large audiences to show that PTSD is also common in individuals that are victims of sexual assault. This could be a chance to educate others who are experiencing similar events, to show that help is out there and that they do not have to deal with this alone. Just like how Owen, a man with combat history on Grey’s Anatomy, received psychotherapy to deal with his PTSD, the image of similar treatment should come to mind when we think of sexually abused patients with PTSD if the media and Hollywood change their ways.
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Post by medside86 on Dec 30, 2017 16:44:29 GMT -4
By : Barsun K.
Response to:
#MeToo isn't just a hashtag, it's destigmatizing — and 'that's 'huge' And PTSD
#MeToo is not destigmatizing. It’s a step in the right direction but doesn’t remove the stigmatization. The stigmatization has been present for too long to simply just disappear. I think the #Metoo movement sheds light on a troubling and shameful reality but it doesn’t erase that reality from existence. If a woman (or a man) is being sexually harassed in a work place by a person in a position of authority it’s still difficult to report it. The more power the aggressor has over your employment the more difficult the reporting process will be. The burden of proof lies with the accuser/reporter. The president of the united states bragged about grabbing women by the P@$$y and when several woman came forward and bravely told their story, the situation was never thoroughly investigated. America is a place of acceptance.
We accept sexual harassment and maybe even assault at times in the work place because if we didn’t, it would interfere with the objective of the business itself—making money! If CEOs and corporate heads were held to the same accord as everyone else, truly held accountable for all their dirty little secrets, it would hurt the company in the process. I think that occasionally society allows one of the higher-ups to be prosecuted for their actions but I think this only happens when it’s convenient. Ben Affleck has not only been accused of sexual assault; he admitted to it. Nevertheless, it would be “inconvenient” for him to be ostracized from Hollywood right now. The block buster movie The Justice League was just released. Ben Afflect plays Batman, one of the major characters. If he was boycotted right now, how would that affect sales? Ostracizing Ben Afflect the way Harry Weinberg was would cost someone millions of dollars. Stigmatization of women reporting sexual abuse in the workplace will not truly disappear until society changes, not until we began to value people over money. Nevertheless, #MeToo does help. No one wants to be called out on their dirt and label as a sexual predator. And if the #MeToo campaign alleviates some of the pain associated with the reporting process then this is a step in the right direction. #MeToo shines light on an “in the dark” crime. Unfortunately, it’s just a start and not a stand alone solution.
Do women experience shame because of the actions of their aggressors? I’m sure they do. Perhaps companies should have programs in place to address the PTSD or related psychological fall outs from the abuse suffered by these women. It’s time. If we put the work in today we can fix the problems of tomorrow.
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Post by JanelleDepradine on Feb 23, 2018 1:52:21 GMT -4
In a world that has existed by the rules of a patriarchal social system in which males held primary power and predominated in roles of political leadership, moral authority and social privilege for years and years, it is excellent to witness campaigns like "#MeToo" and "HealMeToo" debunking the myth that PTSD solely applies to male veterans. As a medical student I do know that others are victims of PTSD but I must admit, when the topic arises my mind is automatically diverted to an image of a male, ex-soldier whether I want it to or not. Equality between men and women has definitely come a long way but still has even further to go and this is the harsh reality. I do not agree with the sentiment that men are depicted at the center of stories related to PTSD and that instead the stories should be limited to women displacing their suffering. I believe it should be viewed from a neutral vantage point where all victims of PTSD, regardless of their sex, can seek the help they require and receive adequate treatment. But I imagine this is all easier said that done. PTSD experienced by men and women should be of equal importance and I do believe it is unfair to downplay any type of suffering experienced by women despite the fact that some may argue we are the more emotionally stronger sex.
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Post by JamarArcher on Feb 23, 2018 12:09:04 GMT -4
PTSD
Even before reading the article, I already had a preconceived notion about who would be involved when I saw the Title. Maybe it is television influence, as most persons protrayed with the disorder are military veterans or some one in that line of work. This has certainly broadened my view on who can be affected by PTSD. I am not surprised that women experience PTSD at twice the rate of men, as situations seem to affect women more deeply and emotionally than they do men. I do agree with the article that the media tends to hype the disorder in favor of men while knowingly or unknowingly downplay the effects it has on women or the fact that women suffer from it at all. The fact that this bias is even represented in law, is actually surprising to me but just goes to show the general notion most people have on the disorder. Now with sexual assault being th leading cause of PTSD, these laws can now be emended to reflect this as trauma from sexual assault is more prevelant amount women then men. I applaud those involved in the #MeToo campaign for bringing the spot light on the plight of women and the ravages this condition has brought on them for years without recognition.
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