5 Myths About PTSD in Veterans – A Wife and Life Coach’s Perspective
- thewayofthewiseowl
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Disclaimer:
I want to begin by saying this: I am not a licensed mental health professional. I’m a wife, a caregiver, and a certified life coach who has walked closely alongside my husband as he battles the daily, invisible weight of PTSD. What I’m sharing is not medical advice—it’s our lived reality, mixed with research and the deep desire to bring awareness, compassion, and truth to a subject too often misunderstood.
Introduction
When people hear “PTSD,” many still picture something dramatic, explosive, or extreme. But as someone who sees its face every day—often masked behind a tired smile, unpredictable mood swings, or the struggle to walk through a crowded grocery store—I can tell you this: PTSD is far more complex than the myths we’ve been told.
Here are five common myths about PTSD in veterans—myths I’ve seen hurt, isolate, and silence the very people who need support the most. It’s time we talk about the truth.
Myth 1: “PTSD means you’re weak.”
The truth: PTSD is not a weakness—it’s a response to survival. My husband served his country with honor and strength. The trauma he carries isn’t a sign of brokenness; it’s the price of exposure to things no human being should have to witness or endure.
What I’ve learned:
Healing from PTSD takes strength I can’t even describe. Showing up for therapy, being vulnerable, facing terrifying memories—none of that is weak. If anything, it’s heroic.
As a life coach, I often say: Your pain doesn’t define you, but your courage in facing it does.
Myth 2: “Veterans with PTSD are dangerous.”
The truth: This is one of the most harmful misconceptions out there. My husband isn’t violent—he’s overwhelmed. He’s triggered by loud noises, crowded spaces, or moments that remind him of trauma. But he’s also gentle, loving, and incredibly self-aware.
Let me be clear: PTSD doesn’t equal aggression. Sure, there are symptoms like irritability or heightened startle responses, but most veterans are far more at risk of hurting themselves than anyone else.
What hurts most: This myth makes employers, neighbors, and even friends treat them with fear or suspicion instead of empathy.
Myth 3: “Only combat veterans have PTSD.”
The truth: Trauma comes in many forms. Yes, my husband saw difficult things while serving, but many veterans experience non-combat trauma—sexual trauma, emotional abuse, moral injury, and more. PTSD is not exclusive to the battlefield.
I’ve spoken with other spouses and veterans whose trauma stemmed from toxic environments, betrayal, or witnessing suffering—not combat. PTSD can affect anyone whose nervous system has been pushed past its breaking point.
Myth 4: “You should just get over it by now.”
The truth: If only it were that simple. PTSD is not a phase. It’s not something you “snap out of.” Even now, years later, my husband struggles with triggers that pop up unexpectedly. One minute we’re laughing; the next, he’s frozen in anxiety or completely shut down.
What we’ve learned together: Healing takes time. It takes the right support, therapy, patience, and compassion—especially when the system moves slowly and fails to provide proper care. Setbacks don’t mean failure. They mean you’re still fighting
Myth 5: “If they look okay, they must be fine.”
The truth: PTSD is invisible. That’s the hardest part. People don’t see the nightmares, the avoidance, the panic attacks, the pills, the drowsiness, the mood swings, or the hours spent sitting in a parked car because walking into a store is too much.
Our daily life includes:
Hiding pain behind forced smiles
Canceling plans last minute because of triggers
Exhaustion from just trying to feel “normal”
My husband has days where he fights with everything in him just to be present. And even when he looks calm, inside he’s battling a war no one else can see.
Final Thoughts
We must stop perpetuating these myths. They don’t just hurt—they isolate. They cause veterans to feel shame, hide their symptoms, and avoid getting the help they deserve.
If we can train soldiers to go to war, why can’t we train society to receive them with compassion when they come home?
As a wife and life coach, I ask you to pause and reflect. Have you ever judged someone based on these myths? Have you listened more to stereotypes than to real stories?
Let’s Take Action Together
Share this post. Help me amplify real stories.
Start conversations—with your kids, your coworkers, your church, your community.
If you’re a caregiver, know you’re not alone. Advocate, educate, and rest.
Download our free storybook, Beyond Invisible Battles: Our Story, at www.wayofthewiseowl.com/projects.
Let’s not wait for another veteran to suffer in silence. Let’s be the reason they feel seen. Let’s walk beyond the invisible battles—together.
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