It’s Not the Trauma Olympics: PTSD, Misdiagnosis, and the Fight for Veterans’ Care

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Living Chronic: Military, Medicine, and the Mission Left Behind, Brandy Schantz sits down with advocate and caregiver Helen Perry to tackle one of the most misunderstood and overused labels in military healthcare: PTSD.Together, they explore:How the VA often funnels diverse and serious health issues under a “PTSD” diagnosis—sometimes dismissing critical symptoms like seizures, vomiting, or even tumorsThe harm caused by gaslighting, mislabeling, and invalidation of veterans and their families.Why the stereotype of PTSD as the “angry combat veteran” fails to reflect the reality of trauma’s many facesThe dangerous culture of one-upmanship within the veteran community—what Brandy calls the “trauma Olympics”—and how it undermines solidarity.The ripple effects of underfunding, including rising veteran suicides, lack of family support, and the financial strain of paying out of pocket for careConcrete steps we can all take—contacting representatives, advocating for funding, and standing together as a military family.Brandy and Helen remind us: trauma isn’t a competition, and every veteran’s experience is valid. To truly support our service members, we must fund the programs that keep them—and their families—alive.🔗 Resources and advocacy letters available at brandyschantz.comGet your award winning Omorpho Vest!Don't forget to use your special discount code: Brandy15I LOVE using Base Salt for my POTS!I love using Base Salt for my POTS. No stevia, no problems! Use the discount code: LivingChronicDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show