Waitzman 1

Madison Waitzman
Professor Michele Griegel-McCord
English 2089
March 23, 2015
The Stigma Surrounding the Invisible Scar
They are the most honored citizens in our country. They sacrifice their lives and being
with their families to protect all other American families. They often lose limbs and are scarred
from their diligence and patriotism they so eagerly provide. They are our heroes. And yet, why
do some of these treasured men or women of our military feel embarrassed or decide to take their
own life upon returning to civilian life? What scars do they have that makes them feel
embarrassed or unworthy of life? Although the role of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, more
commonly known as PTSD, seems to be involved in many of these situations, it is not the
disease that deserves the blame. It is Hollywoods portrayal of these honored men and women
who have been tragically scarred with PTSD that should be blamed.
In the past, veterans humbly relived the stories of their battle scars. Soldiers were even
awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded in an action against an enemy of the U.S. However, a
new invisible battle scar called PTSD began being diagnosed more readily. Up until then,
physical wounds from war overshadowed psychological issues. PTSD is not a scar any veteran
would be showing off; instead they are embarrassed of it. One out of three returning troops is
diagnosed with serious PTSD symptoms, and less than 40% of them seek help (About Us).
The Department of Veterans Affairs found that every day 22 veterans take their own life; one

Waitzman 2

every 65 minutes, based on the agencys own data reported by 21 states from 1999 through 2011.
Veterans make up 7% of the American population, but account for 20% of its suicides (Basu).
What is causing these veterans to commit suicide and keeping them from seeking help? The
answer is simple, the stigma attached to PTSD by Hollywood.
In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association added PTSD to the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). According to the U.S. Department of Veteran
Affairs, the National Center for PTSD, the concept of PTSD is that a traumatic event provoked
the symptoms. PTSD requires symptoms from each of three clusters. First, they experience
intrusive recollections, which include flashbacks, nightmares of the traumatic event, and intense
physical reactions to reminders of the event. Next, avoidant/numbing symptoms such as avoiding
activities and places that remind the person of the trauma, loss of interest in life in general, and
feeling detached from others. Lastly, hyper-arousal symptoms such a difficulty falling or staying
asleep, irritability or outburst of anger, easily startled, and difficulty concentrating (PTSD:
National Center for PTSD). Many of the soldiers feel unable to come forward with these
symptoms because of a fear of being seen as weak to their fellow soldiers. They believe seeking
treatment will negatively affect their career, and instead they turn to substance abuse and in some
cases even suicide as a solution.
Unfortunately, the image of a violent, out-of-control veteran usually comes to mind for
most Americans when thinking about PTSD. This stereotype of PTSD is the result of
Hollywoods depiction of it in the movies. Movies are one of the main sources which develop
Americans views on this and other topics. Dramatized symptoms and inaccurate portrayal of
veterans with PTSD has lead to the stigmatization of the disorder and anyone who has it. This

Waitzman 3

stigma may cause somebody who has PTSD to hide their symptoms, not seek help, or even take
their own life.
It shouldnt be a surprise that Hollywood inaccurately depicted PTSD in their movies.
Its certainly not the first time they got it wrong about relevant topics. For example, when the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
started attracting attention in the news, Hollywood jumped on board and began producing
movies on the topic. They certainly didnt get it right at first, making HIV/AIDs appear to be an
epidemic that would kill every hemophiliac and homosexual, putting fear in Americans to even
associate with these people. The movie An Early Frost which was released in 1983 portrayed
HIV/AIDS as a death sentence. Fortunately, by 1993 when the movie Philadelphia, starring
Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks aired, Hollywood began showing some of the more realistic
issues with this disease and reduced the fear Americans had about contracting the disease.
One of the inaccurate perceptions Hollywood has filled Americans with regarding the
military and PTSD, is that the mental illness is not tolerated or acknowledged by the military
staff. For example, the movies Shell Shock and Men in War display this intolerance. In Shell
Shock, a soldier is suffering from early symptoms of PTSD, but his Sergeant denies that he is
suffering from a legitimate disorder and he is placed back in the combat unit. The move Men in
War has a similar situation; Lieutenant Benson doesnt believe the Colonel is suffering from
mental illness. Sargent Montana Willamette was ordered to escort the colonel to a field hospital
for treatment, but the Lieutenant refused. These situations in the two movies may create a stigma
that the military doesnt take PTSD seriously and may not believe a soldier if they claim to have
PTSD. This could cause soldiers who are experiencing PTSD symptoms not to speak up and ask
for help because of the fear of disbelief by the military.

Waitzman 4

Another aspect inaccurately portrayed in war movies is the prevalence of PTSD in

soldiers. The Deer Hunter and The Hurt Locker both depict the prevalence of PTSD to be much
higher than in reality. In the Vietnam War, the prevalence of PTSD in the U.S. war veterans
ranged from 2% to 17%, but in the movie The Deer Hunter, the prevalence was 60% (Movies
and Mental Illness). The movie The Hurt Locker shows what its like to be on a bomb squad.
However, the movie has inaccurate scenes of the soldiers swigging whiskey and fist-fighting
each other in their barracks. The movie depicts almost all of the members of the bomb squad to
have psychological issues with symptoms of PTSD, which is not the actual reality. The casual
way they show these soldiers as immature, full of rage, and unable to control themselves lead to
assumptions that this is prevalent of all military personnel.
Hollywood has not done a good job portraying war veterans with PTSD as seeking help
or treatment to deal with the symptoms they endure. The most common symptoms of PTSD are
recurring memories or nightmares of the traumatic event, sleeplessness, loss of interest, feeling
numb, anger, and irritability (Make the Connection). Not learning how to deal with these
symptoms could certainly provoke a person to become violent, but it is not a symptom of the
mental illness. PTSD does not cause violence, but other factors like alcohol and drug misuse, and
additional psychiatric disorders may be the cause of engaging in violence. These movies depict
the idea that every soldier who has been to war is one flashback away from becoming violent
which isnt true. Movies include a dramatic violent scene simply to make the movie more
entertaining. Although PTSD is associated with a slight increase risk of violence, the majority of
veterans with PTSD have never engaged in violence like what is portrayed in movies. In a study
of the U.S. general population and of post 9/11 veterans in the U.S. and the United Kingdom,

Waitzman 5

prevalence of violence among post 9/11veterans with PTSD ranged from 8.6% to 19.5%
(PTSD: National Center for PTSD).
There are countless movies which show veterans with PTSD becoming violent; however
First Blood which was released in 1982 is one of the most well-known due to its sequels. In the
movie First Blood, John J. Rambo is a former U.S. Special Forces soldier who fought in Vietnam
and won the Congressional Medal of Honor. However, Rambo suffers from PTSD, having
nightmares, difficulty sleeping, and problems with relationships. In this movie Rambo goes to
Washington to visit a friend where a sheriff insults him and Rambo becomes violent and is
arrested. He escapes jail and goes on a rampage throughout the forest to escape from the sheriff.
This movie and all its sequels portray Rambo as a super macho hero who is a brainless machine
for using guns for fun, and glorifies violence. By the time Hollywood was done with this violent
sequel of movies about a war hero with PTSD in 2008, there were 4 movies each earning over
one hundred million dollars worldwide in ticket sales (Brown). Viewers left these four Rambo
movies filled with a sense that Rambo was a hero by using his rage and violence to kill others.
Hollywood also highlights the violence of a former veteran with PTSD in the movie In
the Valley of Elah, which was released in 2007. In this movie a veteran with PTSD attempts to
drown his dog in the bathtub in front of their son. The wife shares her concerns with Detective
Emily Sanders, but the detective disregarded her concerns. Later in the movie, Detective
Sanders is called to the womans house where she found the husband had drowned his wife in the
bathtub. This movie, like so many others, continues to lead Americans to believe that veterans
with PTSD are violent.

Waitzman 6

Fortunately, Hollywood made an effort to correct the previous inaccurate portrayal of

PTSD and gives a more realistic account of veterans with this mental illness with the movie
American Sniper. It was released in January 2015, earning $107 million over its first weekend in
wide release (Griggs). The movie is based on a true story of a decorated marine Chris Kyle,
showing the cause for and everyday struggle with PTSD. He was a sniper credited with 160 kills,
more than anyone else in US history. However, his struggle wasnt with the missions he had
overseas, but with managing his life, wife, and kids once he returned home. The movie portrayed
everyday life for Chris on leave between tours. For example, at the obstetricians office for a
checkup, Kyles blood pressure is very high and the doctor and his wife Taya are both worried
about him, but he claims that he is doing fine and brushes off their concerns. Taya tries to get
him to open up to her and talk about what he went through, but he assures her that he is fine and
gets frustrated with her. He rants to her that he doesnt understand why everybody isnt talking
about whats going on in Iraq, and instead people are just living their everyday lives concerned
about trivial things. Kyle continues to struggle to adjust to civilian life between his deployments,
with nightmares and loud noises startling him. For example, after Taya gave birth to their second
child, he visits her in the hospital and she begins to cry, he becomes increasingly agitated,
screaming at the nurse. He again gets into an argument with his wife about how he is missing his
childrens lives and he argues that by protecting his country, he is protecting his family. They
fight about him returning to war, and she says if he leaves again, she will not be waiting for him
when he returns again, but he deploys anyway. After he returned from his next deployment, they
have a family barbecue. Kyle stays inside avoiding the party, but Taya finally gets him to come
outside. He sees a dog grab the collar of a boy and tugging at it and Kyle suddenly rips off his
belt and grabs the dog as if he is going to beat or strangle it. His wife, family, and friends look at

Waitzman 7

him like they are scared of him and he is crazy. Kyle agrees to go to a support group of disabled
veterans where the men tell their stories. Kyle decides to take some of the men to a shooting
range to teach them to shoot sniper rifles. Kyle finally starts to become himself again, and
connect with his family. He continues to work with the veterans when a Marines mom reached
out to him, asking him to help her son who has been struggling since his return. In the final
credits of the movie, it reveals that the troubled marine struggling with PTSD killed Chris Kyle.
This portrayal of the everyday life of a veteran with PTSD is much more realistic and
entwines the emotional roller coaster a family endures with a wounded soldier. It shows America
the reason why PTSD is a reality post war and empathizes with both the soldier and the family in
their struggles to overcome PTSD. The movie American Sniper left the audience with deep
sadness for the lost soldiers and impassioned to help heal them.
For years Hollywood has shaped Americas views of PTSD in veterans. Through
inaccurate depictions, exaggerations, dramatization, and the selective symptoms portrayed of
PTSD in movies, Hollywood has created a negative stigma attached to PTSD. This stigma is
two-fold. First, it can cause veterans who are experiencing symptoms of PTSD to not seek help,
feel embarrassed, or even take their own life. Secondly, this stigma creates a fear in Americans
that these veterans may snap at any moment and become violent.
It is clear from the ongoing information and statistics collected about PTSD and our war
heroes that it is a real problem and Americans need to support them. As America continues to
participate in wars, PTSD will continue to be an issue in veterans. There is no room for
inaccurate depictions of PTSD because they deserve support, trust, and love to help them through
the transition from outside of enemy lines into their home country. How Americans act towards

Waitzman 8

the veterans with PTSD will influence how they deal with their mental disorder and if they seek
help, or avoid the symptoms. How they are treated can even be the difference between their life
and death.

1. How do you feel about the progress/evolution of your essay at this point?
I feel like my essay has made a lot of progress and has all my points clearly explained
throughout my paper.
2. What are you most pleased with in your draft?
I am pleased that my draft has a rhetorical focus that is clear throughout the paper.
3. What has been your biggest struggle? Explain.
My biggest struggle was coming up with a rhetorical focus and then to plan and organize
my paper in a way which made sense.
4. Do you have any specific concerns that you would like to address in our conference?
My only concern so far is the conclusion and if it is strong enough.

Works Cited

Waitzman 9

"About Us." The Homeland Heroes Foundation. N.p., 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
American Sniper. Dir. Clint Eastwood. Perf. Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner.
Warner Bros., 2015. Film.
An Early Frost. Dir. John Erman. NBC Productions, 1985. DVD.
Basu, Moni. "Why Suicide Rate among Veterans May Be More than 22 a Day - CNN.com."
CNN. Cable News Network, 14 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
Brown, Laurel. "Rambo Returns! Sylvester Stallone Confirms He's Busy Making His Fifth
Movie in the Series... and It's Called Last Blood." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers,
02 Jan. 2015. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
First Blood. Dir. Ted Kotcheff. Perf. Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna.
Anabasis N.V., 1982. VCR.
Griggs, Brandon. "Why 'American Sniper' Is a Smash Hit - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News
Network, 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
In the Valley of Elah. Dir. Paul Haggis. Perf. Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jonathan
Tucker. Warner Independent Pictures, 2008. DVD.
"Make The Connection." PTSD. N.p., 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
Men in War. Dir. Anthony Mann. Perf. Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray, Robert Keith. Security Pictures,
1957. VCR.
"Movies and Mental Illness Summer 2013." Movies and Mental Illness Summer 2013. N.p.,
2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
Philadelphia. Dir. Jonathan Demme. Perf. Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington. TriStar Pictures,
1994. DVD.
"PTSD: National Center for PTSD." DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD -. N.p., 3 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Feb.
2015.
"PTSD: National Center for PTSD." Research on PTSD, Aggression, and Violence -. N.p., 25
June 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
Shell Shock. Dir. James Price. Perf. Robert Whitelock, Nina Fog. Pixie Films, 2009. DVD.
The Deer Hunter. Dir. Michael Cimino. Perf. Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken. Universal
Pictures, 1978. VCR.

Waitzman 10

The Hurt Locker. Dir. Kathryn Bigelow. Perf Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty.
Voltage Pictures, 2009. DVD.