Military service members commit themselves to the country, its people, and its ideals. Veterans and active-duty personnel deserve only the finest treatment, but unfortunately, they may be hesitant to ask for it. Because of certain stigmas linked to headache, migraine, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pain, service members and veterans may continue to suffer unnecessarily.

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Self-Stigma

Self-stigma occurs when a person internalizes the demeaning, degrading, and distorted views of others and accepts those views as reality. For example, a military service member who developed a negative stigma about pain will consider themselves weak or flawed when they begin to experience symptoms of headache, migraine, PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Although all stigmas create an adverse influence on a person’s well-being, self-stigma is especially dangerous because they are ever-present. With other stigmas, the person can avoid certain people or places to avoid the discrimination, but with self-stigma, the prejudice surrounds them all day, every day and may severely impact their self-esteem and the way they take care of themselves.

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Military Culture and Stigma

Unfortunately, stigma tends to be common in the military, where strength and independence are highly valued. When problems arise, service members may feel the need to manage it completely on their own. But when they are unable to deal with these issues by themselves, the service member or veteran may feel helpless, hopeless, and ashamed.

Unfortunately, military life often comes with uniquely stressful experiences that can lead to these types of problems. For example, the horror of combat may result in traumatic brain injury and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. Both of these issues get better with treatment, yet certain stigmas persist -- that people with these issues are weak, flawed, or broken. The focus on strength and toughness promoted in the military may inadvertently reinforce that “I should just power through.”

The interaction between stigma and the military culture results in service men and women who are fearful to seek out services. Rather than risk being seen meeting with a health professional focused on pain and mental well-being, members will sometimes seek informal and “off-the-record” services or avoid their symptoms completely.

To its credit, the military is aware of the cultural impact of stigma, and for more than 10 years has been funding programs that address and reduce the military’s stigma. Unfortunately, cultural shifts happen slowly, and it may take many years to see significant changes.

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Getting help can improve your life or the life of someone you love.

Here are some tips to overcome real or perceived stigma and move forward:

• Ignore the misinformation. Stay focused on what is what is right for you.
• Connect with supportive people.
• Don’t let your health condition(s) define you. You are a worthy person who has health challenges that need care and treatment.
• Get the help you need. When you begin treatment, you may feel the weight of the stigma lessen as you come to realize that you are not weak or defective for needing support, care, and treatment.