Dr. Phil has made a name for himself by being a daytime TV talk show host focusing on psychiatric problems and dynamics within families and society. On Thursday he aired a show on Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
Dr. Phil’s show dealing with PTSD which aired on April 19th was titled “Heroes to Monsters.” The title and some of the content of the show has disappointed many Veterans with PTSD. Veterans and caregivers have taken exception to the stigma the title further places on them or their loved ones and decided to take action by protesting on Dr. Phil’s Facebook page. The comments have been deleted.
The veterans and caregivers are aghast with the behavior of the TV Psychiatrist who they claim only cares about the ratings he recieved from the title of the show. Some even questioned the content and claimed that Dr. Phil’s entire agenda for the Thursday show was to simply sell a product.
Veterans already have difficulty finding or accepting help due to thier PTSD and the stigma placed upon the diagnosis. The label of monster further complicates things in a world of civlians who fear the amped up media image of people who suffer from war related PTSD. Caregivers also have a tough time combating the stigma especially when they are the ones who usually fight the hardest for their veteran’s care and benefits.
Did Dr. Phil’s show help those who suffer from PTSD? Some comments on his page seem to give the impression that the negative portrayal of veterans has been winning out with people saying the monsters deserve no care from the people of America because of thier violent and evil actions. All in all, perhaps Dr. Phil’s show did more harm than good.
Excellent and important article. People have to be sensitive to anyone with mental health problems, especially those who have put themselves in harms way to help others.
Carol you are ABSOLUTELY right!
Dr. Phil had been on of my favorite shows……..now i refuse to watch his show, the title of his April 19, 2012, “Heroes to Monsters”, is very insensitive of the feelings and problems of all of us who suffer with PTSD. it seems his only concern is his ratings and his income. Dr. Phil should be ashamed of his insensitivity in classifying those of us with PTSD as monsters. I believe he owes us an apology and more…. I think he needs to rethink his position or his stand on PTSD. We who suffer from PTSD are not the monsters. The monster is PTSD!!!! He should try to help us, not classify us. We have enough problems with family and friends not understanding what is going on in our heads, without some well known personality serving up a negative image of us. And now, instead of dealing with our comments, they are being deleted. Maybe we should start boycotting Dr Phil and his sponsors.
Very well put, Hal. As a mom and a mother-in-law of two Soldiers, I completely understand as much as a mom can. I have seen what 2 deployments each has done to my boys and my heart just aches for them. I have never watched Dr. Phil’s show and I never will. My best to you…
I believe that name within itself is aweful… We spend thousands of dollars to get soldiers ready to deploy and nothing to transition them upon thier return. That sterotype just ads fuel to the fire and it is very upsetting. They need to be listned too and not forgotten. Very disappoointed in Dr. Phil. Maybe instead of classifying them as monsters he should have kept his mouth shut. Very upsetting.
My comment is still there as are MANY that have been posted. There are 2 links to todays show, make sure you are looking at the right one.
I don’t like the term Monster and told him so…
The reports I have gotten were from veterans whose comments were taken down. About an hour ago it seems they quit deleting them, but that could just mean the admin is on break. We’ll see in the morning what is left. =)
Dr. Phil shame on you, you are worse than RUSH
Limbaugh! Your ass needs off the air. Instead of concentrating
On ratings,you could be productive and influential and
Help the vets with PTSD, and the caregivers. Thanks for being
Another greedy insensitive ass on tv. Fuck you
From one disabled vet with PTSD.
Amen to that Sharma
Just because you don’t like or agree with the content of some show does not mean it should be taken off the air. While I sympathize with the folks that are upset by the show, I don’t think censorship is the answer. Turn you TV channel, or your radio channel if you don’t like a show. But to think any show should be removed because of section of the population doesn’t like it is called censorship and has no place in this society. Same with Rush Limbaugh. You don’t like him, don’t listen!
Sharma, I am not sure what you are referring to about Rush, but he supports our veterans http://www.twoifbytea.com/support.
Disgusting. You should live with PTSD and let us know how you feel from it. How dare you belittle people with this diagnosis! I hope you are banned from practicing as a “Psychologist”. You’re the reason why people with PTSD do not get the help they so desperately need. It is no different than Cancer. Do you know anyone with that disease and support it?
He actually WAS banned from practcing psychology. He is no longer a Psychologist, but a entertainer who happens to have a Ph.D after his name
If this is what you call yourself,Dr.Phil,sounds like you need to take a trip to the VA hospital and see these wounded warriors with missing limbs and suffer PTSD as well and ask them,why are you here? These are soldiers who fought for YOUR FREEDOM!For you to disregard them as monsters and say it in public? Where is your sense of decency? I have 2 proud soldiers who suffer from PTSD,My husband and my son. As I say, take a trip to the VA and talk to these brave men and women and turn into a positive to let people know, they are HERO’S for what they did!
So are those that have PTSD after suffering and major trauma in their life that is not war also now monsters? Just because they struggle to move on after and earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, tornado, car crash, abuse, sexual assault or any other thing that causes some to suffer from PTSD.
Just because war is the trauma our bodies dealt with does not mean that we are monsters.
How dare he call my husband, or any veteran, a monster! He makes me sick!
I flat out wrote a letter on his shows website saying he should be freaking ashamed for himself.. my hubby has PTSD and I for one NEVER would call him a monster.. he like so many have given their blood and life for this country that turns around and craps all over him..FYI he is not even a real doctor.. he does not have a doctorate in anything.. so he is blowing smoke up everyone’s butt..
I am a spouse of a combat vet who has recently returned home from Iraq! He is diagnosed with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. I personally take your choice of words as monsters as very offensive! I may not have served but i have been by my husbands side dealing with it day in and day out and you have no business calling them monsters! My Husband served bravely in this War! He has his scares to prove it! He will Always be A Hero and anyone who has served our Heroes! NOT MONSTERS! You dont know what they have done or seen or what they have been through! How dare you think that you have the right to acknowledge our Vets that way! Have you seen War? HAve you been in Combat? NO!!! Dr. Phil you are not even a Doctor at all! Get a real Job, and stop Bashing our military!
I also have PTSD and TBI. Amber caregivers such as yourself and my wife may suffer more from our trauma than we do at times. Our caregivers truly are heroes. The only ‘monsters’ I have met are those who judge us without educating themselves.
You are a real jerk there Dr. Phil. We are not monsters and where do you get off talking about something you haven’t got a clue about. Your profession is dillusional. A bunch of quacks who know nothing except what you read of others work. Not an original thought among the lot of you. Ignorant.
It looks like there have been no more deletions. Good. Now he needs to change the name of the title.
This is just adding fuel to the fire at home. My wife has been calling me names and labeling me as a monster for years, it hurts and only impedes the healing process when those who do not understand the pain and trauma inside label and attack us with understanding how difficult our lives have become and the suffering we face day and night. We fought for you to have the rights and life you enjoy and do not need negative and hurtful stereotypes getting in the way of our recovery. I wish he could live in my mind for one day; he would change the title to something like “The fight that never ends, or fighting for your life after the war is over”. I wish the public would take the time to learn the fight we face every day and how terrifying it is at times for us to be in public, in a hostel home environment and stressful situation. You would think that we should be able to handle stressful environments after combat; the reality is we are not equipped to in these environments. In combat we had our equipment and could make decisions based on risk assessments, more importantly we had our soldiers and friends that were there to back us when things took a turn for the worse. Now that we are tossed back into society trying to accept that we have little or no authority we cannot stop evaluating the environment, situations we are placed in and often get thrown back into a mental war that only leads to days and nights of combat in our minds. The painful images, the night terrors and daily fog makes life very difficult the last thing we need is the public thinking that I am a monster because I see things they don’t, I may put a stern look on my face when I suspect something is wrong and take a defensive posture when people are acting like fools. I don’t know when or how these triggers will effect me, but I know that avoiding these places, activities and moments that are important to those around me is not the answer. My wife left me because she could not deal with my depression, frustration with doctors and there constant changing my medicines. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but today I am doing much better. Time will heal us, however today’s lifestyle and the need to have it now, fix it now and just medicate them and set them aside attitude, is only adding fuel a difficult time in our lives.
Dr. Phil,
I have watched your show many times; and validated many of your topics you presented on your program. However, today, I am appauled by your title referencing our returning military veterans. My daughter served our country proudly, and subsequently had one of her own NCO subject her to Military Sexual Assault. This in no way has made my daughter a monster, even though her behavior is very foreign to me, and at times very difficult to grasp in understanding. You of all people, the psychiatrist, should know better than to give such a label to our veterans. Have you served. The history you express of alcoholism in your family and what you were exposed to, should be an indicator of compassion and not sterotyping or labeling. I am so disappointed in you and your staff for going along with this subject matter. Our volunteer military give of their life, and sacrifice for our freedom. They have no choice once they sign on the dotted line how and what they do. Deployments are too many, TBI, and other medical issues are ignored. I know first hand, as my daughter suffers from the hands of a man she was suppose to trust. As a Blue Star Mother, and mother who saw signals to get help for her, she has received a Honorable Medical Discharge. Dr. Phil, and I use that title now loosely, need to go back and sit with veterans and hear their stories from now your intellectual place; but your heart and the core of you being. So disappointed. Blue Star Mother, U.S. Army
I have posted above. You have dug a hole for yourself Dr. Phil.
Dr. Phil is one of those television sideshow experts who use the profession as sensationalism entertainment. Anyone with a strong professional ethic would exercise caution with labels, especially those with a cliche-type issue. The public, and many professionals, don’t understand PTSD and are easily led by flippant professional remarks. If comments were abusive, and language can sometimes be when people are angry, they should have been taken down. On the other hand, comments used to correct information, explain or ask questions should be left. I am also thinking that even some of the more “edgy” comments might also have been left because that would be indicative of the mood problems folks have in relationship to labels and how they are treated. This was so sad to treat veterans like guinea pigs and make a spectacle of them.
DR PHIL IS NOT A DOCTOR. He has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology which makes him a Physchologist unable to prescribe medication or any real medical treatment reserved for Medical Doctors in the Mental Health Field (Psychiatrists). He did not attend medical school and therefore is NOTHING BUT “Phil McGraw”. It should be illegal to present himself as a DR. But it fits the Liberal Media agenda of disinformation. PHUCK YOU PHIL! and your sellout career. By the way I just decided… You can refer to me as “Supreme Court Justice” Beaurline and you are charged with disrespecting Honorable Americans who actually serve America. I find you “guilty” of misrepresenting said Veterans and sensationalizing the title of your “show” for ratings and personal gain. I hereby “sentence” you to shut the PHUCK UP, PHIL! Unless you are ready to retract your commentary, your FALSE TITLE, and issue a sincere apology to those who served this County and those viewers you fed your BS to! (pun intended)-Jeff Beaurline US Navy (ret.)-
I may not agree with Dr. Phil, however, he does hold a PH.D. from the University of North Texas. This degree allows him to be called a Doctor. Just as any Dr. in a non-medical field, he holds the degree.
Dr. Phil should be ashamed of himself. The soldiers are our children, our spouses, our friends, willing to do what many won’t. And to kick them when they’re down, instead of trying to help? They need help, not degrading remarks. Shame, shame on him.
i have ptsd i wish that you could walk in my shoe are other vet shoe then tell me how u feel.
f*ck doctor phil
What more can anyone expect from Democrats that may be bordering on American military-hatred? Perhaps, we sometimes expect too much from people that may never be in the corner of the American soldier. American soldiers have died so many times in the place of those that viscerally hate them.
As an Army wife whose husband returned from Afghanistan last July, I must say I was very unhappy with the show & the events that followed. Reintegration for soldiers & their families is hard enough. Many couples end up splitting from the stress & the fact that during a deployment both people change…. forever. It takes time for soldiers to readjust to being home with family, the busy stores, relaxing, all the things that they haven’t been exposed to during deployment & letting go of the things they did experience during deploment. I don’t think that the show was helpful at all, if anything it was damaging. Personally, I think a few more military families should have been interviewed before biting off this a huge chunk that is this topic. PTS has many different forms, and spectrems. This seems to have been a publicity stunt.
Sincerely,
A Proud Soldier’s Wife
Doesn’t surprise me at all! Dr. Phil is an arrogant jerk who is all about himself and his show.
my husband was a viet nam veteran. he was receiving disability late in his fifties for ptsd and agent orange poisoning. my husband beat me, knocked out my teeth,described in graphic detail how he would murder me if i ever left him and told me he would kill my grandson. i lived in terror for at least 8 years. one night, he removed my clothing and demanded sex as usual. i said no he raped me with an object, put a belt around my neck so if i tried to escape he would strangle me. the next day, as usual, he acted like nothing had happened. i asked to go to the e.r. because i couldn’t move my black and blue shoulder and he said yes. i realized this was my chance to get help so the hosp. called the police, my husband went to court and was given 10 years but only did 18 mos. i hid from him for 4 more years and then found out that he died.i wasn’t told by his ex wife who knew how to reach a friend of mine who would give me any message. his son gave my husbands body to medical research. even though he beat and almost killed me, he did serve his country and deserved a military burial. now i’m trying to get widows benefits and have been waiting for 16 mos. i have health issues that make me unable to work as an r.n. again. i have no income and need these benefits. can anyone out there help me? all of you military wives could be me one day. stefanie riley.