★ PTSDIY · Field Manual ★ Part I ★
Chapter 03
Injury vs. disorder
Why the word matters
FM 03-INJ-101Read time 5 min
3-1.Mission brief
"Disorder" says something is wrong with you. "Injury" says something happened to you. That difference changes whether people ask for help.
Military and medical leaders have pushed for years to call it post-traumatic stress injury, or PTSI, for exactly that reason. An injury is expected after exposure, it is nobody's character flaw, and it heals with treatment and rehab.
3-2.The rehab model
| Phase | Physical injury | Stress injury |
|---|---|---|
| Acute care | Stop the bleeding, stabilize. | Get safe, get through the crisis (Part II). |
| Treatment | Surgery, setting the bone. | Trauma-focused therapy, medication (Parts IV–V). |
| Rehab | Physical therapy, daily reps. | Daily maintenance practices (Part III). |
| Return to duty | Load the limb again. | Re-engage with people, purpose and identity (Parts VI–VII). |
| Maintenance | Keep the strength up. | Your personal SOP (Part VIII). |
3-3.What the label does not change
On paperwork, the official diagnosis is still PTSD. Insurance, VA disability claims and medical records all use that term. Use it with providers and on forms; it is the key that unlocks benefits and coverage. Use "injury" for how you think about yourself.
3-4.Field procedures — the reframe drill
| 01 | Write the old sentenceThe story you tell yourself. "Something is wrong with me." "I'm broken." | 1 min |
| 02 | Write the injury sentence"I was injured during ___. Injuries heal with treatment and rehab." | 2 min |
| 03 | Name your phaseUsing the rehab table, where are you right now? That tells you which part of this manual to read next. | 2 min |
3-5.Common faults & corrections
| ✕ | Fault: "Injuries heal on their own"Correction: Some do. Many heal wrong without treatment, like a bone set crooked. Rehab is part of healing. |
| ✕ | Fault: Refusing the diagnosis entirelyCorrection: You can reject the stigma without rejecting the paperwork that gets you care. |
Companion episode — [IN PROGRESS]
PTSDIY · FM 03-INJ-101 · Part I03