The mental and emotional struggles of post-traumatic stress (PTS) are actually the result of a biological change — observable and measurable in the brain of survivors [ read more about this here ]. This is a relatively new understanding, and one where the intertwining of mental and physical health is especially evident. Thus, to change the way we think and talk about PTS (as an “injury”), we must look to the medical discipline of psychiatry for leadership, namely the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It is crucial for the APA to amend its guidelines on PTS, put forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which is the pre-eminent reference used by mental health providers worldwide. A change in the DSM that re-frames PTS as an injury, would go a long way towards reducing the stigma associated with a disorder and propel the opportunity to save lives.