Was it because many were drafted relatively young so it had a lasting impact, or was it the guerrilla tactics used? (I'm not sure why people would get paranoid over guerrilla tactics in Vietnam over Korea, just as an example) Or was it how America was almost objectively in the wrong in their handling of the war? But they constantly do this especially in the Middle-East for example, to this day. Even my English teacher said her husband was a Vietnam veteran and has mild PTSD, but I'm not gonna ask her why just in case it's a touchy topic. I even tried searching up answers but Google never gave me what I wanted. :( So what differed it from regular wars?
So why is the Vietnam war always linked with PTSD? I would really appreciate knowing so I am no longer ignorant.
I explain the difference between the experiences of Korean War veterans and Vietnam War veterans in relation to PTSD in this post. In reality, the Vietnam War was not any worse or horrific than any other war. Why PTSD has become associated with the Vietnam War in particular is explained by timing. The development of the post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis occurred after the end of the Vietnam War and PTSD was not added as a diagnostic term until the third edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1980), heavily influenced by the treatment of Vietnam War veterans. The high visibility of PTSD programmes in the 1980s meant that older veterans from American wars stepped forward to seek a diagnosis and treatment.
Furthermore, as I point out in the replies to the original post, the impact on popular culture on this view is important to recognize as well, seeing as the image of the troubled veterans, with his 'Vietnam War flashbacks', is still prevalent today.