Has this been discussed yet? I just thought the war had gotten to him because he was old. But I rewatching a few episodes, and seeing him shake when BB/"Wasp" shot the stasis cuffs out of his hands, it became painfully obvious Ratchet suffers from PTSD aka Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Now that I look back on it,

-the flashbacks, where he doesn't know where he is, he loses himself in the flashbacks
-his reluctance to operate on BB, which his job is medic, so his fear was interfering with his normal functioning.
-depression? Is he ever happy?

Just a few signs I saw, there is probably more if I keep watching.

Symptoms of PTSD
A. The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following have been present:

(1) the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others (2) the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.

B. The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced in one (or more) of the following ways:
Re-experiencing the traumatic event

* Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
* Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
* Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
* Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
* Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)

PTSD symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing

* Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
* Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
* Loss of interest in activities and life in general
* Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
* Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
PTSD symptoms of increased arousal

* Difficulty falling or staying asleep
* Irritability or outbursts of anger
* Difficulty concentrating
* Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
* Feeling jumpy and easily startled

Other common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

* Anger and irritability
* Guilt, shame, or self-blame
* Substance abuse
* Depression and hopelessness
* Suicidal thoughts and feelings
* Feeling alienated and alone
* Feelings of mistrust and betrayal
* Headaches, stomach problems, chest pain

 

I'd say so!

 

What about Optimus?

 

and the sad thing is, from what I can tell there was no help for him. As advanced a civilization that Cybertronians are, and the fact they are like always at war you'd think they have some kind of services to help him, but it seems like he's just had to deal with it on his own the whole time.

What about him? He regrets leaving Elita behind, but I don't think it's the same. He doesn't disassociate to the past. I think it's just regret.

 

Grimlock has Austim.

 

Err, no he doesn't. He socializes fine with the other dinobots, he attempts a relationship with BA. He's not at all in his own little world. He functions fine on Dinobot Island and even leads the other dinobots.

 

someone does

 

I'd say Ratchet does. Unlike someone I once knew who let it ruin his relationships with others over and over and over again.

 

Yup! Poor Ratchet... if Arcee is still alive, she needs to come cheer him up or something.

 

Damn, this exact subject came up in conversation whilst figure hunting today. Right down to the terminology used.

Hopefully at the end of the series he'll get to lay a few ghosts to rest.

 

I agree with your diagnosis...also Bumblebee is a dick

 

Yeah, it's like Bumblebee is always making it worse for Ratchet  .

 

Uh...no?

 

And Sentinel Prime is an A-Hole. Did I double post again?

 

Yes,Newbe you did.

 

Oh, I know you did not just call me a   You know what? Let's just bury this unecessary little hatchet before things get ugly.

 

  or in this case  

But yea back on topic I would say that he does have it, but because he and the other transformers are computer based beings he could (in theory) just delete it. I think that he keeps the memories to remind himself of the pain that the war has caused so many people.

 

They are not 'cyborganic'. -.-

 

that seems to fit ratchet pretty well...so i guess he does

 

It's very fitting for him. It'll be interesting to see if he ever gets over it. Hopefully he eventually does.