Ele provavelmente tem alguma forma de PTSD
Tony experimenta um ataque de ansiedade, onde ele aparentemente tem um flashback ou alucinação relacionada à Batalha de Nova York.
Em particular, ele pode estar sentindo algum tipo de culpa de sobrevivente, já que ele ouve (ou imagina ouvir) o garoto perguntando como ele conseguiu o buraco de minhoca, insinuando que se sente perturbado por ter sobrevivido quando tantos outros morreram.Tony Stark: That's why I said I...got it. [suddenly as Tony is signing the drawing he looks ill, he places his hand on his face]
Colonel James Rhodes: Are you okay?
Tony Stark: I broke the crayon.
Erin: Are you okay, Mr. Stark?
Colonel James Rhodes: Take it easy. Tony...
Little Boy: [the little boy whispers to Tony] How did you get out of the wormhole? How did you get out of the wormhole? [suddenly Tony rises and starts walking off]
Colonel James Rhodes: Wait a minute! Tony! [Rhodes follows Tony as he walks out the bar]
Tony Stark: What'd he say?!
Colonel James Rhodes: Tony!
Tony Stark: Sorry. Have to check on the suit...make sure...okay. [Tony steps into his Iron Man suit that was parked outside the bar] Check the heart, check the...check the...is it the brain?
Jarvis: No sign of cardiac anomaly or unusual brain activity
Tony Stark: Okay, so I was poisoned?
Jarvis: My diagnosis is that you've experienced a severe anxiety attack.
Mais tarde, ele admite que a causa de seus problemas emocionais e psicológicos é a Batalha de Nova York. Tony certamente parece alguém que foi traumatizado pelas coisas pelas quais passou:
Tony Stark: Hold on. Come on. Pep. [as Pepper starts walking upstairs] Hey, I admit it! My fault. Sorry. [Pepper stops and looks at him] I'm a piping hot mess. It's been going on for a while, I haven't said anything. [Pepper walks back down] Nothing's been the same since New York.
Pepper Potts: Oh really? Well, I didn't notice that, at all.
Tony Stark: You experience things and then they're over and you still can't explain 'em. Gods, aliens, other dimensions. I...I'm just a man in a can. The only reason I haven't cracked up is probably because you moved in. Which is great. I love you, I'm lucky. But, honey, I can't sleep.
Tony Stark passou por inúmeras batalhas e viu muitas pessoas morrerem, incluindo algumas pessoas com quem ele se importa. Isso o afetou psicologicamente, já que tem muitas pessoas na vida real. Sua culpa por ter causado tantas mortes é um fator importante em sua decisão com relação aos acordos de Sokovia em Captain America: Civil War .