Stress, PTSD and Soldiers
One of the unfortunate side effects of the Iraq war will be the post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) many of the returning men and women will experience. In earlier wars, this condition was referred to as shell shock or combat fatigue or battle fatigue. For Vietnam vets, it was referred to as post-Vietnam syndrome.
The US National Institutes of Mental Health alert us to the characteristics of PTSD. These include a sustained and disruptive set of feelings that occur after a particularly traumatic event. These unpleasant episodes recur at frequent intervals.
One feature is constant video replays, that is, remembering and replaying the event for months after. This repeated and recurring stress means we have trouble sleeping. Some people have very dramatic and violent nightmares, and most wake feeling that their sleep did not refresh or re-energize them.
The constant worries mean that relationships suffer as the person experiencing PTSD pulls away from loved ones. Some suffer guilt that they returned from the war – and that their comrades did not. Emotions are volatile, some people becoming very edgy and short-tempered.
Most of these victims have attentional problems and find it hard to stay on task and be productive at work. There is a constant theme of remembering and agonizing. Even the notion of having these recurrences and being unable to concentrate can cause people to worry even more.
Unfortunately, around one in 12 people in the US will experience PTSD – though the degree of stress varies significantly from person to person and even from race to race.
Fortunately, for most of us, we do not experience this level of stress, though if you are stressed at the moment many of these symptoms will probably apply to you. The question that arises relates to the degree and continuity of the stressors that are causing us to feel tense and unhappy. How long do they last? Will they end? What can be done to overcome these recurrent worries?
Stress is a normal part of every day life. We live in a fast-paced, modern society where the demands and challenges are great. Most of us have complex lives. We have a social, relationship, financial and occupational responsibilities that ensure that we will have a degree of stress.
The issue is not whether we experience stress – the real issue is how we manage stress. Stress management is not a complex science. It is a matter of knowing ourselves (self-awareness), understanding our impact on others (social perspective) and being able to communicate effectively with our colleagues and loved ones so that we reduce the threats, challenges, tension, and stress.
The best way to start to manage and reduce stress is to gain as much information as possible about this syndrome. Knowing the stressors and how to deal with them is an essential first step – whether it is a serious psychological condition like PTSD – or a less debilitating but still worrisome disorder – elevated stress. Once you know you enemy – then you know how to manage stress and overcome the worry and anxiety.
Warm regards
Dr Jeff
For the team at
mightydigitaldownloads.com
Dr Jeff, psychologist, helps stressed patients. Why put up with stress? Learn stress management skills now. Click here for the free What is Stress by Dr Jeff. Don’t waste another minute stressed and burnt out. Act now – learn how to relieve stress.
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