By Howard A. Love, LCPC, CSAT, CMAT, The Antioch Group
Crying frequently, entertaining thoughts of suicide, shutting out loved ones, impatience, and disillusionment over a perceived general lack of respect and discipline on the part of society are just a few of the challenges combat veterans have in attempting to adjust to civilian life. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms are characterized as psychological (however, PTSD is considered by most experts as both a mental and physical condition). The psychological symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, sleeplessness, emotional numbness, and hyper-vigilance. Perhaps the most insidious of those symptoms are the self-deceiving and self-punishing patterns of behavior, such as an inability to trust anyone to talk with about war experiences, the fear of losing close relationships, and a tendency to fits of rage. All of these symptoms can lead to emotional distance from family, friends, and the significant other.
Unlike most other sources of psychological stress that of war involves the ever-present reality of impending death — one’s own or someone else’s. At any moment, one may be called upon to kill or, conversely, be killed. Initial relief comes only when one has cleared hostile air space on the flight home. Combat-induced psychological stress involves a strain on the conscience like little else because taking human life carries with it so much moral weight, and because there are any number of moral dilemmas in a combat zone. This is not the same thing as personal guilt. On the contrary, it seems to be present in many cases, even when a person has not performed acts for which he/she feels personally guilty. Rather, it is the painful combination of stress and moral strain. Many suffer the aftereffects of this stress leading to what clinicians refer to as PTSD. We know that PTSD is a dynamic survival response brought on by the catastrophic stressors experienced in war and the intense stressors after it.
So, what can be done to meet these intense symptoms in a way that brings healing, hope, and restoration? The following six methods have received the most research support:
- Group Therapy – Group therapy focuses on shared experiences and the building of trust through mutual support.
- Individual therapy may focus on the use of telling the story of the veteran’s experience, examining distortions, the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and attempting to restore spiritual wellness.
- Family Support – It is vital that spouse and family members be educated regarding the nuances of PTSD and how it affects their loved one. Perhaps finding a family support group would help as well. It is important for the PTSD survivor and the family to understand that PTSD is not a mental illness. It is a reaction to the extreme stress encountered in a combat zone.
- The use of medication prescribed by a competent medical professional when indicated.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). In CPT, a veteran is asked to recall a specific event that is triggering feelings such as guilt and shame. Patients replace guilt-laden thoughts with a more balanced interpretation of the situation. In PE, veterans engage in imaginary exposure exercises in a safe therapeutic environment. They also confront peacetime situations that remind them of the traumatic events they are avoiding.
- In some cases yoga, meditation, and nutrition counseling can alleviate some symptoms.
Combat PTSD is a very treatable condition with a good prognosis if the person participates in individual and group therapy and has the support of family, friends, and a significant other. It is my hope that the brave men and women in uniform who have courageously defended our freedom will receive the help they need to experience healing, hope, and restoration.
Howard Love is a licensed clinical professional counselor at the Antioch Group. He specializes in working with veterans and those who suffer from PTSD. If you need help, or know someone who does, call today. To find out more information, please visit www.antiochgroup.com or 309-692-6622.