How Does A Recruit Avoid PTSD?

[helena]

I have been reading through the ptsd information and, in particular, the effects of ptsd and the physical alteration of brain chemistry.

Does anyone out there know how an individual avoids getting ptsd ? It clearly is an occupational hazard for the army, navy, special forces etc. Surely someone, somewhere has considered this fact by now?

Victims of non-predictable trauma (ie. rape victims, disasters, domestic violence, childhood abuse etc) could not have avoided what happened to them and are left having to cope with this horrendous disease. But what are the organisations doing about their recruits into the armed forces? How are they trying to prevent even more victims of PTSD? Or do they just accept that it will happen and deal with the aftermath?

If learning to kill and being brutalized was 'normal' for the human soul, there wouldn't be a condition like ptsd to contend with.

 

[Paloma]

Good question. From my research, it seems lots of people experiencing the same traumatic events do not develop PTSD. There are some theories about inheritable pre-disposition, etc. I know here in the US most Emergency Services have Critical Incident Stress Mgmt (CISM) debriefs within 24-72 hrs to talk thru traumatic exposure. No idea the rate of prevention with that. Having a regime of good nutrition, heavy exercise (helps with the adrenaline), and emotional support would help too. But the forces have to acknowledge this is a given occupational hazard and train recruits on how to handle it. This is pretty tough since it contradicts most of the training we have so we can go out there and do the nation's dirty work.

 

[NarcSis]

I think training in the armed forces is focused on developing recruits psychologically to endure harsh conditions physical and mental, thus increasing their resiliency to trauma. I do not know of any particular program however I do know that my brothers were well prepared for combat situations despite not having an opportunity to see combat during their time in the forces.
When it comes to fields where exposure to trauma is a given, the individual's background, personal support systems and psychological make-up also contribute to the amount of resilience they will have to trauma exposure and thus their risks of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Of course, with all of this being said, we can never adequately prepare for every event and individuals will react to traumatic occurrences as they are individually equipped to.
In the armed forces trauma is a given. History has taught us that in war PTSD is a given and only now due to public outcry, is the military taking action to accept some of the responsibility for the aftermath.
Hopefully in the distant future we will advance scientifically enough to develop an innoculation and prevent it or at least control the symptoms. We can only hope.

 

[NarcSis]

Sorry, I also wanted to just add a simple statement....

'depersonalization of the enemy'

Depersonalization helps. It helps me as a medic to not get lost in the screams, it makes it easier for me to move someone and cause more pain when there is no other way. Sad. Inhuman. Judge me for it. It helps. In the moment, you are all just 'patients' to me.

 

[wolfalohalani]

Depersonalization helps. It helps me as a medic to not get lost in the screams, it makes it easier for me to move someone and cause more pain when there is no other way. Sad. Inhuman. Judge me for it. It helps. In the moment, you are all just 'patients' to me.

I've actually been in the patient's position in this kind of situation. I was in agony, but had to be moved onto a stretcher and into the ambulance to get to the hospital. I have to say it really helped that the EMT was dispassionate and impersonal while they moved me. It was bad enough that I had to scream and curse like nobody's business - it would have been ten times worse if the EMTs were upset too. So no, I don't judge you for it at all - it helped me as much as it does you.

wolfalohalani

 

[2quilt]

I am glad that you can turn a switch and become impersonal when you need to;
I can't do that. I am a jelly-kneed mess when I hear screams, see blood, or even drive by a car accident. I cry when I hear a dog yip...waaay too empathetic.

What would the world be without strong people like you to shut off your empathy and get the job done? The crisis situation would be a whole bunch of fainted patients.

 

[NarcSis]

Yeah well, thanks to PTSD, its far more difficult to shut the empathy pathway now. I am off work to re-learn how to shut that doorway - at least, this is what I tell myself, my T seems to think that empathy is not a bad thing in my job....????? Obviously never done my job. :) (sniffle)

 

[tgrl]

Good question. From my research, it seems lots of people experiencing the same traumatic events do not develop PTSD. There are some theories about inheritable pre-disposition, etc. I know here in the US most Emergency Services have Critical Incident Stress Mgmt (CISM) debriefs within 24-72 hrs to talk thru traumatic exposure. No idea the rate of prevention with that. Having a regime of good nutrition, heavy exercise (helps with the adrenaline), and emotional support would help too. But the forces have to acknowledge this is a given occupational hazard and train recruits on how to handle it. This is pretty tough since it contradicts most of the training we have so we can go out there and do the nation's dirty work.

Not nearly enough, more is needed. Debriefs, that's a joke. The system needs fixed.:poke:

If you want to know what would help, loads of counceling would help, with a good regular councelor. If you're going to war, I would strongly suggest regular counceling for a long time after coming back. Don't think you're superman/ women, it will creep up on you, it's normal, go to counceling and you can manage it.

 

[tgrl]

the individual's background, personal support systems and psychological make-up also contribute to the amount of resilience they will have to trauma exposure and thus their risks of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.

Resiliance and background, has absolutely nothing to do with developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some psychologists want to act like someone who made it through a year of terrible war is not ressiliant if they get PSTD. I've also seen some info which states that "more intelligent" people are more resillant and that's a factor to keep from getting PTSD. WRONG.


PTSD is related to the amount of trauma exposure. My family were all "gifted" in school, meaning of high intelligence. And we all got it. If my dad made it through a year of watching people get blown up, getting ambushed constantly, seeing loads of killing, and toasted alive, he's ressilliant. If he got severe PTSD from that he's.....NORMAL.

And if he did not get PTSD from an experience like that, I would be worried.

Just my rant. :doh:

 

[anthony]

Yes, this fact has been considered. The most apt method to prevent PTSD from occurring is to be honest with yourself and discuss at an emotional level what you feel from all traumatic events and day to day living within an operation zone. The more negative stigma you carry the higher the chance of PTSD occurring. The more you discuss things at the time so trauma doesn't become a buildup of negative emotion... the less the chance of PTSD or post traumatic stress period being present.

I would encourage that defense establishments around the world spend more money during operations on weekly counselling for all soldiers than endure the ongoing cost after the fact.

 

[NarcSis]

I laugh, as I'm sure many of those who've seen combat would, because the 'ongoing cost' is actually pretty minimal and the aid they offer is for the most part substandard, even with the new wave of awareness, many still get denied aid and pensioned off to keep costs down. I know a guy who went to Bosnia, he got very little assistance on his return, so he left the military and became a medic, hoping he'd have better coverage (ha!), he's since left this career.

Who gets PTSD is a crap shoot essentially. Whether you informally debrief all of your calls or not, some will still never develop PTSD. All of the literature dictates that two people can be exposed to the same situation and not have the same reaction - one may develop PTSD while the other won't. Why? There are MANY theories but if there was a concrete answer, there'd be a strategy for prevention now wouldn't there? None of us would even be here.

 

[wonderwall]

Hi

Although I not too keen on the title PTSD. Surely getting PTSD is an nomal human reaction to trauma. Isn't it the bodies way of copeing with stress. To me it like part of you soul leaves to be protected. All the other symptoms for me seem to stemrom this fact.
Anyway i'll have aponder on that one.:thumbs-up