Understanding and Dealing With Combat Stress and PTSD

Recognizing combat stress and stress symptoms

It can be difficult to detect combat stress because the symptoms include a range of physical, behavioral and emotional signs. However, there are some key symptoms, which include:

• Irritability and anger outbursts
• Excessive fear and worry
• Headaches and fatigue
• Depression and apathy
• Loss of appetite
• Problems sleeping
• Changes in behavior or personality

How to deal with combat stress

It is important not to blame yourself or a family member for experiencing combat stress. It has nothing to do with weakness or a character flaw. Like an overused muscle, the brain simply needs to heal from too much exposure to trauma and stress. Here are a few steps you can take to recover:

• Attend to your health. Stress can be an important signal that we are overextending our bodies. It is important to stop and attend to the body’s needs by eating right, exercising and getting adequate rest.
• Rest. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Sleep restores the body and can protect you from the negative consequences of too much stress.
• Reach out for help. Working with a counselor can be very helpful in identifying some thoughts and behaviors that might be worsening your stress. A trained expert can also share some strategies that will promote positive health. Military OneSource confidential counseling provides service members and their loved ones with resources and support to address a variety of issues and build important skills to tackle life’s challenges. Consultants are available 24/7/365. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS dialing options or schedule a live chat.

It may also be helpful to talk to someone who has had similar experiences. Military OneSource peer consultants have firsthand life experience as service members or military spouses. During peer support specialty consultations, service members or spouses can have a relaxed conversation about the challenges of military life, such as deployments or frequent relocation. Peer support consultations are confidential and free and will not affect your career.

Military OneSource’s health and wellness coaching provides information, support, encouragement and accountability on stress management and a variety of other topics. Coaching is free and is available to service members and their families. If you feel as though you are in crisis or know anyone who is in crisis, please call the Military Crisis Line at 988, and press 1.

• Practice relaxation techniques. You can decrease stress and build resilience by learning how to relax and pay attention to positive things. Do things during the day that you enjoy. Listen to music, take a walk, remind yourself of things you are grateful for and use your sense of humor. Simple breathing exercises can also release stress by relaxing the central nervous system. Check out these Defense Department-recommended wellness apps and resilience tools. These mobile applications are free and for iOS and/or Android devices.

Recognizing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

People who live through a traumatic event sometimes suffer its effects long after the real danger has passed. This is called post-traumatic stress disorder. While PTSD is often associated with combat veterans, any survivor of a natural disaster, physical abuse or another traumatic event may suffer from it.

The good news is that with professional help, PTSD is treatable. But the first steps in getting help are learning the risk factors, recognizing the symptoms and understanding the treatment options.

Knowing the risk factors

Several factors play a role in developing PTSD, such as individual personality, the severity of the event, proximity to the event, the people involved in the event, duration of the trauma and the amount of support the person receives afterward. You may be at higher risk if you:

• Were directly involved in the traumatic event
• Were injured or had a near-death experience
• Survived an especially long-lasting or severe traumatic event
• Truly believed your life or that of someone around you was in danger
• Had a strong emotional or physical reaction during the event
• Received little or no support following the event
• Have multiple other sources of stress in your life

Just as individual reactions to trauma vary, PTSD symptoms also differ from person to person. Symptoms may appear immediately after a traumatic event or they may appear weeks, months or even years later.

Although the symptoms of a “typical” stress reaction can resemble those of PTSD, true PTSD symptoms continue for a prolonged period and often interfere with a person’s daily routines and commitments. While only a trained medical professional can diagnose PTSD, possible signs of the disorder include:

• Reexperiencing trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder frequently includes flashbacks or moments in which the person relives the initial traumatic event or reexperiences the intense feelings of fear that surrounded it.
• Avoidance/numbness. As a result of flashbacks or other negative feelings, people suffering from PTSD may avoid conversations or situations that remind them of the frightening event they survived.
• Hyperarousal. Feeling constantly on edge, feeling irritable and having difficulty sleeping or concentrating are all possible signs of PTSD.

Children can also suffer from PTSD. In children, PTSD symptoms may differ from those seen in adults and may include trouble sleeping, acting out, regression in toilet training, speech or behavior. Parents of children with PTSD may notice that the children’s artwork or pretend play involves dark or violent themes or details.

Understanding the treatment options

Even suspecting you have PTSD is reason enough to get a professional opinion, especially when free help is available around the clock to service members and their families. If you’re not sure whom to talk to, start with any of the following:

• Military treatment facility or covered services. You can locate the nearest military treatment facility and covered services in the civilian community near you through the TRICARE website.
• Your health care provider. If you receive health care in the community through a civilian provider, you can start by talking to your doctor.
• Local Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. If you are eligible to receive care through a VA hospital or clinic, find the nearest facility through the Veterans Affairs website.
• Military Crisis Line. If you or anyone you know ever experiences thoughts of suicide, call the Military Crisis Line at 988 then press 1 or access online chat by texting 838255. The Military Crisis Line staff can connect you with mental health support and crisis counseling services for a wide range of issues.

In summary, PTSD tends to be more severe and usually requires working with a mental health professional. Combat stress is a more common reaction to demanding and traumatic experiences.

Remember, you are not alone. Free help is available 24/7 to service members and their families. Seeking help is a sign of strength that helps to protect your loved ones, your career and your mental and physical health.

Note: Military OneSource does not provide medical counseling services for issues, such as depression, substance abuse, suicide prevention or post-traumatic stress disorder. This article is intended for informational purposes only. Military OneSource can provide referrals to your local military treatment facility, TRICARE or another appropriate resource.