PTSD In Warfare

Words: 1719
Pages: 7
Open Document
Introduction
Warfare is defined as an activity undertaken by a political unit (i.e. a nation) to weaken or destroy another. Warfare brings death, destruction, and utter chaos wherever it occurs. While the immediate result of warfare is largely physical and economical in regards to immediate death and destruction of property, the long-term effects tend to be mental, especially on those who participated in combat. The modern accepted definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a psychological disorder in which the instinctual “fight or flight” response has been altered or damaged by, usually, situations that induce extreme fear, stress, and/or physical trauma onto the victim. There is no known cure for PTSD and the treatments that …show more content…
The traumatic event could range from war, national disasters, or other events that causes large amounts of death and/or makes one fear for their lives to an extreme degree (Mayo Clinic Staff). In soldiers, specifically ground troops, PTSD is largely attributed to the relatively close proximity to the deaths of both close allies and enemies as well as the extreme stress inducing environments and events that make up a modern combat deployment (Grossman). The symptoms of PTSD range greatly from individual to individual. The most common symptoms have been grouped into, but are not limited to, intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and/or changes in emotional reactions. Intrusive memories can be reoccurring memories of the experiences that are attributed to the development of PTSD, the reliving of the past memories in the present known as flashbacks, dreams of the traumatic events, and/or a severe emotional or physical reaction to an external stimulus that triggers a memory of the event. Avoidance normally includes efforts to avoid stimulus leading to remembering traumatic events and could lead to avoiding people, places, or things that could trigger the memories to surface. Negative changes in thinking and mood can be negative feelings of oneself or others, the apparent inability of positive thoughts, emotional numbness, lack of interest in activities …show more content…
A reason for the large amount of veterans that do not report PTSD could be due to many things, the majority focusing on the Cognitive and Sociocultural levels of analysis. There could be a non-response bias occurring, where for various personal or social reasons the veterans are not simply reporting their problems. Each military and even branches of the military has a different set of values and beliefs that they train each member to uphold; the values could dissuade members from acknowledging their mental state and seeking help, and thereby a large number of members would not report their symptoms. Another possibility may be the length of deployment. In a recent study, the length of deployment of a group of UK military personnel correlated with the percentages of reported PTSD cases (Rona). The study concluded that those who were deployed for 13 months or more in a single deployment had been associated with and increased amount of PTSD like symptoms. (Rona) While there may have been a non-response bias, this study suggests that those who do not undergo deployments for extended amounts of time have a higher chance of not developing symptoms attributed with PTSD. This study may also suggest that perhaps a large part of PTSD is just the brains inability to comprehend and adapt to the stress
Show More

Related Documents: PTSD In Warfare

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” Soldiers who are in the front lines of battle are put under some of the most intense circumstances during combat. In Junger’s Tribe, the author raises some provocative ideas. He cites research showing that likelihood of a veteran suffering PTSD is “in great…

Words 1488 - Pages 6

The Intricacies Of Combat PTSD In Leilani's Warrior

Leilani Anastasia explores the Combat PTSD relationship and the various nuances that are associated with it. Since the invention of modern warfare, Combat Trauma has affected more veterans than ever. The "Warrior" series of books effectively explores the intricacies of Combat PTSD and it's many negative outcomes such as sexual dysfunction, hypersexuality, addiction and substance abuse and finally, Veteran suicide. Book One, "Warrior Lover: Battling the Combat PTSD Relationship" addresses the ins…

Words 291 - Pages 2

Ww1 Trench Warfare

World War I, also known as The Great War, was an intense, global war that happened in Europe from 1914 to 1918. One of the strategies developed during this war was trench warfare. This changed the entire course of the war and affected millions of people. Trench warfare happened because of new weapons in the war. Machine guns, artillery, and barbed wire made old ways of fighting useless. So, soldiers dug trenches to stay safe. These trenches started as simple tunnels and eventually became complex…

Words 287 - Pages 2

Trench warfare final essay

Summer Research Paper: The impact of trench warfare and advanced weaponry in World War 1 was massive and very destructive. It destroyed many families, town, and countries since it had a great power of effect on its target. When soldiers left to go to war they expected lush battlefields and valiant fighting, instead they got dirty, unhygienic trenches with battles playing out for months to year on end in an uneasy stale mate. Trench warfare was horrific and the ongoing effects as a result were…

Words 1558 - Pages 7

Primary Source Analysis: Dirge For Two Soldier

Primary Source Analysis #5 Depression and grim emotions towards the war appear to be a prominent element common among Civil War veterans. In the aftermath of a war that left hundreds of Americans dead and introduced to the country warfare on a scale not seen in ages, it isn’t so surprising to look at the effects of the war and notice the lingering trauma that casted it shadows over the minds of many veterans. The Civil War would leave a noticeable emotional impact on many of its combatants. Looking…

Words 675 - Pages 3

Trench Warfare

made. The young men and old dogs who served in the war faced many oppositions. Not only gunfire, but diseases killed man of our men fighting the good fight in Europe. This war itself was something completely different from any other war. Trench warfare became the route of battle, and the mounting of machine guns and armored…

Words 1418 - Pages 6

Why Soldiers Went To War In The Odyssey

men and one ship survived. In the article Vietnam Warfare Breeding Ground for PTSD the experiences in war was that there were lots of deaths and also “Body Count produced a cynicism among the Officer corps”. Also during the war when the soldiers saw others being killed they were getting scarred for life seeing that happen to others they know. “Guerilla war increased the risk of PTSD” Paden said. Also almost all of the Vietnamese Veterans had PTSD hated the government because the patrols were sent…

Words 470 - Pages 2

Medical Changes In Ww1 Trenches

Empire, was shot to death along with his wife, Sophie, by the Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914. Many people died in World War I because of things like trench warfare, lack of medical advancements, strategic mistakes and stalemates. One big reason many people died in World War One was because of Trench Warfare because they would dig long trenches where soldiers lived, fought and often died. Conditions in the trenches, including cold, wet and unsanitary environments, lead to many diseases…

Words 469 - Pages 2

How Did The Vietnam War Affect Families

However, this was not the only consequence of the Vietnam War. President Johnson sent troops to Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. By 1968 536,100 soldiers had been sent to Vietnam. The Vietnamese soldiers fought using the guerrilla warfare strategy. This warfare strategy was unfamiliar to the American soldiers, who were used to the "American way of war" strategy. The "American way of war" strategy was to forcefully attack the enemy as quickly as possible. This strategy was used by Ulysses S. Grant…

Words 730 - Pages 3

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs Of Child Soldiers

amply involved in military campaigns even when such practices were supposedly shunned and against cultural morals. Since the 1960s a large number of international conventions have been created to try to limit the participation of children involved in warfare, nevertheless the use of child soldiers in military and/or rebel forces have become not only a local dilemma but a widespread crisis. Child soldiering is a worldwide problem but we most frequently hear about Africa. The Republic of Sierra Leone is…

Words 1153 - Pages 5