you've gotta be crazy to go to war
DESCRIPTION
The job of the combat soldier is to kill. There is no simple way of saying it. In order to do such certain traits are brought out. What is too often misunderstood as PTSD are instead the characteristics of a good soldier. This is a presentation that I gave at the 2011 Oregon Counseling Association Conference. It focuses mainly on military culture. PTSD is very real, so too is an overly rigid adherence to a soldier mentality. Yet not understanding either diminishes grasping the totality of the returned veteran and that person's needs in reintegration.TRANSCRIPT
Ya Gotta Be Crazy To Go To War
PTSD in the Context of Military Culture
• It is important that therapists* to be educated in the
warrior tradition and its rituals in order to recognize
and help veterans identify with [the use of] warrior
traits. Ignoring these traits is harmful to the veteran,
for then the inner warrior remains invisible.
Pathologizing the traits is also harmful, for then the
vet is further wounded by reductionist interpretations
that may minimize their importance to him… or empty
them of their spiritual potency. • Edward Tick, Ph.D. War and the Soul
Women in
Combat
Fighter Soldier Warrior
Three Reactions to Stressful Event
Fight Flight Freeze
Three Reactions to Stressful Event
Move To Move Away Move Nowhere
Abusive Communication
Style
Uniformity
Individual Mistakes cost EVERYBODY
PUNISHMENT
Military Bearing
Initiative
ObedienceAttention to
Detail
Push Beyond Breaking Teamwork
Quick Action
Support Your Team
Emotional numbing
Reduced awareness of surroundings
Derealization
Depersonalization
Reduced ability to recall details of event
Dissociative Symptoms
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Increased irritability and anger outbursts
Difficulty concentrating
Hyper-vigilance
Exaggerated startle response
Increased Arousal
B Buddies VS Withdrawal
A Accountability VS Controlling
T Targeted VSInappropriate Aggression
T Tactical Awareness VS Hyper-vigilance
L Lethally Armed VS Locked and Loaded
E Emotional Control VS Detachment
M Mission Operational Security
VS Secretiveness
I Individual Responsibility VS Guilt
N Non-defensive Driving (combat)
VS Aggressive Driving
D Discipline and Ordering VS Conflict
To meet destruction or to
come through:
these are the terms of
war.Homer, The Iliad
Did you kill anybody?
Do you patrol your
neighborhood?
It is what it is
Any phenomenon inhabited by a particular god
must be addressed in the
rhetoric of that god.
James Hillman - A Terrible Love of War
Psychology
Courage
cowardice rashness
What are you guarding soldier?
Thank You