New techniques emerging for veterans with combat stress, says La Amistad Behavioral Health Services
Many people believe that combat stress is a mental illness, but mental healthcare professionals like La Amistad Behavioral Health Services recognize that is not the case. For the most part, conditions related to stress from combat are normal reactions of the mind and body to the abnormal environments of war and misunderstood by the general population.
As understanding of the condition continues to grow, the branches of the U.S. Military have developed protocol to assist service members who are beginning to feel combat stress. When service members report battle fatigue, they are treated with “the four R’s:” restt, replenishment, reassurance, and restoration.
Rest includes a minimum of 4 hours of respite from battle and shelter from the elements. This allows soldiers a break from immediate stressors. In replenishment, soldiers receive plenty of fluids for rehydration, hot food, and a shower. These things refuel the service member’s body and mind.
Reassurance is a less specific treatment. When service members are led to believe their battle fatigue is a result of weakness or mental illness, they are more likely to develop a deeper psychological problem and are less likely to be able to return to duty. The truth is, 75-90% of military members who experience battle fatigue are reacting normally to stressful combat situations. Reassuring service members that they are normal and that their response is not in any way a weakness is essential to wellness.
Restoration enables the service member to restore his or her identity as a competent soldier, rather than a patient. They are given tasks to get ready for a return to their station and prepare for what is needed for them to do their jobs well and remain healthy. All these steps help military members bounce back from the normal bodily reactions of combat.
Periodically, however, ideal treatment is not given at the initial incidence of distress. This may be due to logistical problems, the military member’s reluctance to ask for help, or a myriad of other reasons. Sometimes, immediate help was given, but the solider still struggles. Occasionally, symptoms emerge weeks or even months after leaving the combat zone, particularly upon returning home. These continued feelings of combat stress are perfectly normal, and help is available.
Representatives from La Amistad Behavioral Health Services near Orlando, Florida, which offers outpatient and inpatient treatment for a variety of conditions, say their facility focuses on creating a healing environment for those suffering with combat stress.
“We create a resort-like feel so that patients are in a relaxed community, but it is not focused on being with others with combat stress,” representatives said. “This is a good step towards becoming acclimated to civilian life.”
La Amistad Behavioral Health Services advocates for patient wellness and suggest the following treatments for those looking to recover from combat stress related conditions:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one of the leading treatments for combat stress and PTSD. This type of talk therapy focuses on retraining the brain’s response to particular situations and emotions. Participants work with a licensed professional to identify thinking processes the client would like to change, and together they find tools to enable the client to begin to essentially reroute the brain’s pathways away from maladaptive behaviors and towards healthy behaviors.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for the treatment of combat stress and other issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress, according to representatives from La Amistad Behavioral Health Services. The process teaches participants how to focus their attention and develop awareness of the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. For example, participants learn to recognize uncomfortable feelings as they occur, without the need to push them down or explain them away.
Support groups for combat veterans are another important aspect of treatment. Being able to talk with other people with similar experiences is a potent way for veterans to understand on a visceral level that they are not alone. When led by mental health professionals, these support groups are enhanced and able to provide former service members further tools for recovery.
Recreational therapy focuses on experiential activities that enable the participant to develop problem solving and conflict resolution skills. Activities such as equine therapy, music therapy, and art therapy each offer unique avenues to explore emotions and the expression thereof. Often participants find that techniques such as these enable them to process feelings they are unable to articulate with words.
Family therapy can help veterans and active military members gain support from their social circles. Often, family and friends want to help, but do not know how. Working with licensed clinical therapists, family therapy gives family members and close friends effective tools to help their loved one and to help restore the family unit from the strain each person experiences when one member is struggling.
Occasionally, further treatment is needed. In these instances, in-patient or intensive day treatment programs can give the client respite from the stresses of daily living, enabling him or her to focus on recovery, according to La Amistad Behavioral Health Services.
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