Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CSR)

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The Silent Damages of War Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Combat Stress Disorder Deborah Briscoe American Military University Abstract Battle sometimes carries with it scars that go deeper than the naked eye. It is at times these invisible wounds cause the most damage. Many have fought hard to understand and name these unseen wounds in order to help those who struggle within their grasp. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Combat Stress Reaction (CSR) are two such named silent disorders. They attack their victims much in the same way interrupting the everyday life of all those around it. Although they operate almost the same way, they still hold their own on the way they ravage our brave soldiers.…show more content…
This disorder not only accompanies heavy physical wounds at times, but the emotional damage it carries is sometimes just as heavy if not heavier. For our men and women facing battle, life-threatening experiences can and do happen as they conduct the everyday tasks that are required of them in the line of duty. We now know these internal battles have a name called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since the very first battles we have found ourselves in, those in charge of the care and feeding of our soldiers were often tasked with helping the soldiers who could no longer deal with the stresses of battle on their own. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a category used to describe a wide range of dysfunctional responses to traumatic events that have been experienced. This disorder is defined by a list of requirements in response to the exposure of a potentially traumatic event that leads to the feeling of intense fear, helplessness or horror, persistent re-experiencing and intense psychological distress. PTSD has been known by many different names over the years. It is also known…show more content…
Many times, in the chaos of war, the fear and knowledge that others are getting hurt and dying all play a role in a soldier’s ability to think clearly. Even soldiers who come home from war unharmed can still feel the effects of the invisible damages of “combat stress". Shell shock and battle fatigue have long been used to describe PTSD but they are also general terms used to describe the normal physiological, behavioral, and emotional reactions experienced during all times of battle. Many times in the past, it was thought that soldiers experiencing symptoms associated with disorders such as CSR were mentally ill. Knowledge and experience has now proven otherwise. Most conditions related to stress during battle are now considered to be simply normal reactions to the abnormal situations of war. The major symptoms of CSR can be but are not limited to exhaustion, a decrease in responsiveness, hesitancy and uncertainty, feelings of being disconnected, and inability to focus. (Combat Stress). Reactions to battle can be emotional, physical, mental and even behavioral. All reactions can be different from one person to the

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