You've Gotta Be Crazy to Go to War

Post on 13-May-2015

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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 of You've Gotta Be Crazy to Go to War

Ya Gotta Be Crazy To Go To War

PTSD in the Context of Military Culture

www.ptsd.va.gov

• 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

eddie.black@me.com

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