There are many reasons why soldiers experience post-traumatic stress disorder after they return from combat. Combat is an extremely traumatizing event, even for those who survive it without physical injury. Soldiers witness horrific events during their service, which can have lasting impacts on their mental health. One way that soldiers can cope with these experiences is through mutual emotional support. Mutual emotional support refers to when soldiers share their feelings and experiences with one another. This helps them process what happened and move on from the trauma. It also provides them with a sense of connection and belonging within their unit. In this article, we will explore how mutual emotional support buffers against the psychological effects of combat stress.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event. The symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance behavior, hypervigilance, and intrusive thoughts. These symptoms can make daily life difficult and interfere with relationships, work, and social activities. PTSD can occur after experiencing or witnessing death, sexual assault, or extreme violence. Trauma can also occur as a result of natural disasters, accidents, or other types of tragedies.
How Does Trauma Affect Mental Health?
Trauma affects the brain in several ways. When someone experiences a traumatic event, their body goes into fight or flight mode. This means that their heart rate increases, they breathe more quickly, and they may feel tense or shaky. This response is designed to help them survive the immediate threat.
When this response continues long-term, it can have negative consequences for mental health. People who experience prolonged stress can develop anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. They may also struggle with sleep disturbances, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.
These issues can lead to relationship problems, financial difficulties, and substance abuse.
Mutual Emotional Support and Combat Stress
Mutual emotional support can be an effective way to buffer against the psychological effects of combat stress. When soldiers share their feelings and experiences with one another, they create a sense of connection and belonging within their unit. This helps them process what happened during combat and move on from the trauma. Studies show that soldiers who receive mutual emotional support are less likely to develop PTSD than those who do not. They are also more likely to seek help if they start to experience symptoms.
The Importance of Emotional Connection
Emotional connection is important because it provides a safe space for soldiers to discuss their experiences without judgment or criticism. It allows them to express themselves freely and openly. This can be particularly helpful in situations where traditional methods of therapy are not available or stigmatized. In addition, emotional connection can provide a sense of belonging and community. Soldiers often miss this feeling after returning home, so creating a sense of connection within their unit can be very beneficial.
What Is Not Helpful?
While mutual emotional support is helpful, there are some things that are NOT helpful when dealing with combat stress. These include:
- Avoiding or denying the trauma - Trying to ignore the traumatic event does not make it go away.
- Minimizing the importance of the trauma - Telling someone that their trauma was "not that bad" can be harmful.
- Giving unsolicited advice - Offering unsolicited advice may make the person feel invalidated.
- Judging the person's behavior - Criticism and judgement can cause further distress.
Mutual emotional support is an effective way to buffer against the psychological effects of combat stress. By sharing their feelings and experiences with one another, soldiers create a sense of connection and belonging within their unit. This helps them process what happened during combat and move on from the trauma.
It is also important to avoid certain behaviors that can exacerbate the problem.
Providing emotional support can help soldiers cope with combat stress and improve their mental health outcomes.
How does mutual emotional support buffer against the psychological effects of combat stress?
Emotional support from fellow soldiers helps alleviate the negative impacts of combat experiences such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have shown that veterans who receive social support are less likely to suffer from PTSD symptoms compared to those who do not. A study conducted by researchers at the Department of Veteran Affairs found that those with strong social bonds had lower levels of trauma-related stress than those without such connections.