Page 68 - Total War on PTSD Final

question their morals and values that they could act in such a cold and callous manner, often labeling themselves “monsters.” Again, these adaptive behaviors must be looked at in the context they occurred and viewed as necessary to function. Often these numbing and chemically driven reactions are not driving the Veterans behavior. The situation and context, typically the need to survive and protect their peers, almost always are the deciding factors in the Veteran’s actions and behaviors. To be aggressive and angry in the combat zone are viewed by peers as much more favorable attributes than being emotional or breaking down, which are viewed as weak or “combat ineffective.” When a combat Veteran comes into treatment, it is important to give them a space that is judgement free and where their actions can be viewed contextually. In treatment, we discuss the natural progression of aggression over the course of deployment, suppression of the fear that stalks the Veteran and is replaced by numbing, and the necessity of these adaptive behaviors to survive horrific and overwhelming circumstances.
Combat Veterans can go beyond what situations dictate as far as aggression and the harming of others. They are often deeply ashamed by their actions and question their values and morals that would allow them to act in such a cold and seemingly sociopathic manner. These individuals are typically not sociopaths. I have repeatedly seen this phenomenon in God-fearing men who, in general, have very good values. Whether it is the group mentality, mid-brain/animalistic functioning in dangerous situations, the low level of chemical shock they experience related to repeated trauma exposure, dissociative symptoms, or simply vengeful behavior, there has to be some normalcy to a phenomenon that occurs in greater frequency over the course of deployments, particularly in individuals who have had multiple deployments. Commonly, a combat Veteran will have
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