Page 423 - Total War on PTSD

functioning. Service in the military can become a traumatic series of events that results in serious consequences both mentally and physically. A condition of shock may result in a defensive disconnection in order to cope; a freezing up or freezing over mentally, emotionally, and physically. As time goes on, there can be prolonged anxiety with reoccurring memories — a sense that one’s nervous system is chronically on edge and is producing a variety of symptoms such as irritability, anger, panic attacks, shakiness and trembling, sleep disturbances, hyper-vigilance, sensitivity to sounds (startle response) and sudden movements, recurring nightmares, flashbacks, constricted breathing, heart palpitations, and severe chronic tension. These symptoms result in exhaustion and can lead to serious depression with lethargy. After an accident someone might remember much of what happened; another might sleep for days as a way of responding to the trauma. Extended hours or days of sleeping can be a response that allows forgetting, yet oversleeping can become a habitual response to stress.
Case Study:
Erin accomplished her military service with two tours in Afghanistan. Although she was not in combat situations she witnessed both the injuries and deaths of her fellow soldiers in a visceral way. She could not forget the images. She was a sensitive woman, an introverted type and felt often barraged by the predominance of males who she found often intrusive, dominating and at times seductive. She became quite overwhelmed while on duty balancing all these factors yet tried to keep up and appear strong and competent. She learned to create distance from the men who were troubling.
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