Combat Stress Control Program - Essay Example

Stress and fear in human beings can arise due to various reasons under different circumstances. Stress is normally a response to any given situation.Combat stress is the normal physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial reactions experienced before, during or after combat (CNG, 2006). These are normal reactions to abnormal circumstances. Fear of flying on the other hand is not dependent on the circumstances but past experiences and to a large extent it depends upon the mental makeup of an individual. This paper will discuss the combat stress along with the stress and fear of flying. Combat stress has become a global concern with the deployment of military troops to various areas of conflict. Shell shock as it was referred to during the World War I was supposed to be a coward’s reaction to fighting. In the US combat stress had been accepted as a part of the warfare. Pre-selection procedure became stringent and uniformed psychiatrists were appointed. Dealing with men’s emotional response to war has always been difficult. Men turned to drugs such as marijuana, heroin, morphine, amphetamines, LSD and alcohol. This led to increase in loss of life not just on the battlefield but also due to post-traumatic disorders. Things are different now. A nation is more concerned about her people, which imply a more educated and a better informed society (Kennard, 2005). Past knowledge of the combat, just as the fear of flying, can instigate stress amongst the people. Seeing comrades killed can be a traumatic and emotionally disturbing experience during combat but fear of flying is not induced by any physical witnessing of events. People become irritable, unstable, and lose temper over trifles in combat (Gupta, 2005). In a study of four combat units that fought either in Iraq or Afghanistan, it was revealed that 17 percent of those who served in Iraq were under severe depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Less than 40% of those afflicted with PTSD sought help. The Department of Defense now makes it mandatory for every member should be briefed on mental health before, during and after deployment. Lot of treatment programs have also been introduced, but people still feel it is insufficient. The trauma in them is inevitable as most have handled a body, or killed an enemy combatant or were themselves shot at. When someone who was suffering from combat stress and expressed it, he was asked to carry on and compromise for the sake of his career. It implied that he was a coward to try and back out. Trauma from combat is an injury to the mind which cannot be ignored. It has to be treated in the same way as a body injury. A positive attitude can go a long way in overcoming stigma and accepting therapy. Talking to others in the group who have experienced similar situations, helps the afflicted to face and accept. One person recovered from this trauma and is happily married. Even today the loss of career and the stigma discourage people to take up military as their profession. Trauma of flying is not an injury to the mind; it is self-afflicted and one has the power to release this fear. During combat the army physically witness deaths and killings which cause the stress but the fear of flying is totally based on one’s thoughts. People have to undergo combat stress most often as their careers are at stake but fear of flying has no such stigma attached to it. In Baghdad, members of a squad apparently killed two dozen civilians last year in retaliation against roadside bombing. An infantry officer justifies this saying when so many people with so much power under so much stress, these are not unusual (Hampson, 2006). The level of stress during combat reaches such proportions that even best of friends fight and draw knives at each other. It is the stress of living under threat to life every moment. They are trained to deal with stress before they snap at the civilians but it is a fight for life and no amount of training helps. The mind becomes edgy and short-tempered. Every person that looks at you, every window, and every bit of trash can be a threat. Suicide bombers use civilians as shield. Grenades and mortars keep going off all around. This is the stress under which they live. They cope with stress by strumming on the guitar, working out at the gym or ‘smoking a lot of newports’. Soldiers have to act as police and warriors and balancing these two roles adds to the stress. Some even resort to amphetamines to keep alert. During combat, the enemy would try the utmost to confuse and stress others. Security and support operations itself can involve stress and the only way to keep a balance is to remain healthy. Fear of flying on the other hand is not caused by someone external; it is one’s own thoughts and mental framework that disturb and create the feeling of fear. Fear of flying is a common fear which many experience but the source of the underlying fear needs to be examined. According to Paul (2006) the mind becomes so devoted to try and control things that it becomes out of control. It is the feeling of being out of control that creates fear in people while flying. While flying one has no control over the pilot or the flight. Paul compares the mind to a computer which contains and can process only what it has been programmed for. Emotions guide us believe or disbelieve and fear of flying is always the result of what we can convince ourselves about. People try to cover up the fear with some addiction like drinking during flying. This only reinforces the lie that causes the fear. The mind is programmed with false beliefs that cause fear. Thoughts do not give any feeling of security or control. Physical and psychological maladies affect the regular travelers. According to a report of ASDI (n.d.), one on every 5 or 6 Americans identify themselves as ‘fearful flyers’. While some have moderate apprehensions, others live in fear of even the slightest disturbance. Some totally abstain from flying altogether. This often becomes a reason of conflict with the family or even the self. Some view fear as an isolated concern while others consider it as one dimension of a broader anxiety disorder. According to Rothbaum et al., (2000), fear of flying is a significant problem affecting approximately 25 million adults in the USA. Besides, 20 percent of those who do fly depend on sedatives or alcohol, while those who totally abstain from flying suffer from severe social and professional consequences. Fear can take various forms and fear of safety is a minor concern. Fear can take various forms like claustrophobic concerns, or fear of the unknown. Fear of bad weather or fears of heights are some other types of fears which haunt people. It is the thoughts that give the body reason to believe that it is in danger. While combat stress is not a mental problem, fear of flying is a mental problem. Combat stress can be reduced by various stress relieving techniques like change of circumstances, good food and water, adequate rest, reassurance to the mind, and proper hygiene. Fear of flying can be reduced only when one learns to look deep within because this stems mainly from the desire and failure to control the circumstances. During combat, one is not in a position to control the circumstances but a victim of circumstances. Combat stress is definitely a cause for concern as it affects the nations whereas the fear of flying is an individual concern. Combat stress is not a coward’s reaction but fear of flying reflects a weakness of the mind. References: CNG (2006), Combat Stress Control Program, 14 Sep 2006 Gupta, S. (2005), Combat stress: The war within, CNN, 14 Sep 2006 Hampson (2006), Combat stress takes a toll, USATODAY, 14 Sep 2006 Kennard, J. (2005), History of combat stress, 14 Sep 2006 Paul, Dr. M (2006), Fear of Flying, 14 Sep 2006 Rothbaum et al., (2000), A Controlled Study of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for the Fear of Flying, 14 Sep 2006 Read More