• What is combat stress?

"Combat stress" is a term used to describe normal physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial reactions experienced before, during or after combat. In the past, it was thought that soldiers experiencing combat stress reactions were mentally ill. Experience has shown this is not the case. Most conditions related to stress during combat are normal reactions to the abnormal circumstances of war. Typical (maladaptive and adaptive) combat stress reactions include difficulty concentrating, extreme anxiety or "fright", diarrhea, regression, and marked sadness, and are often not mental illness at all. Frequently overlooked are the many adaptive or "good" combat stress reactions. These might include increased alertness, exceptional strength, heightened endurance or tolerance to pain and hardship.

(-from 528th Medical Detachment, Fort Bragg)

• What is critical Incident stress?

The stress reaction caused by experiencing any critical incident is considered critical incident stress. As opposed to combat stress, critical incident stress can be generated from incidents that occur at any time or place, on or off duty.

 “A critical incident is any incident faced by emergency services personnel that causes them to experience unusually strong emotional reactions which has the potential to interfere with their ability to function either at the scene or later. All that is necessary is that the incident, regardless of type, generates unusually strong feelings in the emergency workers.”

(King County, Washington government website)

• What is "Battle Fatigue?"

Battle fatigue is the term used by the army to describe combat stress casualties, that is, soldiers experiencing combat stress reactions to the point where they are no longer combat effective. Battle fatigue is not a disease. It is a transient state and a normal response to the abnormal circumstances of war.

• How are battle fatigued soldiers managed?

Battle fatigued soldiers are most often managed using the four R's. Rest, Replenishment, Reassurance, and Restoration.

-Rest: For the majority of cases simply support the individual as a soldier, while providing a minimum of rest (4-6 hours) and respite (or shelter from heat, cold, rain, snow). This can make a huge difference.

-Replenishment: Provide plenty to drink, a hot meal, a wash, as possible to restore the soldier's energy level and hygiene.

-Reassurance: Reassure the soldier that he/she is ok and allow him/her to verbalize what happened. Soldiers (75-95 percent) experiencing battle fatigue are experiencing a normal response brought about by a combat situation and not necessarily suffering from a mental illness or a "weakness". The fact is most of these soldiers can return to duty, with no ill-effects, within 24-72 hours. In the past, when a soldier has been labeled as sick or disturbed, he/she was more likely to develop a real psychological problem and less likely to return to duty.

-Restoration: Engage the soldier in tasks which restore his/her identity as a soldier (rather than a patient) and that restores his/her sense of competency as a capable, combat effective member of the team.

Although these are the basics used in managing battle fatigue casualties, there of course will be soldiers who also require a brief medical or neuropsychiatric evaluation to rule out serious physical/mental illness or injury.

• If I experience combat stress does that mean I have a mental problem?

No! As mentioned above, most soldiers who experience combat stress reactions are not mentally ill and make a full recovery within 24-72 hours. This is because the majority of combat stress reactions are simply related to fatigue or are normal reactions to abnormally stressful or traumatic situations.

• What do I do if I think I am experiencing Combat Stress or Critical Incident Stress?

If you believe you might need help with combat stress, critical incident stress, or readjustment, choose an area that fits your situation in one of the links provided on this website. Veterans Affairs, Family Assistance, Military Once Source (Army and Air Force One Source), and your chain of command all have various levels of resources to ensure your health and welfare.

• What is combat stress?

"Combat stress" is a term used to describe normal physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial reactions experienced before, during or after combat. In the past, it was thought that soldiers experiencing combat stress reactions were mentally ill. Experience has shown this is not the case. Most conditions related to stress during combat are normal reactions to the abnormal circumstances of war. Typical (maladaptive and adaptive) combat stress reactions include difficulty concentrating, extreme anxiety or "fright", diarrhea, regression, and marked sadness, and are often not mental illness at all. Frequently overlooked are the many adaptive or "good" combat stress reactions. These might include increased alertness, exceptional strength, heightened endurance or tolerance to pain and hardship.

(-from 528th Medical Detachment, Fort Bragg)

• What is critical Incident stress?

The stress reaction caused by experiencing any critical incident is considered critical incident stress. As opposed to combat stress, critical incident stress can be generated from incidents that occur at any time or place, on or off duty.

 “A critical incident is any incident faced by emergency services personnel that causes them to experience unusually strong emotional reactions which has the potential to interfere with their ability to function either at the scene or later. All that is necessary is that the incident, regardless of type, generates unusually strong feelings in the emergency workers.”

(King County, Washington government website)

• What is "Battle Fatigue?"

Battle fatigue is the term used by the army to describe combat stress casualties, that is, soldiers experiencing combat stress reactions to the point where they are no longer combat effective. Battle fatigue is not a disease. It is a transient state and a normal response to the abnormal circumstances of war.

• How are battle fatigued soldiers managed?

Battle fatigued soldiers are most often managed using the four R's. Rest, Replenishment, Reassurance, and Restoration.

-Rest: For the majority of cases simply support the individual as a soldier, while providing a minimum of rest (4-6 hours) and respite (or shelter from heat, cold, rain, snow). This can make a huge difference.

-Replenishment: Provide plenty to drink, a hot meal, a wash, as possible to restore the soldier's energy level and hygiene.

-Reassurance: Reassure the soldier that he/she is ok and allow him/her to verbalize what happened. Soldiers (75-95 percent) experiencing battle fatigue are experiencing a normal response brought about by a combat situation and not necessarily suffering from a mental illness or a "weakness". The fact is most of these soldiers can return to duty, with no ill-effects, within 24-72 hours. In the past, when a soldier has been labeled as sick or disturbed, he/she was more likely to develop a real psychological problem and less likely to return to duty.

-Restoration: Engage the soldier in tasks which restore his/her identity as a soldier (rather than a patient) and that restores his/her sense of competency as a capable, combat effective member of the team.

Although these are the basics used in managing battle fatigue casualties, there of course will be soldiers who also require a brief medical or neuropsychiatric evaluation to rule out serious physical/mental illness or injury.

• If I experience combat stress does that mean I have a mental problem?

No! As mentioned above, most soldiers who experience combat stress reactions are not mentally ill and make a full recovery within 24-72 hours. This is because the majority of combat stress reactions are simply related to fatigue or are normal reactions to abnormally stressful or traumatic situations.

• What do I do if I think I am experiencing Combat Stress or Critical Incident Stress?

If you believe you might need help with combat stress, critical incident stress, or readjustment, choose an area that fits your situation in one of the links provided on this website. Veterans Affairs, Family Assistance, Military Once Source (Army and Air Force One Source), and your chain of command all have various levels of resources to ensure your health and welfare.