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Combat Stress office battles common, hidden enemy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
  • 386th Air Expedtionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Its effects can be mental, physical and emotional. It can lead to lack of sleep, anger management issues, anxiety and effect the mission, and it's all perfectly normal according to the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group's Combat Stress office. 

Combat stress is a variety of severe reactions to combat or operations in support of combat, and the Combat Stress team at the Rock is ready to assist servicemembers in need of help. 

"While most combat stress reactions are normal, when it starts to interfere with your ability to do your job, interact with others or if a person starts to think about suicide or other self destructive behaviors, then it is important to get help," said Maj. Nadine Griffin, 386th EMDG Combat Stress officer in charge. 

The Combat Stress office is a team of medical professionals assigned to specifically diagnose and treat combat stress. Their duties range from briefing Airmen at Right Start about what combat stress is to providing intervention and crisis management. 

"Our goal is to preserve mission effectiveness and warfighting, minimize the short and long-term adverse effects of combat operations and return the active duty member back to work," Major Griffin said. "We not only see people in the clinic, but we are also involved in a wide-range of prevention and outreach activities here at the Rock." 

Though a small group, the Combat Stress team sees servicemembers on five bases in two countries, and each person suffering from combat stress can present with different symptoms. 

"Combat stress varies between each individual, and it really just depends on the severity of the problem," said Tech. Sgt. Carolyn Heron, Combat Stress NCOIC. 

Originally from Killeen, Texas, Sergeant Heron said combat stress causes can vary. 

"We normally see issues in terms of unit cohesion, communication problems, operational conditions, problems with leadership, location, unfavorable working conditions and so much more," she said. "Other contributing factors to stress are family-related problems, finances, feelings of loneliness, guilt, changes in the work environment and new leadership." 

Sergeant Heron said the first step to combating combat stress is let people know it's normal. 

"Some of the ways that we deal with patients that are experiencing combat stress is to normalize the situation by letting them know that what they are experiencing is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation," she said. "People at times can get so overwhelmed that they don't know where to begin, and that is what Combat Stress is here for. We are here to assist individuals back to that safe place and help individuals develop new coping skills so that they are better able to handle these intense situations they are in." 

Major Griffin said each individual was unique, and there was no one-size-fits-all treatment. 

"Everyone responds and deals with stress and experiences in his or her own way, so there is no single recipe for protecting yourself from combat stress," she said. "However, there are things people can do to mitigate the impact of combat stress such as ensuring proper nutrition, rest, exercise and hygiene. There are many self-help tools people can utilize to help them deal with stress such as breathing exercises, writing or talking about their thoughts, feelings, experiences and emotions. One thing you don't want to do is isolate yourself when you're stressed. Isolation can lead to a sense of loneliness, hopelessness and depression." 

In the end, making the decision to seek help can say a lot about a person. 

"Seeking help for any type of stress whether it relates to family, work or combat is a sign of strength, not weakness," Major Griffin said.