…that war veterans suffer from anxiety and nervousness?

“Why Is It…?” was designed by Dr. Steiner to address readers’ questions about human behavior from a social psychological perspective in order to inform and stimulate dialogue about the ways in which our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are influenced by the presence of other people. Dr. Steiner holds a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology. In addition to working as a university educator over the last 17 years, she conducts individual and group consultations in matters of social relationships and behavior. Readers are invited to submit their questions anonymously in one paragraph or less to Dr. Steiner at [email protected].

Q: Why is it that war veterans suffer from anxiety and nervousness? My brother recently returned home from his tour in Iraq, and although he lives in a safe and loving home, he’s always looking over his shoulder like someone’s out to get him. Doesn’t he realize that he’s not in a war zone anymore?

A: The reaction you’re describing has been labeled Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by clinical psychologists. Clinicians typically classify problematic thoughts, feelings and behaviors into categories of “disorders” – with PTSD falling under the heading of an anxiety disorder. Symptoms of PTSD may include recurrent nightmares, social withdrawal, insomnia, and a generalized display of jumpy nervousness and anxiety.

Research shows that individuals may be at “risk” of developing PTSD after having been exposed to traumatic and/or life-threatening events or situations. In order to ensure survival, our brain is hard-wired to trigger a “fight or flight” response to threatening situations. During times of crisis, the brain releases surges of stress hormones, which cause increased levels of emotional arousal to keep us vigilant and keenly aware of impending sources of danger. Similar to signaling an emergency alarm, our brain places our physical and psychological systems on “high alert.”

Once the traumatic experience has passed, many individuals will naturally revert back to their previous states of hormonal and emotional stability and “calm down.” However, for others, the psycho-physical reactions linger. Some individuals may remain hyper-vigilant despite the fact that no clear and present danger is being posed. In the case of veterans, many may find it difficult – if not impossible – to sit in public places (like movie theatres or restaurants) unless their backs are against the wall, ensuring that no-one can “sneak up” behind them. They may “jump” at loud noises or feel anxious when airplanes fly overhead.

While these types of responses are fairly common among veterans, they’re not the only ones who fall prey to this dynamic. Victims of abuse, accidents and natural disasters may also respond similarly. In fact, the more prolonged or serious the danger, the more likely people are to respond with hyper-vigilant behaviors. It’s not uncommon for someone who experienced a car accident to respond with high degrees of anxiety and stress when driving or riding in a car as a passenger. The more serious the accident (and physical harm), the more likely the response. With time and repeated exposure to uneventful road-trips, this response tends to naturally diminish. However, for victims of prolonged threat, the time it takes to overcome hyper-vigilant responses may be substantially increased.

For example, when I was a young woman, I was involved with an abusive man. It took several years, but eventually, I was able to escape the physical and emotional violence that had become a routine part of my daily existence. Although my abuser had moved 3,000 miles away, I was still plagued by persistent anxiety and suffered from constant nightmares. I became so hyper-vigilant that I would scan all public places for his image – and anyone who remotely resembled him would send me running in the other direction. Two years later, I began a relationship with an old, childhood sweetheart – a gentle soul who wouldn’t harm a fly. However, whenever we argued, I would “flinch” at the slightest motion of his hand – expecting to be struck. Because of my prolonged exposure to personal threat, it took many years before my post-traumatic stress reactions gave way to a normalized emotional state.

As a social psychologist, my perspective on PTS differs from the clinical interpretation in the use of the term “disorder.” While hyper-vigilance is certainly difficult (for individuals and their loved ones), it should not be considered an abnormal or disordered response. Who among us wouldn’t respond to an ongoing, life-threatening situation with fear and anxiety? Labeling such responses as “disorders” only adds an unfair burden to the psychology of individuals who have already been victimized by a threatening situation or event.

It’s not the veterans who are disordered – but the act of war itself that is abnormal. It’s counter-productive to suggest that something is “wrong” with the victim – when in fact – something is wrong with the social context. Residual anxiety and fear is a normal psychological reaction to an abnormal social environment. If we wish to eliminate PTSD, we should target the dysfunctional causes – not add insult to injury by stigmatizing and medicating the very normal and human reactions to them.