“Battle fatigue” is a temporary stress reaction that can occur in soldiers after intense fighting, but should not be confused with PTSD. Symptoms include tiredness, indecisiveness, and dissociation. Treatment involves rest and counseling.
The term “battle fatigue” is used to refer to an acute stress reaction that sometimes appears in soldiers who have fought intensely. In general, the more intense the fight, the more likely a stress reaction will be. This stress reaction is temporary in nature and should not be confused with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological condition that sometimes manifests itself in people who have experienced trauma, including soldiers among many others.
Writings on warfare have documented the symptoms of battle fatigue for centuries. The stressed out soldier can be tired, indecisive and tense. Dissociation from surroundings, including other members of the unit, is commonly observed along with slowed reaction times. With rest away from the front lines, a battle-weary soldier can often recover fully, returning to psychological well-being within several days, at which point the soldier can be released to join his unit.
At various times in history, different terms have been used to describe the acute stress reactions experienced by soldiers, and such reactions have been treated as moral weakness rather than legitimate psychological problems. Soldiers on the front lines in World War I who experienced stress reactions, for example, were sometimes shot for sham or accused of lowering morale. Since then, approaches to this problem have changed, as researchers have recognized the psychological toll of battling trauma and have taken steps to address battle fatigue and other stress-related issues.
Battle fatigue interferes with a soldier’s ability to perform and can also contribute to breakdowns in unit cohesion. Soldiers need to receive treatment for these reasons in addition to the more basic need to allow the soldier to recover psychologically from combat stress. Treatment approaches vary by military and by conflict, but usually involve moving a soldier behind the lines to rest and receive counseling until a counselor can certify the soldier fit for duty or recommend a longer period of recovery and treatment. Counselors are careful to screen their charges to avoid situations where people who are unable to return to duty are mistakenly released back into their units.
Combat stress reaction, a term the military prefers to use, is a serious problem, and many militaries have dedicated researchers to studying the phenomenon in more detail. The researchers also looked at different approaches to treatment to identify effective approaches for both soldiers and their units. Experiencing battle fatigue does not necessarily mean a soldier will develop PTSD.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
