Photo By Lance Cheung | Capt. (Doctor) Marshall Hayes (right), is the staff psychiatrist at Kandahar Air Field...... read more read more
By Staff Sergeant Kevin Nichols, Central Command Air Forces News Team
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -There are many things that can generate stress when deployed. Military people can have experiences as serious as coming under attack during convoy operations, or as simple as having to deal with a new boss. Missing family and friends back home can also strike a stressful nerve.
Even if military members realize they might need help, the thought of going to see a deployed mental health professional can be intimidating.
Medical professionals say it's important to explore and dispel some of those stigmas as well as talk about how to deal with what is typically called "combat stress" while deployed.
Simple signs can warn of a need for help.
" Some common indicators are irritability, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating and feeling fatigued," explained Capt. (Doctor) Marshall Hayes, the staff Psychiatrist at Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Captain Hayes said he sees military members from varied backgrounds and that people experience different levels of stress.
"The common misconception is "my job doesn't involve combat exposure so it doesn't warrant seeing a mental health professional." That's just not true," said Captain Hayes.
For members who experience a critical incident such as a blast from an Improvised Explosive Device, or witness someone injured or killed, signs of stress may not show right away.
"A lot of people go into survival mode after one of those incidents," said Captain Hayes. "It's not until later that they've had a chance to realize the nature of what has happened. That can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours after the specific incident has occurred."
But asking for help isn't always easy, especially with the perceived stigma about seeing a mental health professional.
"People think that if they come to see us, everyone will find out," explained Doctor Hayes. "This makes them feel vulnerable or exposed " it can be intimidating."
Doctor Hayes and his technicians counter that stigma by emphasizing privacy limits from the first appointment, - even before any paperwork is done.
"It's important for the patient to know no one, outside of the provider and the patient will have access to their information," assured Captain Hayes. "We keep separate medical records and the consent of the patient is needed before I can give out any information."
Sometimes education is enough to get the ball rolling to defeat stress while deployed.
The Kandahar Mental Health team points out ways to combat stress during briefings with troops.
"Getting involved with the chaplain services, exercising with friends or taking part in recreational activities will help," said Captain Hayes. "One of the most important things for troops to do as soon as they get to their deployed location is to set up a routine. They need something to look forward to, such as reading a book or getting out and meeting people. That's the best way to counter stress."
People feeling a little off their game while deployed should remember that help is not far away. Talking to any medical professional is the first step if you need help dealing with stress.
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2006 08:40 |
| Story ID: | 6244 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 32 |
This work, Airmen reduce "Combat Stress" among deployed members, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
