Battle stress & its treatment

Abstract

Traumatic experiences during battle is common among soldiers but it was not until the 19th century that psychological theories dealing with this problem were developed. Lieutenant Colonel Ian Palmer here argues that our understanding and acceptance of the subconscious is a legacy of the soldier's suffering in the front lines of the Great War. In 1914 the study of mental breakdowns was only in its infant stage—it was a difficult topic to approach since the man of the day the ‘Imperial Man’, was strong, determined, heroic, honest, upright patriotic and able to control his emotions. Only in 1922 did the Southborough Committee on Shellshock acknowledge it to be a natural reaction to extreme events. Today there is a great awareness of the possibility of acute stress reactions during battle and military leaders are taught how to deal with the symptoms. Lieutenant Colonel Palmer explains the 7R sequence, which is as valid today as it was in 1917 when it was first developed, in dealing with the problems of battle stress.