Managing Anxiety is Top Priority for Soldiers and Military Families

For thousands of families in America, the war in Iraq is a continuing source of anxiety and stress. Though continents away from the battlefront, the so-called “military families” also find themselves in the middle of a very real conflict --- the war against worry. It is no wonder that anxiety disorders are now on the rise in the US military, specifically among those stationed overseas.

Today, more than 100,000 US troops are stationed in Baghdad and other places all over the battle-scarred country. It is no secret that most of the soldiers are working under extreme conditions of heat, hardship, and danger on a daily basis. Patrolling the streets and entering houses in search of high-value targets, dangerous militants, and arms cache is a day-to-day routine that elicits fear and apprehension even among the most highly trained and experienced American servicemen and women.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Serious cases of anxiety attacks, commonly termed by doctors as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, are being closely monitored by psychologists assigned to study the behavior and performance of military personnel. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a disorder that can occur after a traumatic event or exposure to horrible and often life-threatening situations. Aside from exposure to military combat, other possible sources of PTSD include:

• Physical or sexual abuse
• Terrorism or heinous crimes
• Car crash and other serious accidents
• Calamities and disasters such as a fire, hurricane, earthquake, or tsunami.

Many who survived their tour of duty in Iraq and other field assignments have opted not to re-enlist in the military. For soldiers who have chosen to make the military their career or opted to sign-up for a new three-year tour, more psychological stress and physical threats are expected in the days ahead.
But the battle is not theirs alone.
At the home front, countless military families patiently wait for the return of their loved ones serving in harm's way while struggling to go on with their own lives. Though miles away from the “rifle galleries” and “kill zones” of Iraq, military families, too, face each day's uncertainties.

Watching the six o' clock news is a difficult yet necessary task. It is one of the very few ways to actually understand the kind of situations faced by their loved ones in Iraq. The graphic videos and sobering news commentaries about the war reminds them about the frightening, constant ordeal faced by American soldiers.

Controlling Anxiety

To control their anxiety, many choose to pray and become active in their local church and various ministries. Some join support groups organized by other military families where they can share their experiences and strategies to cope with the family separation, unusual situations and changes in lifestyle that come as a consequence of the war.

Others need to resort to medication and counseling in order to effectively control their emotions and bring back a semblance of normalcy to their lives. Aside from cognitive-behavioral therapy conducted by trained doctors and counselors, soldiers diagnosed with PTSD and some military dependents opt to undergo supervised medical intervention. Medical treatment may involve the prescription of anti-depressants and other anti-anxiety drugs. Proper medication helps ease the symptoms of depression, anger, or irritability.

Indeed, attacking anxiety is a serious and necessary mission not only for the US soldiers in Iraq. It is also a major concern that needs to be addressed by thousands of families left behind by those American military men and women who have to survive both armed encounters and the struggle against stress.