Some more food for thought for those out there that are interested in mental resiliency training. Angela has guest authored before and it is always a treat to hear what she has to say. Feel free to make a comment here, or contact Angela direct at her Military Healing Center website.
One thing that I keep thinking about with her articles is that it would be interesting to get her in the same room as Dave Grossman and have them chat about the subject of mental resiliency. His website called Killology, as well as his books, are a fascinating study on the mind of warriors.-Matt
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An Extension of Tactical Trauma Counseling = Training
By Angela Benedict
Tactical Trauma Counseling is a recent ideological development that suggests military and law enforcement personnel require specialized counseling due to their specialized professions. Fortunately, the current reality is beginning to recognize that TTC is a requirement for operational effectiveness. Beyond counseling, efforts are being made to ensure that Protector Professionals are getting a much more comprehensive training regime. It is clear that knowing how to use a gun is not sufficient to surviving volatile situations. Mental and emotional preparedness training is critical to wellbeing and long term career potential.
Resiliency and Post Traumatic Stress are on the lips of almost everyone in security professions these days. But what is either one? Resiliency is the ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune. Protector Professionals have a higher than average resiliency level than most as it is. It is partially what draws individuals to Protector disciplines initially. The issue is not how do we increase resiliency, but rather, how do we minimize what is undermining resiliency?
Post Traumatic Stress, or Ugly as I refer to it, was first recorded by the Greek historian Herodotus in 490 BC when he described the impact of the Battle of Marathon on soldiers, particularly citing one soldier who was not in any way injured, but who manifested blindness in both eyes after witnessing the death of a fellow soldier. Ugly has also been called Combat Stress, Battle Fatigue, Shell Shock and after the US Civil War, Soldier’s Heart. For me as a Tactical Trauma Counselor, it is the last term which most accurately sums up what I see in my clients. I don’t believe that
soldiers have head issues to the extent that clinical psychiatry would like us to think. I think soldiers have “heart” issues that affect their whole being.
The term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder came out of the Vietnam era. Since then, the most research and treatment towards this condition in all its history has occurred. We should keep in mind however that a gamut of psychiatrists and psychologists did not suddenly awaken one day in the early 1970’s and say, gosh we’ve really missed something here, let’s study Combat Stress. The push to bring the plight of returning soldiers to light was made by soldiers themselves. Following on the heels of the G.I. Movement, which most effectively brought an end to the Vietnam War, soldiers carried
on their ‘insolent behaviour’ and loudly stood up for their right to treatment options to aid in their recovery from military service. And because of their shouting, today’s militaries are having to deal in much more significant ways with the effects of Ugly. If you see a Nam Vet, say thanks.
So Ugly, has proven his ability to undermine our naturally high resiliency. Can we eradicate him? Take him out of the equation? No. He is as old as war is. But we can cut his legs off.
Tactical Trauma Counseling is a critical process to ensure that military and law enforcement personnel maintain operational fitness. However, the reality is that from a treatment perspective, we will never catch up to the
demand for services required. The numbers are too great. We haven’t caught up from Vietnam and there are new cases every day all over the world. Training is the answer.
As with all other aspects of military proficiency, training is at the core of success. Mental and Emotional Preparedness Training is now paramount to developing both a climate that promotes wellness and a trained critical mass of personnel who can perform well in and after crisis. We know that 10-40% of all affected by a crisis that is of a violent or terrorist nature will develop at least some symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. We know that persons in leadership positions are the least likely to seek help with emotional trauma even though their leadership and good judgment are most critical after a crisis.
To this end a specialized training program has been developed with military and law enforcement in mind. Emotional Distress in Combat and Disaster, EDCD Training, is a new standard in military training. Core training aspects include; self-care; our personal relationship with power; dealing with strong emotions; the top five dial down exercises; fears, expectations and worthiness; anger and self-regulation; relationships; team building; suppression; transitions; and warriorship. No other program is this comprehensive where individuals immediately learn how to take lessons
learned and apply them in disaster situations.
There are three aspects to training new warriors and retraining experienced ones that we need to consider. Two things will undercut Ugly. Minimizing operational stressors and reducing the Accumulation. The Accumulation is the “baggage” the people have with them when they sign up. It is not most people’s fault that they carry this extra weight with them. They likely have not been taught how to get rid of it. Countering Operational Stress demands that people develop solid working relationships in order to reduce the amount of stress that surrounds them. In-fighting within units is an all too common complaint. Minimizing the effects of the Accumulation and Operational Stress factors make a world of difference when someone finally meets up with Ugly. If you are already ‘full’, Ugly may level you.
It is to fully support our military and law enforcement that EDCD has been made available. Trainings are taking place in Canada on a monthly basis with international locations being made available as demand requires. If you can’t make it to an EDCD training as of yet, find ways to increase your emotional intelligence and be proactive about what you can do to eliminate some of your unwanted baggage. It may save your life, the lives of those around you, your relationships and your job. Stay safe.