Psych 190: Warriors at Home
Reactions to War
Introductory Overview
Dr. Elena Klaw
What’s Unique About Veterans?
Willingness to put others’ lives before own
 Belief in mission first
 Loyalty as core component of service
 Experience of camaraderie of unit
 Experience of reliance on authority and
hierarchy
 Stoicism in face of physical pain, sacrifice
and uncertainty
 Eschew individual recognition –don’t want
to be seen as heroes

Coming Home is Hard
Readjustment may mean changing
reactions and behaviors that were key to
survival in dangerous environments.
 The body adapts physiologically to stress
and danger and it is hard to just reset
 Stress reactions on a continuum & can be
acute or delayed. Feels like “going crazy.”
 PTSD comes from experiencing
helplessness and horror; impairment
interferes with life.
 Signs to get help: suicidality, problems
eating, sleeping, concentrating, having
relationships, or using maladaptive ways
to cope that put self or others in danger.

PTSD
Different from combat stress reaction
 Psychological and physiological changes
that result from experiences of
helplessness and horror
 PTSD if at least a month of symptoms
 Acute if symptoms less than 3 months
 Chronic if symptoms more than 3 months
 May experience “delayed onset”
 Hoge 2004 study: 12-20% of Marines &
Soldiers in initial OIF ground invasion had
PTSD

PTSD Checklist (PCL-M)
2 Kinds of Symptoms
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Repeated disturbing
memories, thoughts,
images of a stressful
military experience
Repeated disturbing
dreams
Reexperiencing
Upset when reminded
of the experience
Physical reactions to
reminders
Avoiding thoughts or
activities
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Trouble remembering
Loss of interest
Feel cut off/numb
Feel angry
Distracted
Hypervigilant
Helplessness and Horror
Experiences involving fear of death
 Witnessing death
 Helplessness to end suffering
 Killing
 Participation in events that cause
casualties, particularly involving children
 Sexual assault
 Repeated experiences of powerlessness

Other Reactions
Normal and common to experience
symptoms of anxiety/depression/anger
during readjustment.
 Loss of camaraderie and loss of identity
would be difficult for anyone to handle!
 Depression, anxiety, and anger affect
concentration, relationships and behavior
have physical correlates.
 Disorders (DSM) cause significant
impairment and distress.
 At SJSU: Counseling Center 924-5910

Negative Coping
Acting out (externalizing): e.g. risky
behavior, substance abuse, aggression
(short fuse)
 Withdrawal (Internalizing): Depressive
thoughts are internal, stable, and global,
prevent positive coping, lead to isolation
and inertia.
 Both increase existing feelings of shame
and isolation, damage relationships.

Dealing with Symptoms
Has nothing to do with will or character!
 Professional Counseling: U.Counseling
Services (924-5910, Admin 2nd Floor), VA
Hospital or local Vet Center
 Can be group or individual, with or without
meds
 Involves having a safe space to
experience thoughts and feelings so you
are not flooded with them (out of your
control), or experiencing physical
responses, or avoiding cues
 Social support is essential (e.g. class for
vets, VSO, mutual help, family, religious
institution)

Supporting Vets
Value the unique skills, strengths and
vantage points of military veterans.
 Share perspectives respectfully.
 Increase support: VSO, Vet Centers,
Mutual Help, Counseling Center.
 Educate faculty, staff and peers.
 Learn from peer leaders.
 Increase opportunities for veterans to
engage in national service and community
building.
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