War Veterans – Releasing Repressed Emotions And Trauma
For a lot of veterans, returning from military service means dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many veterans experience panic, while others are emotionally numb. These are common experiences, and it’s hard living with them. However, veterans can recover from them through professional treatment. Military training emphasizes certain traits such as self-reliance and suppression of emotions. Thus, treatment with veterans suppressing emotions is difficult. Emotion suppression results in PTSD, which requires mental health treatment.
Symptoms of PTSD in Veterans
PTSD may develop hours or days after a traumatic event. Sometimes, the symptoms may not surface for months or years after deployment. The manifestation of PTSD differs in veterans’ emotions and is characterized by these four clusters:
• Recurrent reminders of traumatic events, including flashbacks and nightmares. Veterans may experience emotional and physical reactions to these intrusive reminders.
• Avoidance of things that remind them of traumatic events, such as people, situations, or thoughts. They may withdraw from family or friends and even daily activities.
• Negative moods and thoughts about themselves, such as fear, shame, or guilt. Veterans’ ability to experience positive thoughts may reduce.
•Being jumpy and emotionally reactive. They may display anger, reckless behavior, and hypervigilance.
PTSD Recovery in Veterans
Regular exercise has been a key in veterans’ recovery. Apart from burning adrenaline, regular exercise releases endorphins, which improves mood. The nervous system also becomes unstuck and immobilizes the stress response. Rhythmic exercises relax veterans’ emotions since they focus on how the body feels.
PTSD can make veterans feel vulnerable and helpless. For positive emotions, war veterans need to control their nervous system. Mindful breathing, sensory input, and emotional reconnection can help control emotions when feeling anxious or agitated.
For veterans with PTSD, having conversations with people who won’t judge is essential. To avoid aggressive emotions, war veterans can volunteer or join a PTSD support group. Connecting with other people makes them feel less isolated.
PTSD takes a heavy toll on veterans, their relationships, and family life. Since they may not be willing to open up, The Emotion Code is a viable option. Christina Kim is a practitioner of The Emotion Code and can help release the trapped emotions from past events that are causing difficulties in life.