Psychology of Disaster

[monkeybird]

http://www.drbeckham.com/handouts/CH..._WITH_PTSD.pdf

I had a lively discussion with my sister about the mental health of those of us who survive a major end of the world event. We know each other so well, we could predict each others behavior. Both of us are action oriented as the event occurs and unfolds, but after the dust settles, we both would have some psychology issues that we will need to cope with.

Imagine everything you know suddenly disappearing. Imagine being powerless to change the situation. While I think being prepared, having adequate preps will certainly help coping ability, I know each of us will have to learn to live under the new reality on a day to day - year to year basis.

I know that I will grieve terribly for the life I currently live. I also know, I will probably become depressed and anxious.

How about you? How will you and your family cope when the SHTF?

[EX121]

One of the things I believe we would need to deal with is "Survivor guilt".

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

I think we all will have some "guilt" due to the fact we all know friends that won't make it because they just didn't get it despeite being warned. I truely feel that belonging to a group will benefit us vs. being alone (one family). We will all have to rely on our faith, family and friends in ones group.

[monkeybird]

In all honesty, I must say that when I'm physically miserable, I become a very, very nasty person. It's the way I cope. Unfortunately, I know I should act like an adult, but I don't. Being stressed mentally require another level of coping. While working in the E.R., I've seen all types of injured and dead people, however, I've never seen the events that cause of these injuries. Perhaps people in the military have seen such violence, but most of us have not. I have to leave the room when I seen one of the commercials about starving children or abused animals. If I don't, I stay upset for hours. Imagine seeing something like that for real?

I feel that psychological aftermath of TEOTWAWKI may be more difficult to cope with than most of us imagine. Particularly for children. The only resources, as Sheepdog says, are faith, family and friends. We just need to be prepared to provide comfort and support.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Monkeybird, Sheeodog you are dead on with " faith, family and friends" we all have break points whatcha need is called a battle buddy, someone who will let ya yell and cry and stop ya from killin someone even when they need it but it aint what needs done at the time. If you see children being abused, starved or tortured and it dont jack with your head theres something wrong with ya. You will see soldiers give their last meal in 3rd wolrd crapholes everywhere to kids. Soldiers deal in different ways with it, some right some wrong, again it takes a buddy to watch over each other in the mix. In TEOTWAWKI I think kids mentally are better off, based on my experiences across the pond with the green machine, than the adults. Adults are "used to" things where kids just go with the flow.

[Fido]

+1 on the battle buddy. I have been fortunate enough to have several of these which have helped me deal with dead kids and a line of duty death. Without them I would have self destructed.
As far as the Psychology goes, I believe it will be like the psychology of death. 5 phases we will all go through at some point. each lasting a different amount of time depending on our personality.
Forgive me if I get the order wrong.
1) Denial;
This can't be happening, how many of you said that on 9/11?
2) Anger;
Who's fault is this? I'll kill them!
3) Bargaining;
If we do this one thing, maybe everything will be better.
4) Depression;
We're doomed Gulliver, we're never going to make it.
5) Acceptance;
It's happened lets get on with it.

How fast you work your way through these emotions determines what kind of survivor you will be. And you must get to #5 to survive long term. Watch your group for anyone stuck on 1-4. Help them along, if you don't it will be to the detriment of the whole team.

[610Alpha]

Well said Fido.

[Longhunter]

I recommend LTC Grossmans books "On Killing" and "On Combat"

"On Combat" is a little more recent, so I say get that one if you only read one. They both deal with the before, during and after of combat situations. The info can be applied to any situation though. They talk about everything you go through physically and mentally. As someone who has been to Iraq and Afghanistan, I can't recommend these books enough. Get them!!!

LTC Grossman has a new book out called "Warrior Mindset" I haven't read that one, but plan too in the near future.

[tomato]

I have trained myself and my family in raja yoga, or controlling the mind. It is very much like you said Fido. No matter what emotions you are dealing with, the only one that will make the situation and yourself better is acceptance. Everyday my family recites a poem with me: I am my captain, I will never be upset, Boundless energy. It is a haiku I wrote to help keep everyone checking their mental health. When it comes down to it, especially after SHTF, all you have is your mental health (and large stockpiles). In my opinion, mental health should be something you prepare for just as much as anything else.

[monkeybird]

When reading post in which we discuss Iraq and Afghanistan, I can't help but remember the Viet Nam vets. Some of these men came home so psychologically harmed, they never adjusted. They lost their wives, their children and in some cases their health, all while being, either spit on by anti-war protesters, or ignored by the general public.

The violence in Viet Nam was so bad, so unheard of in the U.S., the "powers that be" unofficially provided mind alternating drugs to these troops, hoping they would be able to stay sane. That is why there is a large number of Viet Nam vets suffering from addiction. I'm not making this up. Do your research. Some of you older guys might remember this.

Viet Nam was the most political war in history, IMHO, and I hope Johnston and Nixon a suffering in the after life, because they caused enough suffering while president. The EXACT SAME THING is happening in Afghanistan. The rules of engagement are killing our men, while Obama plays golf and campaigns.

Our young men in Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing insane brutality and violence rarely seen in the U.S. I have not seen any statistics on PTS from this group. Anyone know?

Sorry to rant, but, either we should fight to win, or get the heck out!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

PTS will be common just as it is in corrections, police and some medical emergency responders from the violence which becomes the norm until you rotate "back to the world" or in the stateside jobs mentioned "go home at the end of shift". ROE has always been a booger to deal with mentaly especially in what is refered to as "low intensity conflicts" such as the Balkans, Somlia and peacekeeping duties etc. Iraq and Afghanistan are now becoming those even if it doesnt feel like it to the one on the ground being shot at. Monkeybird your anger/frustration is felt by all. I dont have the answer, I make it ok but some didnt and I dont know why. Just love'em the best ya can

[Longhunter]

@monkeybird

It's my opinion as a vet of both Afghanistan and Iraq that it is time to leave both countries. We did some good, but any further involvement is just going to be bad for us and the people of those countries. Most of my fellow members in the military tend to agree with me, some may not, but the majority of the people I work with are of the some opinion that it is just time to leave. And on a side note, quite frankly I am disgusted with the current saber-rattling about Iran. 10 years in Afghanistan, 7 years in Iraq and now there is talk about Iran having WMD's???? and how we might have to get involved there???? Does anyone else smell something funny?

Sorry I didn't mean to get political and hijack this thread.

[Bearman202]

I always thought that Iran was the whole point all along. If you drag out your map, you will notice that Iran is in the middle between Iraq and Afghanistan. The problem is that Iran isn't going to be a cake-walk situation like Iraq. The topography is a lot different. I think the people in charge were thinking that if we had troops on both sides, we had a better chance of taking them down. Whether that's going to work or not, I dunno. I do believe they're going to have to reinstate the draft if they plan on attacking Iran, though. We just don't have the troops to do it, and won't have without a draft.