Tomorrow Canada honours it’s military. Thousands of men and women have come home from war, if not physically wounded, more often than not psychologically damaged. It has taken a long time to begin to understand the effect war has on a warrior.

War is a life threatening experience that involves witnessing and engaging in terrifying and gruesome acts of violence. It also is, for most military personnel, a patriotic duty to protect and defend their country, their loved ones, and their values and way of life. The trauma of war is the shocking confrontation with death, devastation, and violence. It is normal for human beings to react to war’s psychic trauma with feelings of fear, anger, grief, and horror, as well as emotional numbness and disbelief.

We know from numerous research studies that the more prolonged, extensive, and horrifying a soldier’s or sailor’s exposure to war trauma, the more likely that she or he will become emotionally worn down and exhausted–this happens to even the strongest and healthiest of individuals, and often it is precisely these exemplary soldiers who are the most psychologically disturbed by war because they are able to endure so much of it with such courage. Most war heroes don’t feel brave or heroic at the time, but simply carry on and do their duty with a heavy but strong heart so that others will be safer–despite often feeling overwhelmed and horrified.

Resources for families and returning military can be found here.