MERCT, not your average PTSD

Military Environmental Reaction to Combat Trauma

by
Chaplain Kathie

When we lump all causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder together, we end up ignoring the differences between survivors of the events. When the survivor happens to be a combat veteran, they have PTSD at a whole different level than anyone else. Exposing them to life threatening situations over and over again, should be reflected in not only the term used to describe it, but in the way it is treated as well.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder happens because of traumatic events but as we seem to be able to understand someone having trouble after one event, we don't seem to have the same capacity to understand how repeated exposures can cause a different level of PTSD. MERCT is not your average PTSD.

For almost 30 years, I've been trying to explain what PTSD is and beating my head against the wall when the stigma associated with the term gets in the way. Veterans can accept "Post Traumatic" and they may even be able to accept "Stress" but they can't accept the "Disorder" part. They do not like the term "anxiety disorder" when a mental health worker is trying to explain it is not the other types of mental illnesses. When a veteran self-medicating with drugs and alcohol would rather be considered a drunk or drug addict than confess he/she actually has PTSD, it should be a waring bell to change the term used.

These men and women are much different than the rest of the general population. They have it within them a will to be willing to die for someone else. Yet these same men and women come home so effected by what they went through, they run out of reasons to stay alive. Imagine surviving all that comes with combat, the horrors and hardships, only to return home and not be able to heal the wounds of war. That is exactly what happens in this country everyday. We lose 18 veterans a day to suicide. Over 10,000 a year attempt it. The suicide prevention hotline receives hundreds of thousands of calls from desperate veterans and their families. This is when they are supposed to be back home, safe and sound.

Thirty years ago, we had excuses for veterans not knowing what was happening to them when they came home. Twenty years ago, we had excuses for not being able to take care of them because the government was playing catchup. Ten years ago, when we sent troops into Afghanistan, we began to run out of excuses. Five years ago we should have been ashamed all the terrible suffering they were going through were still going on.

Today I posted about a Marine's Dad from Clearwater FL. Homeless Emergency Project started by Bruce Fyfe after U.S. Marine Brendan Fyfe died of a heroin overdose. He served three tours in Iraq and ended up homeless, dying in a motel room in Massachusetts. Brendan had PTSD. His family tried to do all they could to help him but something didn't get through to him so that he was able to heal. What was it? What was it that kept him from being able to heal?

It happened in my family too. My husband's nephew, a Vietnam Vet, had PTSD, locked himself in a motel room and killed himself in the 90's. His death is one more reason I do what I do. My husband has PTSD and I thank God everyday he is in treatment, healing and we're still married going on 27 years. Same family, two different outcomes.

Also posted this morning was story our of Fort Lewis when a combat medic is dead following a police chase. Along with David Stewart was a wife and 5 year old son needing to be buried. He is being blamed for killing them before the police chase.


We know more about PTSD than ever before and more people know about it. While this is a good thing, it is even more of an indication there is something missing in all of this. I can't remember how many programs have started any more than I can remember all the organizations trying to make a difference but as more is being done at the same time there are more heartbreaking stories, the difference needs to be addressed in an honest term that will not pile on stigma on top of what is already happening to them.

Combat is not a one time event but many of them along with the idea each day could be the last, on top of worrying about what is going on at home. It is behind the "environmental" aspect of MERCT.

The stress they are under causes a "reaction" inside of them, mind, body and soul.

Until we address what comes next, we will never be able to justify ourselves to any other generation of veterans. If changing the term will help them past the stigma, help them to understand they didn't cause it but combat did, we will keep reading stories like the ones posted today and that, that is just too much to be acceptable to anyone saying they care about the troops and our veterans.