"American Sniper" - Importance of our Support in PTSD
I am going to talk about American Sniper movie that is based on a Biography of Navy Seal Chris Kyle. This movie has attracted the attention of viewers on effects of PTSD. Chris Kyle can be seen going on a mission in Middle East after 9/11. PTSD affects him and as a result it affects his family relationships also. He was a really skilled sniper and killed almost 160 targets. Killing 160 people with your own hands is not easy to digest, especially, when it includes children and women. It can give you victorious feelings but at the same time the person will feel guilt.
Chris was happily married with two children. He had done more than one mission and after each mission his condition got worse. His wife has reported his symptoms of not taking interest in the surroundings. He started having flashbacks about the war incidents. His flash backs include the crying voice of children and a drilling sound when a soldier of middle east used a driller in the head to kill a young boy. These intense scenes left a huge mark on Chris’ mind. Sometimes he didn’t even know that the wife is talking to him. Even when he came back safely after facing death a lot of times he felt detached from the family and surroundings. His blood pressure got above normal according to one physician. He was vigilant about the danger in the safe environment of house or shopping malls.
He felt distressed particularly about not saving his friends in the war zone. So, after his last mission a psychologist suggested him to help veterans here in the hospital if he regrets not having to help them in the war zone. He was a strong and brave person. That is why he got better and better by time. He started spending more time with children. His wife helped him a lot. He started helping veterans in hospitals who have lost limbs or body parts after fighting in war zones. Some were suffering form traumatic brain injury. He started helping a former Marine Iraq war veteran named Eddie Ray Routh, who was suffering from PTSD. He used to get him to shooting practice. Eddie killed Chris in tragic shooting in Texas shooting range in 2013.
This tragic incident could be stopped if the patient with PTSD was treated attentively. Chris got better because of support from family, children, supportive environment, and respect from government and public for being a hero. These supportive factors had improved him. He had no regrets. According to him he could defend any killing he has done there. It was all for his defense for USA. He was helping other effected people this has helped him to heal. External validation played a key role in his journey of healing.
Eddie should have had the same support or convenient circumstances. He killed Chris may be because Chris was more famous and an heroic figure which he was not, may be because he wanted to kill someone successfully after all this time, may be because he had a flashback at shooting practice and lost touch form reality. His severity should have been identified and treated. No, after the incident Eddie is a bad guy. I don't think he was. He was not in his control. He was seeking help but it was not enough. He might have been in a search of confidant to share all the mess in his head.
Soldiers are committing suicide on daily basic because of PTSD. There should be trauma experts in every team that goes with the soldiers for wars. Special security measurements should be taken for such teams. We are humans and we are not wired to cope with extreme traumatic incidents on our own. We should understand this and help vulnerable people. If you know people around you who have been to any traumatic situation, please listen to them. Share the risk factors with experts and seek help for them.
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