Invictus Games ‘push all the right buttons’ for traumatized and wounded soldiers

By Medicine Hat News Opinon on August 30, 2017.

If you have ever dealt with soldiers you know they have two sides, which in some ways represent two different personalities within the same individual. On the one hand, you have the hometown boy or girl who acts just like anyone else. They enjoy the same movies, the same recreation opportunities and have many of the same representative features you would see of anyone of a similar age in broader society; just with shorter hair.

On the other hand, you have the trained military fighter who can be absolutely ruthless in battle as they carry out their mission, and who will do anything to survive and win the day. Pop psychologists have called this flip of personalities the “kill switch,” the military just calls it reverting to training.

The training kicks in and the soldier’s ingrained survival instincts are harnessed to meet the challenges of the operation in front of them. The military drills its soldiers meticulously and constantly so when faced with a life or death situation on the battlefield they don’t have to think. They just react as they have been trained to do with amplified awareness, tactical efficiency and deadly force.

The problem arises when the switch between the personalities begins to fail when a soldier comes home to civilian life and can’t completely turn off his or her battlefield thinking. This generally is labelled as PTSD, and can lead to flashbacks, sudden panic attacks, irrational paranoia or sleeplessness. Many of these traumatized soldiers also begin to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, which leads to an even greater downward spiral.

Another factor which amplifies the trauma of soldiers is when they are suddenly told they can no longer be a part of the military as their disability precludes them from being able to carry out their normal duties. Soldiers are innately social, and feel a great dependence on their regiment or brigade for feelings of personal safety, comfort, well-being and for a significant part of their identity. To be traumatized and severed from the regiment is a double body blow to the wounded veteran.

That’s why it is so important for those soldiers injured on the battlefield physically or mentally, and suddenly faced with life after the military, to have an outlet like the Invictus Games to draw upon.

The Invictus Games brings competitors together who share a common experience and common identity. There is a feeling, through the games, of belonging again to something greater than the sum of its parts; something only for those who have served in the military. Not to mention, there is also a great emotional catharsis which comes from pushing yourself to the limit in athletics or sport.

The games push all the right buttons for traumatized and wounded soldiers, but there is one other element which is required before healing can begin: Public support.

On Sept. 23 tune into the Invictus Games in Toronto, and send your best wishes to all the competitors. It requires little effort on your part, but will mean a lot to those taking part in the games.