Kevlar for the Mind: Anxiety can range from nuisance to clinical disorder - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Air Force Times

Kevlar for the Mind: Anxiety can range from nuisance to clinical disorder

Clinical psychologist Bret A. Moore answers your questions.

Q. My doctor told me I have “anxiety,” but didn’t go into detail. What does that mean?

Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, apprehension, fear or worry. Some anxiety is normal, such as occasional worry about finances, a promotion board or physical fitness test. Anxiety becomes a problem only when it interferes with your daily life — if worries about your finances cause regular fights with your spouse, if you skip the promotion board due to your fear, or if your nervousness prevents you from passing your PT test.

We all worry about day-to-day issues and lose the occasional night’s sleep. But sometimes, panic disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder can occur. In these situations, you should see a mental health professional to learn to manage these disorders. Only a health care professional should make the distinction between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder.

Q. My platoon sergeant is always talking about combat stress. What’s the difference between combat stress and post-traumatic stress disorder?

Combat stress is a term used by the military to identify common physical, psychological and behavioral reactions to combat and the combat environment. Signs of combat stress include anger, sadness, nervousness, fatigue and insomnia, to name a few. In most cases, symptoms are fleeting and the service member returns to normal with rest and reassurance.

PTSD is a serious psychiatric disorder that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Symptoms include nightmares and disturbing images, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and increased emotional and physiological arousal. If not treated promptly, PTSD can turn into a chronic condition that causes significant distress.

Only a minority of service members who develop combat stress will go on to develop PTSD.

Q. I’ve been diagnosed with depression and PTSD. Is it common to have both?

Research has shown that as many as half of people with PTSD have or have had depression. Also, they are seven times more likely to have depression compared with those who don’t have PTSD.

You may need treatment for both. However, symptoms of one often decrease with successful treatment of the other.

Bret A. Moore is a clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. E-mail him. Names and identifying details will be kept confidential. This column is for informational purposes only. Readers should see a mental health professional or physician for mental health problems.