 Well soldiers you've had it pretty tough. How did you feel up there all mixed up? My head so I lost control You say you've never been like this before Nah, never before Smoke bill Brown's anxiety reaction is fairly severe and is characterized by creamer and manifestations of panic Take it easy You're all right. You don't have to worry now You're safe here You get something to make you sleep tonight Then tomorrow you'll go back to another hospital for a while and get a good rest Kelly Bill Brown has had it tough But with time and care is basically sound personality will reassert itself In a second case the anxiety symptoms are milder Tell me soldier. What's your trouble? well, sir Up on the line. We got into pretty heavy shelling Couple of my men were killed And another shell came in broke my rifle picked me up and threw me off a ways Yes Go ahead. I Guess I ran Must have Get a hundred fifty yards ahead of the company then what happened When I came to The lieutenant was shaking me I I was crying Don't remember much after that. How do you feel now? Shaky inside now. What do you mean? I? Can't can't exactly explain it Feel it more inside than I when I do outside Kind of boiling feeling How long have you been in combat? nine months now, sir You've been wounded once How did you feel after you were wounded? Before I was wounded. I I wasn't jumpy After that I was very jumpy. I guess I haven't got it anymore Where I used to You've had a common experience Nothing to worry about Your nerves are on edge You're frightened We'll say that you get a chance to clean up get some hot chow and rest Here reassurance is essential Patient must understand that his case is not unusual and that it is nothing to be ashamed of He's told that he will recover soon and completely. That's all. Thank you, sir In the division area the patient rests and relaxes under the supervision of experienced medical personnel Here sleep and plentiful regular meals exercise their beneficial effect Relaxation and a return to normal social relationships promoted general sense of well-being After a few days the patient is interviewed again Let's see You've been here three days now How do you feel pretty good? I've calmed down a little bit feel a little bit better. I Had a fairly good sleep last night have any medicine to make you sleep. No, sir slept well without it. Yes, sir How do you feel about going back to your unit again? Think you could do a job Well, sir, I think I can good You'll be ready for that in four or five days. I'm sending you to our retraining unit We get some marches Exercise and work out with your equipment sound okay. Yes, sir What you've had was like a safety valve the way of letting off steam Everybody has it Anything else? No, sir those patients that show a speedy and definite improvement are moved to an adjacent area Here they receive a short course of exercise and combat training Then they're ready to rejoin their units in the field About 40% of all combat neuropsychiatric casualties were returned to full duty after short-term treatment near the front lines But what of the remaining patients who are more seriously sick the further Disposition of these cases is decided by the examining psychiatrist. Go ahead. You can tell me I can't hear you Stancing people you where did you see people kill? In front what happened up there? men forward slope Germans started shelling trap Couldn't get out on what happened. I was lucky Hit under a bridge Started shelling again crazy Started running How do you feel about that? Leaving your buddies Should be in stockade How do you feel right now? What were you afraid of what in particular? What in particular? Dead, what? People I can't hear you Can't stand seeing dead people What does that do to you? Well dead people can't hurt you But I've been telling myself for years Still look at her Corporal I'm going to send you back to another hospital Where you can get some rest and treat In a couple of days you'll begin feeling better How does that sound to you? Anything but Back up there Now look you're going to be all right When you get back in addition to severe anxiety the patient is deeply depressed His speech and reactions are retarded and he has a characteristic feeling of guilt He will require more extensive Observation and treatment in a psychiatric installation farther behind the fighting front Often a seasoned soldier reaches the breaking point after many months of duty Well I've been going quite a long time without any trouble But now the shelling gets me How long have you been in the army? 34 months How much combat? I went through Africa but to know Anzio Up to there ever lose any combat time. No, sir You've had about 320 days and yes, sir. How long have you been a staff sergeant? Think about four months Have you done a good job at it? Yes, sir Until now I'm no good now What do you think's wrong with you now? Sir, I feel I've gone about as far as I can go Feel taken about enough. Do you think you're sick? No, sir, but just no good anymore Can't stand shelling Last time up there Broke down. What do you mean broke down? Didn't know which way to turn Ever have this trouble before No, sir. How do you feel about leaving your men? Well, I Feel pretty bad about it But I'm no good to them anymore. I Can't leave them. I Might get them killed or get them wounded just no good