This condition was nothing new among combat soldiers, but military medicine was gaining a better grasp and understanding of what exactly was causing it. It’s difficult to say because the results of long term exposure to combat varies among individuals.ĭuring World War II, it was determined by the US Army that the breaking point for a soldier on the front line was somewhere between 60 and 240 days, depending on the intensity and frequency of combat. But how long can a soldier remain in a constant state of alertness before damage is caused to their mental state? How long before this damage becomes permanent? There’s an old saying in the army: “Stay Alert, Stay Alive!” The modern military refers to this condition as Combat Stress Reaction, and it is to be expected due to the emotional, mental, and physical demands of prolonged combat operations. If this survival mechanism is engaged for a prolonged period, however, side-effects such as severe trembling, dizziness, and hyperventilation can occur.
This ‘fight or flight’ response is a survival mechanism that generally gives human beings (and other creatures) an adaptive advantage. When a person is subjected to a life or death situation, a chemical reaction occurs inside the body that heightens awareness, numbs pain, and otherwise prepares the body for escape or imminent attack.
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