Veterans Affairs

• Reality-based fear of their own imminent death.
• Having to kill.
• Experiencing the sight, sound, and smell of dead or dying people (e.g., friends, civilians, enemy soldiers) with no opportunity to adequately grieve.
• Handling dead bodies and body parts.
• Observing devastated homes and communities and homeless refugees.

Even soldiers who have not been exposed to such traumatic experiences have endured daily, lower-magnitude events and circumstances which commonly exacerbate stress in war zones. Among these are:

• Spartan, cramped living conditions.
• Heavy physical demands and long work days.
• Sleep deprivation.
• Undesirable food.
• Harsh climate.
• Separation from loved ones and missing significant family events (birthdays, weddings, funerals).
• Career-related concerns (e.g., delayed graduation from college, losing a job, being denied a promotion).
• Sexual, gender, or racial harassment (e.g., unwanted comments or sexual touching from other soldiers, gossip and rumors directed toward individuals, sabotaging of work and/or reputation, racist remarks).