SHELL SHOCK TO PALALY SYNDROME : SOME REFLECTIONS
Posted on August 2nd, 2011

ByƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Gamini Gunwardane ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rtd. Snr. DIGƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

I am indebted to Dr. Ruwan Jayatunge for his two part article in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The IslandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of 2nd ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and 4th Jan. with the above heading i.e. on PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It helpedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ me to understand the behaviour of some of my men in Jaffna in 1984/85 which baffledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
me all this time, without being able to find an explanation as to the cause of suchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ behaviour.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Before I state the behavioral problems that baffled me, I must give a brief backgroundƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  description of the circumstances in which these incidents occurred.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I assumed duties as Co-ordinating Superintendent to the then Jaffna Co-ordinatingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Officer (Late) Brig. Nalin Seneviratne, (later Lt. Gen & Army Commander), on 1ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ st ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Aug. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1984. That was in fact the day that the Terrorists formally declared ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ on the SLƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Government. Of course, I had arrived in Jaffna a few days earlier to familiarize myselfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with the setup. I took up residence in the Jaffna Fort where the Jaffna Police H.Q. was.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Terrorists did not expect their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to last very long. They expected the governmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  forces to cave in, in a short time. Their strategy was simple. They mined all theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  approaches to the Police stations and Camps. They mounted units to monitor movementsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
of troops and police squads from the Camps and Police stations, to give early warnings ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the approaching army, police units. They also setup units to attack air craft that broughtƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ food and provisions to the Camps. Before long, they blasted the railway and the trainƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
service at Murugandy. That was the end of rail transport of people and fuel. Their planƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was to besiege the security establishments and slowly starve us into submission over time,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without food, water and other provisions including arms & ammunition. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
A few days after 1stƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Aug. ASP Siri Jayasundera who was on a patrol with an Army unitƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on the VVT ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Pt. Pedro road was killed in a crude claymore charge (probably their firstƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one and first senior police officers to die). Two days later, P.H.M.A. Herath SSPƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Vavuniya who spoke to me on the phone around 10 a.m. was blasted seated on his officeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ chair at about 4 p.m. His pieces had to be collected from the roof top of the office.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chunnakam Police station was attacked in the night shortly afterwards.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
On 1stƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ September, the Ist ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ STF unit got caught in a landmine on their way to Point PedroƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ police station from Jaffna, where 4 police constables died. On 26th Nov. ChavakachcheriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Police station which was attacked for the 3rdƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ time, was blasted at 1.15 p.m. by a lorryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ packed with explosives that drove through the front gate, killing all men there except S.I.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Subramaniam. The I.G. Mr. Rudra Rajasingham wanted me to close down immediatelyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all the police stations in the Peninsula which were vulnerable. He told me that he would 2 hold me personally responsible if any more police stations were attacked. The tension andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ panic was so much! So, all police stations other than Point Pedro which was backed byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Army and VVT Police station remained open, other than the Jaffna HQ Police Station.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, many Tamil Police officers who traveled from home to work were killedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ intermittently.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Somewhere in September or October, all Sinhalese people in the Dollar and Kent farmsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Vavuniya jungles were slaughtered in the night, with knives and swords. KotakedeniyaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SSP at VVN, was asked by Police H.Q. to undertake the daunting task of leading aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ combined Army Police team to visit the scene, investigate and retrieve the bodies and anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ survivors. We followed with awe, on the Police Radio Net, Mr. KƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s journey on hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ dangerous mission, through the heart of the jungle. We did not know at what point hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
convoy would run into an ambush. He reported on the radio, the gruesome scenes heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ witnessed. There were no survivors. No witnesses. He was asked to bury the dead bodies.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Police had no military training or combat equipment. Men who were engaged in peacefulƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ police work in the South were transferred against their wishes for a six month tour ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ duty to the North and the East, to defend the police stations there. All were scared stiffƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
and did not know what moment one would be killed. In these circumstances I realizedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that role of the police was to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-just hang on, without capitulationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Just survive at anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cost!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ And hold your men. The situation was that desperate. So, we hurriedly organizedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
crash training courses of mental toughening and defensive fighting etc.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Going over these memories may be a good exercise now, to remind these conditions toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ those who are already trying to trivialize the subsequent victories, for various reasons. When Chunnakam Police station was attacked by the terrorists one night in the secondƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
week of August, I visited that station at about 1 a.m. with a combined Army-PoliceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ convoy. We found that the Police officers and men led by SI Sudeshanathan and anotherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SI whose name I cannot recall now had done extremely well to repulse the attack. TheyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
were quite confident in holding the station. But when I visited this station two days later,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I found that this other SI behaving in a queer fashion, bordering on unruly behaviour. TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ others were embarrassed. He was demanding an immediate recognition of their goodƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ performance and supply of sophisticated weapons etc. Not being aware of Post TraumaticƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Stress Disorder (PTSD) at that time, I thought the SI was behaving in a reprehensibleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ manner in this crisis situation when he should set an example to his men building on hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ gallant performance. I was also suspecting whether he was now getting the jittersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ reflecting over his new experience. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
After 25 years, thanks to the Dr. JayatungeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s article I realize that this SI must have beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ suffering from PTSD. He was probably, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-psychologically woundedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in Dr. JayatungeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ words. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-PTSD denotes an intense prolonged and sometimes delayed reaction to anƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
extremely stressful event.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ This must have been such a case.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There was a similar situation at VVT a few weeks later. The terrorists mounted an attackƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on the police station one night. Police did well to repulse the attack with out suffering any 3 casualties. When I visited this station the next morning, many men were quite agitatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ despite faring well at battle. They were very upset that the attackers abused them in filthƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and in disparaging language. They said it was very demoralizing. For the first time theyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had tasted what they were giving the public! Here too, the agitated police officersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demanded more sophisticated weapons and ammo other equipment and additionalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ strength overnight, and wanted to be relieved, which was out of the question at that time.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now I know that they too may have been suffering from PTSD Syndrome.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
In the landmine blasting of the STF party on 1stƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sept. on their way to Point Pedro referredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to earlier, the heavy truck in which the troop traveled was thrown higher than theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ electricity post near by, by the blast. When they came down, 4 constables were dead.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Several were injured. (To my recollection, this was the 1stƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ successful landmine blast byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the terrorists.) The survivors fought a pitched battle and drove away the terrorists whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ambushed them. The SI who led the unit in this gallant fight, had the presence of mind toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ recover his Service pistol and the bag containing the salaries of the men from among theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ debris in the sand. This SI lasted through the subsequent thorough interrogations done toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ reconstruct the incident, but a few days later he began to become unruly in his conduct.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
As his behaviour later deteriorated further, I learnt that subsequently he was sent out ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the STF and was on long medical leave. While on leave too, he clashed with a doctor onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the streets of Kandy. A few years later he was killed in his home by the JVP in the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”88/89ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Insurgency. All this time, I had a dim view of this person, as I was ignorant of PTSD atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that time. Perhaps, he never recovered from his psychological injury, though up till thenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ considered to be a tough STF man. If this was known to us at that time, we could haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ helped him to rehabilitate himself psychologically. Hence this must be a clear case ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what Dr. Jayatunge describes as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-mismanagement of combat trauma.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
In hindsight, probably the American soldier who went berserk in Mylai, Vietnam killingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ so many villagers too may have suffered form PTSD. Similarly, the soldiers all over theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ world who engage themselves in indescribable acts of cruelty too may be suffering fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ some psychological condition which we conventionally condemn and dismiss as justƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”sadismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Dr. Jayatunge has dealt with the case of Rajasinghe I of Seethawake in the 16thƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Century. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Very probably, the king suffered from the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”burn outƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of his exploits. Otherwise, one couldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not account for some of his conduct especially in the latter stages of his life. I started toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ think on the same lines, of his contemporary warrior, Veediye Bandara, the most daringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ruthless fighter under all three kings of Kotte, Seethawaka and Kandy, who was saidƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to have been feared by the Portuguese. He is reported to have killed his wife, the KotteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s daughter, by drowning her in the Diyawanna. He fell out with all three kings atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ different times and fought the Portuguese on his own with his own army, from Kotte toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dondra. He then fled to Jaffna with the hope of getting the assistance of the regional rulerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Jaffna. At some point when in the company of the RulerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s soldiers he suddenly feltƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ suspicious that someone was trying to kill him. He stood in front of banyan tree drew hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sword and challenged the people who were negotiating with him. With his fighting skillsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and undaunted bravery, he fought alone with the whole group killing many of the whenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ finally; a desperate soldier climbed the banyan tree from behind, jumped on his neck 4killing him. It would appear that most of the things that he did despite his bravery andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ daring were irrational. It could only be explained with PSTD.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Then again, something that was always worrying me was the case of our last King, SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Wickrama Rajasinghe who turned out to be a tyrant and lost his kingdom to the BritishƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ marking the end of our independence. I was trying to figure out as to how this kingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ became a tyrant. He was supposed to have been a tall and handsome man who lovedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ beauty, music and enjoyed his liquor which his confidantes and the British later exploited.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What beat me was how a man who could entertained in his thought, the concept of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ beauty of the city of Kandy that we see it today, could have turned out to be such a tyrantƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cruel enough to order the gruesome killing of the Ehalepola Kumarihamy and herƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ children and how he could witness from the Patthirippuwa, the barbaric act being carriedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ out. The story is that, one day he summoned his Architect, Devendra Moolachari and toldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ him that he wanted a city designed like Alakamanda where he would feel as if he wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kubera, the Yama, the king of splendour. The Moolachari after some time brought beforeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ him a design model made out pieces banana trunk which showed the Kings palace, theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ proposed ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dalada maligawa, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Pattirippuwa (octagon), the lake surrounded with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Walakulu bemma (the wall representing the clouds), the plan to convert the paddy field inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ front to a lake which he called Kiri muhuda. The Moolachari converted the dream of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ king thus, into reality on the ground. And this is the most beautiful part of the city ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kandy that the whole world admires today. One could discern in the contemporary bookƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of verse, Ehelepola Hatana the effort the king made to make this design a reality byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ driving his officials and subjects hard. He had even wanted to make the streets beautiful.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
But there was much resistance from the people because the king was unpopular. TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ book itself is a reflection of the resentment toward the king. He had even wanted to buildƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a new palace for himself on the Palace Square, but two royal astrologers whom heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
consulted independently, advised against it. Now the question is, how a man who wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ obsessed with such a high aesthetic sense could turn out to be a senseless tyrant within aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ short time? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
His Ministers, down from his chief Adigar, Pilimathalawwe were conspiring against him,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to oust him. There were the chieftains who carried tales to him against each other, drivenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by mutual jealousy, each aspiring to usurp the throne. He became suspicious of all ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
them and trusted only his Nayakkar relatives which compounded the hatred of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kandyan aristocracy towards him. This led to his killing some of his best generals likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lewke Methindu on mere suspicion of their loyalty. This made the situation even worse,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ driving his next Chief Adigar, Ehalepola, to the British. On the other hand, there were theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ British who were engineering conspiracy after conspiracy against him, waiting for theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ right opportunity to pounce on him to grab his Kingdom. He lived in constant fear,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tormented by suspicion of everyone around him. A truly unenviable position for any oneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be in. He had become addicted to liquor, probably as an escape route. In describingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Seethawaka RajasingheƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s plight, Dr. Jayatunge writes: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦showed outbursts of anger,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ irritability, deep mistrust, alienation, emotional numbing and various other PTSD relatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ symptoms.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ He also mentions: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Emotional anesthesia or emotional numbing is aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ distinctive feature of PTSD.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Elsewhere he saysƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ It (PTSD) can change he mark up of aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ person making him more dysfunctional.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ I think these descriptions fit the behaviour of 5Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and offer a plausible explanation to the major contradictions inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his character.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
My thoughts meandered towards the operation of Karma theory in such circumstances.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For, according to Buddhist analysis of Karma, presence of Chetana, intention, is the keyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ factor for moral responsibility. If for instance, the Mylai soldier was affected by PTSDƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he was probably not in his senses to realize the implications of his action. Though heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ acted with volition in a limited sense, he probably did not intend to do what he did, if wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of sane mind. He was probably in a kind of diseased mind. Hence, there could not be anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ moral responsibility for his action. Then, does it become an Ahosi Kamma? Perhaps, thisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ might need a larger discussion by more knowledgeable people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dr. Jayatunge says: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Rehabitation programmes include education, vocational training,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ income generating projects, loans, housing that is tailored to the needs of the survivorsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and post disaster situation.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ While not challenging these remedial measures, a commonsense ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ approach tell me engaging such victims in art, music, dancing,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ writing down their experiences, describing the incidents and living in areas of scenicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ beauty may also be helpful cathartic exercises in helping to relieve their trauma. My wifeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had some degree of success with the seriously injured and traumatized police officersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kept at the Police Hospital, by adopting such methods, during those gloomy days.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

2 Responses to “SHELL SHOCK TO PALALY SYNDROME : SOME REFLECTIONS”

  1. Samson Says:

    Believe it or not, the best modern remedy is to expose PTSD sufferers to war images and clips like landmine explosions, killings, artillery attacks, suicide bomber attacks. That reawakens their senses that were present at the time they faced a similar challenge. When they come to know these things happen and that now they are out of danger, it begins to cure.

    I’m sure Sarath Fonseka suffers from PTSD. He raised a private army to guard his fortress at Cinamon Grand hotel as if terrorists were still after him. After the war he participated at a victory celebration in Abmalangoda where he cordoned off the area as if the bad guys were after him.

    Out of his PTSD he gave wrong information to Sunday Leader that landed the country in trouble.

    President Premadasa too suffered from PTSD that took him to strange addictions.

    Not just LTTE, army guys too need some rehabilitation.

  2. AnuD Says:

    Most of the weird behaviour that we hear from personnel form forces should be attributed to PTSD. Most of those behaviours should be hidden as they will not talk those things openly.

    Sarath Fonseka definitely should have other biochemical changes in the body too because of the suicide attack that he faced. Some of his behaviour should be attributed to that. But, Sri Lanka, expects even the men who escaped the death to be perfectly normal.

    Do we here about any psychiatrist or psychological help that they are getting

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 

 


Copyright © 2024 LankaWeb.com. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Wordpress