Military-Related Posttraumatic Emotional Numbing: A Three-Article Dissertation

Abstract

Three papers on military-related posttraumatic stress and emotional numbing symptoms are proposed for this three-paper dissertation. The first paper will be a systematic review of the literature on the psychosocial impact of combat-related emotional numbing symptoms in veterans. The second paper will utilize a phenomenological approach to analyze veteran’s posttraumatic stress stories using transcripts of ‘milvlogs’ (military video web blogs) and interviews with vloggers. The third paper will present the results of a pilot study analyzing the impact of a single session of heart rate variability biofeedback on military-related emotional numbing symptoms and the use of a mobile phone app to reinforce practice. In aggregate, these three papers underscore the impact of emotional numbing symptoms in military populations with posttraumatic stress injury, and alternative paths to healing that utilize technology.