Operator Syndrome
Operator Syndrome is a term gaining recent momentum in the SOF community. It’s a framework, not a diagnosis, which encompasses a collection of physical, psychological, and cognitive concerns often seen in SOF personnel, particularly but not limited to ground forces operators. Chronic stress or “allostatic load” induces wear and tear on the body, brain and psyche over time, and the similarities in operators’ experiences helped coin the idea of “Operator Syndrome.” Dr. Chris Frueh’s book of the same name explores this concept in depth.
Psychological: Due to the intense demands of their environment and roles, many operators experience chronic or post-traumatic stress (i.e. hypervigilance, avoidance, re-experiencing, negative thoughts about self, others and world), general anxiety, numbness/detachment, and depressed or lower mood. Irritability, anger, difficulty relating to people outside the community, loss of empathy (which may not have been robust at baseline), moral injury, guilt about NOT experiencing moral injury, questioning faith systems, disillusionment with leadership or government, and unresolved grief can also be present, along with a loss of a sense of purpose and team, for those transitioning off team or into the civilian sector. Sleep disturbance is also very common and is often a result of irregular schedules and the need for high alertness during operations (compounded by anxiety). Substance use can sometimes be an outlet for socialization and is often culturally sanctioned in the community, but in some cases it may be excessive, harmful, and a coping mechanism for pain, numbness, guilt, shame, and trauma. Increase in risky behaviors and activities, a foreshortened sense of future, apathy, difficulty with emotional and physical intimacy can also be features.
Cognitive: Challenges with executive function, i.e. working memory, concentration, decision-making, thought process are frequently reported. Many have experienced blast wave exposure, breaching, hard landings, and concussions resulting in TBI. Frustration about the perceived loss of cognitive acuity can also exacerbate psychological symptoms.
Physical: Chronic pain, impacts to musculoskeletal, endocrine, vestibular, visual, gastrointestinal and immune systems, and sleep functioning are just some of the medical concerns evoked by the physical demands of the job, e.g. jumping, diving, rucking, environmental exposures, etc.
Why is this important?
The aforementioned symptoms can impact functioning in various domains. Cumulatively, they can take their toll on quality of life. The term is less about fitting folks into categories and more about understanding a similar constellation of symptoms with which the special operations population contends and engaging in preventative and holistic care.
Criticism of this concept states that it can oversimplify the diverse experiences of operators under one label, and as a newer concept, it has not yet garnered medical consensus. While Operator Syndrome as an idea is still developing, it is indeed spurring dialogue among healthcare providers, fueling further research, sparking awareness among operators and reinforcing the benefit of ongoing and preventative care.
Treatment of Operator Syndrome (which again, is not a diagnosis but instead a constellation of symptoms) includes self-assessment, early intervention, and holistic care across disciplines, per Dr. Frueh.
Be sure to consult with your medical or human performance providers for medical, endocrine, musculoskeletal or cognitive concerns. For the psych lane, think preventative maintenance. While a big event or significant stressor often brings people into therapy, reach out early to get ahead of things, e.g. if you’re noticing an increasingly short fuse, feeling distant, unsettled, or any of the experiences mentioned above.
If talk therapy isn’t your jam just yet, I have a number of interventions which are more somatically based, i.e. eye movement work and biofeedback.
To stave off chronic stress, bake recovery into your daily routine. This can be as simple as purposefully using your commute home to shift from team/work mindset to home/family mindset (by employing decompression strategies – consult me for suggestions), identifying what you can vs. can’t control to build agency, doing body scans periodically to identify and release tension from your body, taking a mindful grounding moment, practicing gratitude, sleep hygiene, being intentional about alcohol use, setting timers on rabbit-hole ruminations, exercise, recovery workouts and good nutrition. While “never quit” and “don’t take a knee” may be part of your ethos, intentional recharging can prolong the health span.
What are your thoughts about Operator Syndrome? Is it an accurate encapsulation of operators’ experiences, specifically those of the older generation, or is it too broad? Does the term provide validation and understanding of ones’ own experiences or does it further stigmatize? Whether we chose to adopt the term or not, preventative maintenance and advocacy for your healthcare are key.