While the release of American prisoners from Russia on Thursday was marked by celebration and relief, the former captives could face health challenges in the future, experts say.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American veteran Paul Whelan were among them. liberated from Russia on Thursday in a large prisoner exchange.
A third US citizen, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, was also released.
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A plane carrying the freed Americans landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late Thursday night, where they were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The newly released prisoners were then transferred to San Antonio, Texas, for evaluation and rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center, a premier military medical facility. medical Centeraccording to reports.
Former prisoners Paul Whelan, left, and Evan Gershkovich, right, were released by Russia on August 2, 2024. (Fake Images)
Although the prisoners are safely on U.S. soil and reunited with their families, they may experience Mental health challenges According to experts, this is due to the trauma of detention.
“In addition to the obvious threats to a person's safety and the horrifying prospect of confinement, a situation like this is fraught with uncertainty,” Dr. Norman Blumenthal, director of the Ohel Zachter National Family Trauma Center in New York, told Fox News Digital.
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“Ambiguity itself creates stress, and that, combined with the situation they find themselves in, can lead to a marked intensification of trauma.” (None of the experts cited here have treated released Americans.)
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich greets colleagues at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. “It's important that they have the space and privacy they need to process this at their own pace,” a mental health expert said. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Dr. Karen DeCocker, director of psychiatric mental health nursing at Stella Centers in Chicago, said being held captive can lead to several types of trauma.
“This varies from person to person depending on their previous history and experiences during captivity,” he told Fox News Digital.
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While each person reacts differently to trauma, Blumenthal predicted that released prisoners would likely experience “initial excitement and euphoria” at their release.
“The celebrations and enthusiastic reunions with beloved “It can temporarily eclipse the trauma,” he said.
“Frightening flashbacks and intrusive memories can be disturbing and destabilizing.”
“As life returns to normal and routines settle in, this is often when frightening flashbacks and intrusive memories can become disturbing and destabilizing.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at New York University Langone Medical CenterHe said the prisoners were likely to have suffered physical and mental abuse, sleep deprivation, dehydration, malnutrition and possibly infections.
Traumatic disorders and symptoms
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York City, said Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva, along with the other released prisoners, may suffer from both acute stress disorder (ASD) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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ASD is a short-term mental health disorder that typically appears within a month following a traumatic experience, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.
This image released by the White House shows Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, right, and Paul Whelan, second from right, and others aboard a plane, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, following their release from Russian captivity. (White House via AP)
“Acute stress disorder can include flashbacks, nightmares, intense fear and high anxiety,” Alpert told Fox News Digital.
It may also include feelings of numbness or detachment.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when such symptoms persist for a month or more and the Anxiety becomes chronicaccording to Alpert.
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can include many of the same symptoms as ASD and can affect a person's ability to perform daily activities.
Released prisoners will also be able to Experiencing depressionanger and difficulty trusting others, Alpert said.
“Celebrations and enthusiastic reunions with loved ones can temporarily overshadow trauma.”
“I've also seen people who have trouble concentrating and making decisions as a result of trauma,” she added.
It could also be challenging for former prisoners to reintegrate into their normal environments and social groups, Alpert said.
Trauma symptoms are “not universal,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
A “tried and true method” of coping is to retell events to supportive people who act as listeners, not fixers, according to one expert. (iStock)
“There are differences and not everyone suffers from PTSD,” she said.
“Common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, depersonalization and derealization, anxiety and depression.”
DeCocker noted that symptoms can be both mental and physical — including the following five points.
1. Dissociation
“People can experience dissociation, where they feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings or sense of identity,” DeCocker told Fox News Digital.
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“This may manifest as a feeling of separation from oneself (depersonalization) or from the world around oneself (derealization).”
2. Survivor's Guilt
Some trauma survivors may feel a sense of guilt for having survived a traumatic experience when others did not, or for putting themselves or others in situations that led to captivity, DeCocker said.
They may also feel guilty about the stress and anxiety that family members and loved ones experienced during their incarceration.
3. Interpersonal and relationship problems
“Survivors and their families often have issues with trust, intimacy and personal relationships,” DeCocker told Fox News Digital.
Former prisoners Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan spoke by phone with President Biden on Thursday, August 1, 2024. (The White House)
“The impact of their captivity often comes from their inability to relate the experience to others.”
4. Self-esteem and identity issues
Trauma survivors may experience feelings of shame, worthlessness or confusion about their identity, according to DeCocker.
“In this case, where there was a prisoner exchange, there may be added complexity,” he said.
5. Cognitive distortions
It's not uncommon for trauma survivors to have negative beliefs about themselves or the world, according to DeCocker.
“There can be generalizations about the insecurity or control of the world,” he said. “Threats are often seen in everyday experiences.”
Tips for overcoming trauma
Given the high-profile post, Gershkovich and Whelan will likely receive a lot of media attentionAlpert noted, “But it's important that they have the space and privacy they need to process this at their own pace.”
DeCocker agreed, stressing the importance of taking enough time to heal and recover.
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“There's no rush to reintegrate,” he told Fox News Digital. “It's better to spend the time resting and regaining a sense of balance and normality.”
Adopting daily routines and structures can help with that, DeCocker said.
Former prisoner American-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva runs to her daughters as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Released prisoners may also want to avoid spending too much time in social media and the news in the first few days to prevent discussions and events from resuming, he advised.
A “tried and true method” of coping is to retell events to supportive people who act as listeners, not fixers, according to Blumenthal.
“Putting the experience into words can help with healing and adjusting to the more mundane aspects of life and routine,” she said.
“In the case of severe trauma, such as being wrongfully imprisoned and convicted, symptoms may not appear right away.”
If symptoms interfere with daily functioning, Alpert recommends seeking professional help.
“In the case of severe trauma, such as being wrongfully imprisoned and convicted, symptoms may not appear immediately,” he said.
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“It may be helpful to get ahead and talk to a specialist.”
All forms of Professional Help DeCocker noted that some of these are helpful, including talk therapy, psychiatric support, specific interventional treatment modalities to treat trauma, and physical treatments and therapies to heal the body.
If symptoms interfere with daily functioning, mental health experts recommend seeking professional help. (iStock)
Other treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and medicines such as beta blockers, antidepressants and potentially psychedelics, according to Siegel.
Support from love members of the family And friends are also key, the doctor added.
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Most people have an “inherent resilience and capacity for hope,” Blumental said.
“These and other freed hostages can, on their own, mobilize and draw on the strength and heroic reframings of their recent incarceration to move forward and resume normal functioning.”
Fox News Digital's Scott McDonald contributed to this report.
