The release of American prisoners from Russia on Thursday was met with celebration and relief, but experts say the former prisoners could face future health problems.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American veteran Paul Whelan were among them. Freed from Russia A major prisoner exchange took place on Thursday.
A third American, Russian-American journalist Arus Kurmasheva, was also released.
U.S.-Russian prisoner exchanges over the years: See the list
The plane carrying the freed Americans landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late Thursday night and was greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The released prisoners were then transported to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, the military’s premier facility, for evaluation and rehabilitation. Medical FacilitiesAccording to reports.
Former prisoners Paul Whelan (left) and Evan Gershkovich (right) were released from Russia on August 2, 2024. (Getty Images)
The prisoners were safely returned to the United States and reunited with their families. Mental health challenges Experts say this stems from the trauma of detention.
“In addition to the obvious threat to personal safety and the frightening prospect of incarceration, these situations are fraught with uncertainty,” Dr. Norman Blumenthal, director of the Ohel Zachter Family National Trauma Center in New York, told Fox News Digital.
WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich released in prisoner swap with Russia; Paul Whelan also released
“The ambiguity itself is stress-inducing, which, combined with their predicament, can significantly exacerbate the 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, after being released as part of a 24-man prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. “It’s important that the prisoners have the space and privacy they need to process this situation at their own pace,” the mental health expert said. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Dr. Karen DeCocker, psychiatric mental health nurse director at the Stella Center in Chicago, said incarceration can lead to many different kinds of trauma.
“This will vary from person to person based on their past history and the experiences they’ve encountered while incarcerated,” she told Fox News Digital.
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While everyone responds differently to trauma, Blumenthal predicted that released prisoners will likely experience “an initial sense of excitement and elation” from their release.
“The celebrations and enthusiastic reunions Loved One “It can temporarily mask the trauma,” he noted.
“Frightening flashbacks and intrusive memories can cause confusion and instability.”
“Once life returns to normal and routine begins, frightening flashbacks and intrusive memories often become disruptive and unsettling.”
Senior Healthcare Analyst for Fox News NYU Langone Medical Centersaid the prisoners likely experienced physical and mental abuse, sleep deprivation, dehydration, malnutrition and possibly infection.
Trauma Injuries and Symptoms
Jonathan Alpert, a New York City-based psychotherapist and author, said Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva, like other released prisoners, suffered from acute stress disorder (ASD) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What is PTSD? Symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event
According to the Cleveland Clinic website, ASD is a short-term mental illness that often begins within a month of a traumatic experience.
This photo released by the White House shows Evan Gershkovich (left), Ars Kurmaseva (right) and Paul Whelan (second from right) boarding a plane on Thursday, August 1, 2024, after being released from Russian captivity. (The White House via The Associated Press)
“Acute stress disorder can include flashbacks, nightmares, intense fears and intense anxiety,” Alpert told Fox News Digital.
It may also include feelings of numbness and isolation.
PTSD develops when these symptoms continue for more than a month. Anxiety becomes chronicAccording to Alpert.
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PTSD includes many of the same symptoms as ASD and can interfere with a person’s ability to function in everyday life.
The released prisoners also Experiencing depressionanger and difficulty trusting others, Alpert said.
“Celebrations and enthusiastic reunions with loved ones can temporarily mask the trauma.”
“I’ve seen people whose trauma affects their ability to concentrate and make decisions,” he added.
Alpert said it can also be difficult for former inmates to reintegrate into normal environments and social groups.
Siegel told Fox News Digital that symptoms of trauma are “not universal.”
One “tried-and-true” way to cope, according to one expert, is to retell the event with a support person who acts as a listener rather than a fixer. (iStock)
“It’s individual, and not everyone experiences PTSD,” he said.
“Common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, depersonalization and derealization, anxiety and depression.”
De Cocker said the symptoms are Mental and physical — Five points include:
1. Dissociation
“Individuals can experience dissociation, where they feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings and sense of identity,” DeCocker told Fox News Digital.
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“This can manifest as a feeling of being detached from oneself (depersonalization) or from the world around you (derealization).”
2. Survivor’s guilt
DeCocker said some people who survive traumatic events may feel guilty that they survived a traumatic experience that others did not, or that they put themselves or others in situations that led to incarceration.
they again, Stress and anxiety What their families and loved ones went through while incarcerated.
3. Interpersonal and relationship problems
“Issues of trust, intimacy and personal relationships often arise between survivors and their families,” DeCocker told Fox News Digital.
Former inmates Evan Gershkovich, Ars Kurmaseva and Paul Whelan spoke by phone with President Biden on Thursday, August 1, 2024. (White House)
“The effects of captivity often come from the inability to communicate their experiences to others.”
4. Self-esteem and identity issues
DeCocker said people who have experienced trauma may experience feelings of shame, worthlessness or confusion about their identity.
“In this case, there was a prisoner exchange, which could complicate things even further,” she said.
5. Cognitive Distortions
According to DeCocker, it’s not uncommon for people who have experienced trauma to hold negative beliefs about themselves and the world.
“There can be generalizations that the world is not safe or that things are out of our control,” she says. “Threat is common in everyday experience.”
Tips for overcoming trauma
Given the high-profile release, Gershkovich and Whelan are looking at a hefty sum. Media attention“But it’s important that they have the space and privacy they need to process this at their own pace,” Alpert said.
DeCocker agreed, emphasizing the importance of allowing enough time for healing and recovery.
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“There’s no need to rush back into society,” she told Fox News Digital. “It’s best to take time to rest and regain a sense of balance and normalcy.”
DeCocker said adopting a daily routine and structure helps.
When former prisoner and Russian-American journalist Ars Kurmasheva arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024, she ran to her daughters. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)
The released prisoners Social media She advised people to be cautious with the news in the early stages to avoid rekindling any controversies or incidents.
One “tried-and-true way” to cope, Blumenthal said, is to retell the events with a supporter who acts as a listener rather than a fixer.
“Putting experiences into words can help with healing and adjustment to the more mundane aspects of life and routine,” he said.
“In cases of severe trauma, such as being held as a prisoner and being wrongly convicted, symptoms may not appear immediately.”
If symptoms are interfering with your daily life, Alpert recommends seeking professional help.
“In cases of severe trauma, such as being held as a prisoner and being wrongly convicted, symptoms may not surface immediately,” he noted.
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“It may be helpful to consult with a professional beforehand.”
All forms of Expert help DeCocker noted that these treatments can be helpful, including talk therapy, psychiatric support, interventional therapies focused on treating trauma, and physical treatments and therapies to help the body heal.
If symptoms interfere with your daily life, mental health professionals recommend seeking professional help. (iStock)
Other treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy, and medicines These include beta-blockers, antidepressants and potentially hallucinogens, Siegel said.
Support from love Family members The doctor added that relationships with friends are also important.
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Most people have an “innate capacity for resilience and hope,” Blumenthal said.
“These and other released hostages may be able to mobilize themselves and make a courageous transition away from their recent captivity and resume normal lives.”
Fox News Digital’s Scott MacDonald contributed to this report.
