I met a career marine D.I. in the V.A. undergoing withdrawal symptoms from caffeine as devastating as heroin. It was also complicated by mood swings of aggression coinciding with the training cycle of bootcamp. Our cultural clock can be as ingrained as any biological one. Back to Christina's post, we do have cutural comforts; flashlights in the dark, dolls or teddybears, small religous items or writings, so called comfort foods. I had a non standard electrical system on my Motor lifeboat, and in nasty weather could switch on 'Saint Elmo's Fire' on the mast. I'd drape my medal on a scared survivor ( or often as not coastie) and explain the meaning. The placebo effect is also worthwhile. I find 2 aspirin solve 99% of my maladies- real and imagined <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.
Edited by Chris Kavanaugh (03/23/05 12:45 AM)