Thousand-yard stare
Thousand-yard stare
The Thousand-yard stare (/ˈθaʊzənd jɑːrd stɛər/) is a phrase often used to describe a specific type of gaze into the distance seen in veterans or others who have experienced prolonged periods of stress, exhaustion, or trauma.
Etymology
The term "Thousand-yard stare" originated during World War II. It was used to describe the vacant or unfocused gaze of a battle-weary soldier, but the phrase has been adopted and used more widely to describe the look of dissociation among victims of other types of trauma.
Definition
The Thousand-yard stare is a symptom of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is characterized by a distant, unfocused gaze. The person may appear to be looking at a distant point that is not present, and their eyes may not show any focus or interest. This stare is thought to represent the disconnection from the world that can occur after experiencing severe trauma.
Related Terms
- Dissociation: A mental process that causes a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memory and sense of identity.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A disorder characterized by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
- Trauma: A type of damage to the mind that occurs as a result of a severely distressing event.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thousand-yard stare
- Wikipedia's article - Thousand-yard stare
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