People who decide to join the military sacrifice a lot of things. From their health, sanity, and even their lives—each person has made the conscious decision to serve their country.
Nevertheless, their sacrifice is not without its consequences. Soldiers fortunate to return to civilian lives often develop mental health issues that could affect the rest of their lives. Here are some commonly-reported issues veterans face:
· Post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD"). This mental condition develops when people have experienced a shocking or traumatizing event. When a person experiences PTSD, they may re-experience distressing events triggered by reminders, which can affect their relationships. When left untreated, they may risk losing their connections with their loved ones.
· Major Depressive Disorder or "Depression." Depression is a severe medical illness affecting how you think and act. This condition involves the person feeling intense sadness that hinders their ability to function in everyday life. Many soldiers may report guilt, worthlessness, anger, extreme sadness, and loss of pleasure in activities they once enjoyed. When left untreated, depression can often lead to a lack of enjoyment of life and even death.
· Substance Use Disorder. This disorder develops when individuals cannot control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, medications, and alcohol. This disorder also co-exists with other mental health issues like PTSD and depression. Most veterans often report going through these substances as coping mechanisms because they cannot deal with the reality of the events they experienced.
While these three are the most commonly reported disorders, there are still other issues that veterans are at risk of experiencing. Fortunately, the country has multiple Veteran Support Systems that deal with these mental health issues. If you or your loved one can relate to these symptoms, please contact your nearest health care provider. Stay safe.
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