PTSD Among Veterans: Signs, Effects, and How to Get Help

Veterans are susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, at a slightly higher rate than the civilian population because of their experience in combat and traumatic situations.¹The rate of PTSD for Veterans is around 7%, while the prevalence of PTSD for the civilian population is around 6%.¹ If you’re a Veteran living with PTSD symptoms, you’re not alone.

Read on to learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder, why veterans are more susceptible to PTSD, the risk factors for developing PTSD, and how it affects veterans. We will also discuss reasons it may be difficult to get help, how to find treatment, and provide additional resources for getting the help you need.

Veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common mental health disorder among veterans. PTSD is caused by experiencing or being a witness to a traumatic event.¹ PTSD activates your body’s “fight” or “flight” response and can be scary and overwhelming.² If you’re living with PTSD symptoms, you may experience intense distress and have difficulty in social, occupational, or school settings.²

PTSD among veterans is high due to the likelihood those in the military have of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.² Those who are deployed are 3 times more likely to experience PTSD than those who aren’t deployed.¹

Military sexual trauma is also a problem. If you’ve experienced military sexual trauma, this increases your likelihood of experiencing PTSD.¹

There is a link between PTSD and drug and alcohol problems. People who live with PTSD are 2 to 4 times more likely to live with a substance use disorder than those who don’t have PTSD.³

Risk Factors for PTSD Among Veterans

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event can develop PTSD. Various factors make you more susceptible to developing PTSD as a Veteran.⁴

Factors that increase the risk of PTSD (prior to experiencing trauma) include:⁴

• Multiple deployments.
• Longer deployment length.
• Being female.
• Army service.
• Combat specialization.
• Non-officer ranks.
• Prior trauma exposure.
• Prior mental health or psychological problems.
• A higher number of adverse life events.
• Ethnic minority status.

Factors that increase the risk of PTSD (during the traumatic period/event) include:⁴

• Discharging a weapon.
• Witnessing someone being killed or wounded.
• Increased combat exposure.
• Deployment-related stress.
• Severe trauma.

One additional factor that can increase your risk of PTSD is a lack of support after the trauma period.⁴ This lack of support can feel isolating and make you more likely to deal with trauma symptoms.

Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans

If you suspect you might have PTSD and you’re a Veteran, learning the signs and symptoms can help.

Common signs of PTSD include:⁵

• Nightmares or trouble sleeping.
• Feeling sad, anxious, or guilty.
• Problems with your memory.
• Flashbacks to the traumatic event or feeling like you’re reliving the event.
• Feeling distant or lonely.
• Being easily startled or hypervigilant to surroundings.
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing.
• Feelings of extreme anger or other intense emotions.
• Loss of interest in activities.
• Avoidance of anything that is a reminder of the traumatic event.
• Feeling irritable often.
• Physical pains like frequent stomach aches or headaches.
• Negative beliefs about yourself or others.

It may be helpful to seek professional help if you notice these signs. A mental health professional can help provide you with a diagnosis and treat you for PTSD.⁶

To be diagnosed with PTSD, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) outlines the symptoms according to specific criteria.⁶

To qualify for a PTSD diagnosis, symptoms must occur for at least 1 month and cause you distress or some sort of functional deficit.⁶ The symptoms can’t result from medication, substance use, other medical problem, or illness.⁶ If you notice these symptoms, consult with a mental health professional today.

Effects of PTSD on Veterans

Post-traumatic stress disorder is often comorbid with substance use disorders and other mental health disorders.^3,8 When two disorders occur together, such as PTSD and alcohol use disorder or PTSD and major depressive disorder, this is known as a co-occurring disorder.³ Co-occurring disorders are common among those with PTSD.^3,7

Substance use disorders occur frequently in the Veteran population, and research indicates that 11% of Veterans seeking first-time care with the Veterans Health Administration (VA) meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.⁸ The most prevalent types of substance use problems among veterans are smoking cigarettes and heavy alcohol use.⁸

Binge drinking among veterans with PTSD is common.⁹ If you’re a veteran with PTSD who also has a co-occurring substance use disorder, seeking treatment can help you find relief.

In addition to substance use disorders, PTSD often occurs with other mental health conditions. One of the most common co-occurring mental health conditions that veterans may experience in addition to PTSD is major depressive disorder (MDD).⁷ PTSD and MDD together can take a detrimental toll on the lives of veterans without treatment.⁷

People who experience both PTSD and MDD have higher rates of suicidality than those with just one condition.⁷ Living with both conditions is also associated with a poorer quality of life and can negatively impact your social and occupational functioning.⁷

PTSD & Mental Health Stigma Among Veterans

If you’re currently in the military or a veteran, you may have experienced stigma surrounding mental health or substance use challenges. Stigma is a negative attitude based on other people’s characteristics.¹⁰ Stigma sometimes arises when people have false notions about what it means to have PTSD.¹¹ People may make negative assumptions or have stereotypes that cause stigma, causing guilt and shame.

Mental health stigma can be harmful and keep people from getting treatment, which contributes to higher rates of suicide among veterans. Stigma can be reduced by talking about it openly and challenging misconceptions that other people have.

PTSD Treatments & Resources for Veterans

There are various options available if you are ready to get started with PTSD treatment. These include:

• Calling an addiction helpline.
• Connecting with Veterans Affairs.
• Attending a rehab treatment program.
• Participating in individual therapy.
• Taking addiction treatment medications.

When considering treatment options, it may be helpful to seek mental health or substance use treatment that has programs specifically tailored to meet the needs of Veterans. A treatment plan for co-occurring disorders will address both issues.⁹ If you have questions about addiction or mental health treatment, an addiction specialist or mental health professional can help you address your concerns.

Living with a co-occurring disorder can be challenging, but an effective treatment program will help you address your substance use challenges and provide you with mental health treatment. Treating both conditions is essential because PTSD can make substance use worse, and substance use can make PTSD worse.⁹

When you’re considering your options for treatment, medications such as antidepressants may help improve your mood. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) are some of the most effective medications for PTSD.¹²

Some common medications prescribed for PTSD that have strong evidence for the treatment of PTSD include:¹²

• Fluoxetine (Prozac).
• Sertraline (Zoloft).
• Paroxetine (Paxil).
• Venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR).

If you’re considering medication as a treatment option, consult a doctor or VA physician to help you determine the appropriate medication.

Starting treatment looks different for everyone as each person brings different strengths and needs to treatment. Some people may need to begin with detoxification, while others may attend individual therapy on an outpatient basis.

Your treatment team can help you decide what level of care is appropriate and tailor your treatment plan to those needs.

Some standard elements of care include:¹³

• Medical detoxification.
• Inpatient treatment.
• Outpatient treatment.
• Aftercare programming.

Each element of care will have different goals for successful treatment completion.

VA & PTSD Treatment Options

Veterans Affairs offers several ways to get support and treatment for mental health and substance use concerns and often provides healthcare coverage for these treatments.¹⁴

Therapy for PTSD

There are various forms of therapy for PTSD. It’s important to find a mental health professional who is trauma-informed. Trauma-focused modalities of therapy include:¹⁵

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR): A type of therapy that helps you process and learn to understand your trauma while using bilateral movements or sounds.
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): A type of therapy that helps you become aware of and shift negative thoughts that are caused by trauma.
• Prolonged exposure: A type of therapy that helps you slowly and gradually approach situations, feelings, or memories you might have avoided since your trauma.

Find PTSD & Addiction Treatment for Veterans

If you or a loved one is ready to seek rehab for a substance use disorder, explore your options and reach out to a rehab center using our rehab directory tool today!