The Three Most Common Mental Health Issues Faced By Veterans
Most Common Mental Health Issues Faced By Veterans – The physical well-being of military personnel has always been a top priority. In today’s society, both physical and mental well-being is critical.
As rewarding as military service can be, it can also be challenging. Mental health issues affect one in four active-duty members, according to a 2014 study. Veterans’ issues with mental health are distinct. Long-term mental health effects of military service can make it difficult to return to civilian life after the service member’s discharge. Even if a veteran has successfully transitioned, he or she may still have lingering mental health issues.
A veteran’s most pressing mental health issues are PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Find out more about these issues with mental health by reading on. In addition, EMDR therapy is a relatively new, nontraditional type of psychotherapy. It’s growing in popularity, particularly for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD often occurs after experiences such as rape, military combat, physical assault, or road accidents.
Table of Contents
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Veterans are more likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. PTSD can develop as a result of traumatic events such as combat, disasters, assault, or sexual assault. One of the most common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an uncontrollable urge to replay the traumatic event in one’s mind or in one’s dreams. As a result, they may be unable to lead a useful life and may have a more difficult time adjusting to civilian life.
PTSD symptoms include:
- Reliving the incident
- Keep yourself from being reminded of the event
- Belief and/or feeling changes that are detrimental
- Hyperarousal
Depression
It’s not uncommon for depression to set in after a traumatic event. It’s characterized by a long-lasting feeling of low spirits. Sleep, appetite, and social interaction can all be negatively impacted by depression, making it difficult to go about your daily activities. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can co-occur in some people. According to a national survey, people with PTSD are three to five times more likely to suffer from depression than those who do not have PTSD symptoms.
The following are possible signs and symptoms of depression:
- Feeling down or depressed on a regular basis for more than two weeks
- Things you used to enjoy have lost their appeal.
- As a result of alterations in sleep and eating patterns
- Focusing issues
- In a state of despair
- Suicide or self-harm thoughts
TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury
Deployment-related injuries frequently result in TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury. TBI is one in five active-duty military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. An outside force can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). Injuries sustained as a result of a violent assault or an explosion are examples of this type of damage. An “invisible wound” is a term that refers to a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in which brain function is temporarily impaired or altered.
TBI’s cognitive effects include:
- Memory shifts
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Planning and decision-making are difficult for this person
- Lack of self-control
TBI’s emotional effects include:
- Anger and irritability
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- PTSD
TBI can also cause a wide range of physical symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- Vomiting or nausea on a regular basis
- Seizures
- The stubbornness with regard to the limbs
- A lack of cohesion or equilibrium
- Light or touch sensitivity
Final Note
Veteran mental health care is still difficult to obtain, despite the fact that they are members of the general population. Military service verification and filling out paperwork are among a long list of preconditions for receiving treatment. Veterans are hesitant to use the facility because of their lack of trust in its abilities.
All military veterans need mental health treatment in order to deal with their issues and lead more productive lives. Veterans in responsible organizations should also have access to these amenities.
