Unfortunately, most people experience trauma at some point in their lives. However, some people after they experience trauma can struggle with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which can negatively impact their mental health and overall well-being for the worse. In this article, you’ll learn more about the signs of PTSD in military veterans to look out for.
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Common Signs of PTSD in Military Veterans to Look Out For
Military veterans are exposed to a range of potentially traumatic experiences, from losing friends in combat to witnessing pain themselves in war, which can inevitably increase a veteran’s risk of struggling with PTSD. Keep reading to learn more about the signs of PTSD in military veterans so you can understand more about what to look out for if you suspect you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD.
Avoiding Certain Places, Situations, or People
First, a common sign of PTSD in military veterans is avoiding certain places, situations, or people due to those circumstances triggering/reminding them of their trauma. For example, some military veterans with PTSD may find fireworks or loud noises that are similar in sound to gunshots to be extremely triggering and bring back feelings of anxiety and worry as it may remind them of their past trauma.
Experiencing Flashbacks or Nightmares
Another sign of PTSD in military veterans is if you or someone you know experiences flashbacks or nightmares of your traumatic event. Oftentimes, these flashbacks or nightmares can seemingly come out of nowhere, and bring about significant distress to the individual. This can not only negatively impact your sleep quality but also your overall mental and emotional health and well-being.
Inability to Focus on the Present
Oftentimes, military veterans that struggle with PTSD may have an inability to focus on the present moment because they are consumed with memories of their past trauma. This can inevitably keep them seemingly trapped thinking of their trauma and unable to live their life in the present moment.
Irritability, Mood Swings, or Guilt
Military veterans with PTSD may also struggle with difficult emotions like anger or irritability and/or mood swings that can not only their own quality of life but their relationships with others. This is why it’s important if you suspect you or someone you know may be struggling with PTSD to seek professional help so you can heal from your trauma.
Difficulty Connecting with Loved Ones
As briefly mentioned above, many individuals who struggle with PTSD and unresolved trauma may have difficulty connecting with loved ones. This can look like a number of things like distancing themselves from loved ones which can inevitably cause a strain on their relationships, and make it difficult to form deeper connections with others.
Abusing Drugs or Alcohol to Cope
Last but not least, unfortunately, some military veterans with PTSD may turn to abusing drugs or alcohol to try and cope with their PTSD symptoms. While this may seem to provide temporary relief, this does not address your PTSD and increases your risk of developing a drug addiction.
Help Is Available
As you can see, there are a number of signs of PTSD in military veterans you can look out for. From avoiding certain places for fear of experiencing triggers to experiencing flashbacks or nightmares of your past trauma, these are all common signs of PTSD to look out for. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD or another form of mental health disorder, it’s critical to seek professional help to safely and effectively heal so you can lead a better life.
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