Finding Support for Military PTSD

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Finding Support for Military PTSD

a veteran talks to a therapist about military ptsd

PTSD is more common among veterans than civilians.1 Experiences during service in the military can cause PTSD, like combat and other events during deployment and military sexual trauma. Thankfully, there’s plenty of mental health support available, like programs at the VA and private military rehab centers.

How Military Trauma Affects Veterans

Not every person who survives a traumatic event in the military will develop PTSD, but many do—about 7% of all veterans will experience PTSD in their lifetimes.1 PTSD causes emotional and even physical changes. The brain and body remember trauma in order to protect against future events, but stored trauma can cause a range of symptoms that interfere with daily life.

Keeping close relationships with family and friends, dealing with the overwhelming stress of traffic, or even just being able to relax can all seem impossible for some veterans with PTSD. Remember, though, that trauma is a deeply personal experience, and the long-term effects of PTSD will be different for everyone.

Symptoms of PTSD

  • Intrusive thoughts or memories
  • Flashbacks and nightmares
  • Avoiding people, places, or things that remind someone of an event
  • Negative feelings like guilt, shame, or hopelessness
  • Irritability, difficulty concentrating, and being easily startled or “on edge”

Finding Support for PTSD from Military Service

Support for veterans with PTSD can come in different ways. Therapy and medication are two of the most common treatment methods for PTSD, and family counseling and support groups can be complementary to treatment. And thankfully, finding support and treatment for veterans with PTSD might be easier than you think.

Talk to a Professional

A mental health professional, like those at Red Oak Recovery® or the VA, can help you or a loved one take the next steps and get the right kind of support. They’ll be able to provide recommendations on the level of care, types of treatment, and local resources so that you can make the right decision.

Complete an Evaluation

Your PTSD treatment should be tailored to your needs, not just a one-size-fits-all approach. You might not want to talk about your mental health, and that’s understandable. But opening up about how you’re feeling now, what you’ve felt like before, how you’ve dealt with it, and any treatment you might have already had will help determine the right steps for you to take next.

Be Open-Minded About Treatment

Go into your first session with an open mind and know that the people in the program are there to support you without judgment. You might receive a recommendation for a prescription that helps you manage your symptoms and sessions with a therapist to allow you to talk about your experiences in a safe, supportive space. If you’ve been self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to numb how you feel, you might be recommended to attend a rehab program that can help you learn healthier coping mechanisms.

Healing is personal, but with the right resources, you can process your trauma, reclaim your life, and thrive beyond PTSD. At Red Oak Recovery®, we provide addiction and co-occurring mental health support for veterans with PTSD at our treatment center in North Carolina.

Get the Help You Deserve at Red Oak Recovery®

Our men’s only rehab center in the foothills of the serene, powerful Blue Ridge Mountains is a place where you or a loved one can make a fresh start. Personalized care—including evidence-based therapy, medication management, and dual diagnosis support for mental health and addiction—delivered by our team of professionals can help you heal and take the first step forward.

Reach out today at 828.382.9699 or contact our team online.

Footnotes:

  1. U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs – How Common is PTSD in Veterans?