Aware Behavioral Health works with all patients that are in need of mental health support. Since we accept Tricare and have services for PTSD and related conditions, many of our patients are veterans that are struggling with issues related to their service.
But we also need to remember that veteran mental health isn’t limited to PTSD. There are many issues that can arise both directly related to and tangentially related to this experience.
Examples of Issues That Cause Mental Health Challenges in Veterans
One important thing to understand is that individuals in the military are also just human beings, and human beings can experience mental health challenges for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with their service. Yet, many people within the military do not seek help, because it’s not the culture of the military to talk about these issues.
In addition, many challenges are unique to the experience of being a military veteran. For example:
- Adjusting to Civilian Life
Many veterans joined the military as youth. They only know their life in service. Once their service is over, they’re being forced to adapt to a new lifestyle that is entirely different from everything they’ve known in adulthood. Any significant change can be a challenge, and that transition is a significant change that can cause anxiety.
- Injuries and Chronic Pain
It’s not uncommon for people to leave service because they’ve been hurt in some way. Disability, chronic pain, and other injuries can all cause issues like depression. It’s hard to live with pain or adjust to disability, and that can cause mental health challenges that benefit from being addressed.
- Relationship Issues
Those that have spouses at home often have a lot of adjustments to make when they return to civilian life and have to re-learn how to be in a full time relationship. Those can be very difficult for a person’s mental health.
Within the field of psychiatry, we do not necessarily address relationship issues directly. We can support issues such as sexual dysfunction. However, many times when a relationship is struggling, it can lead to depression, stress, and more, and these are things that can benefit from psychiatric care.
- Addiction
Addiction of all kinds, including alcohol, drug abuse, painkillers, and gambling can all be more common for those that have gone through trauma. It’s possible for a person not to develop PTSD but still develop addiction as a way to cope with their mental health struggles.
These are only a few examples of the many ways that mental health can be affected by service.
Next Steps
It is so important for those that have struggled with their mental health to strongly consider seeking help. These are all issues that can be addressed with psychiatry and psychology, and those that are ready to see a real change in their life will find that psychiatric help is one of the best ways to feel yourself again.
If you’re looking for a psychiatrist for veterans in Texas, please reach out to Aware Behavioral Health, today.