Research on how many service members experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in life varies. Some estimates suggest between14% – 16%of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans screen positive for PTSD, but otherstudies showthe rate can be as high as 20% – 30%.
Causes of Military Stress
Before you can learn how to deal with it, it’s important to look at the causes of stress in the military. As noted, the wide range of psychological and emotional challenges service members face is drastically different from the typical stressors civilians encounter in everyday life.
Understanding as much as possible about the causes of military stress makes it easier to find support and a solution.
Deployment and combat exposure
Deployment to conflict zones and combat exposure are obvious stressors for active duty members of the military. Working in a warzone requires constant vigilance — there’s fear of severe injury or death and witnessing traumatic events. Any one of these on their own could cause an acute stress reaction or PTSD, and members of the military often face a combination of several factors at once.
Combat is high-pressure and unpredictable. It requires split-second life-or-death decisions. The stress of that environment can cause moral and ethical dilemmas, and the psychological scars can be tough to heal.
Separation from family and loved ones
Many service members spend long times away from family and loved ones. Being disconnected like that can cause feelings of loneliness, isolation, andanxiety in the military— and then there’s the uncertainty about safety and well-being, especially when deployed in a conflict zone.
High-risk and high-pressure environment
Military personnel often operate in high-risk environments where the stakes are incredibly dangerous. Whether conducting a time-sensitive mission or handling sophisticated weaponry, high-pressure situations demand physical and mental performance that can be stressful in multiple ways.
Remaining constantly aware of potential threats, like enemy attacks or explosives, causes a perpetual state of alertness, also known as hypervigilance. The relentless pressure can cause burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders.
Transition to civilian life
Transitioning to civilian life after a military career is often a challenging experience that can lead topost-deployment syndrome. While trying to integrate back into civilian society, many service members experience a loss of identity or purpose, or they struggle to find employment that matches their skills.
A common issue is trying to adjust to the highly structured nature of military life, which is often lacking in the civilian world. This can make days feel overwhelming and disorienting. Some service members also find the lack of camaraderie in civilian life isolating and depressing.
“For plenty of military members, the military is all that they’ve known — typically from an incredibly young age. So, transitioning into civilian life incorporates many unknowns. Change is scary, especially when we are talking about changing bigger ticket items like our friends, our sense of community, and understanding the differing rules and expectations of civilian work and school.”
The Effects of Military Stress Left UnaddressedWhen military stress goes unaddressed, it can have profound, far-reaching effects that seriously impact the lives of service members and their families.Those who serve in the military face intense pressure and have experiences that most people can’t understand. When stress isn’t managed effectively, it can lead to a range of mental, physical, and interpersonal challenges.Mental health issuesThe most significant impact of military stress is the development of veteran andmilitary mental healthissues. Exposure to stressful environments like combat or high-risk situations can cause PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.Mental health issues can manifest through a variety of symptoms, including:FlashbacksNightmaresHypervigilanceAvoidance behaviorsSocial withdrawalHopelessnessAngerEmotional numbnessIncreased risk of self-harmSuicidal ideation or tendenciesPhysical health problemsStress in the military can also impact physical health. Chronic stress is aknown contributorto a range of physical ailments like cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, and weakened immune function. Prolonged stress response in the body releases hormones — like cortisol — which can cause long-term damage.The physical demands of the military can also lead to musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain, fatigue, and general deteriorated physical health.Relationship strainMilitary stress can strain personal relationships with family and loved ones. Families must cope with the emotional distance that’s so common for service members. The prevalence of PTSD and depression can make it challenging to connect with partners, children, friends, parents, or any other family members.Not only is thedivorce rate higherfor members of the military than any other group,research suggestsveterans are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce after they’ve been deployed when compared to non-deployed members.“The military has high divorce rates because of how much strain is put on relationships. Typically, long distance is how relationships develop or become something that the relationship encounters throughout the military career. Long distance shifts the household weight from one partner to themilitary spouse, and when you combine unequal household weight with the inability to meet certain love languages — physical touch, quality time, or acts of service — the impact is pretty significant.”–Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Meaghan Rice, PsyD, LPC
The Effects of Military Stress Left Unaddressed
When military stress goes unaddressed, it can have profound, far-reaching effects that seriously impact the lives of service members and their families.
Those who serve in the military face intense pressure and have experiences that most people can’t understand. When stress isn’t managed effectively, it can lead to a range of mental, physical, and interpersonal challenges.
Mental health issues
The most significant impact of military stress is the development of veteran andmilitary mental healthissues. Exposure to stressful environments like combat or high-risk situations can cause PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Mental health issues can manifest through a variety of symptoms, including:
Physical health problems
Stress in the military can also impact physical health. Chronic stress is aknown contributorto a range of physical ailments like cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, and weakened immune function. Prolonged stress response in the body releases hormones — like cortisol — which can cause long-term damage.
The physical demands of the military can also lead to musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain, fatigue, and general deteriorated physical health.
Relationship strain
Military stress can strain personal relationships with family and loved ones. Families must cope with the emotional distance that’s so common for service members. The prevalence of PTSD and depression can make it challenging to connect with partners, children, friends, parents, or any other family members.
Not only is thedivorce rate higherfor members of the military than any other group,research suggestsveterans are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce after they’ve been deployed when compared to non-deployed members.
“The military has high divorce rates because of how much strain is put on relationships. Typically, long distance is how relationships develop or become something that the relationship encounters throughout the military career. Long distance shifts the household weight from one partner to themilitary spouse, and when you combine unequal household weight with the inability to meet certain love languages — physical touch, quality time, or acts of service — the impact is pretty significant.”
Occupational difficultiesMany military service members experience occupational difficulties both during and after their service. For active duty personnel, the stress of their job can impair concentration, performance, productivity, and decision-making. High-stress levels can also potentially impact mission success and safety.Veterans transitioning back to civilian life might face the lingering impact of stress-related disorders that negatively affect their ability to get and hold down a job.
Occupational difficulties
Many military service members experience occupational difficulties both during and after their service. For active duty personnel, the stress of their job can impair concentration, performance, productivity, and decision-making. High-stress levels can also potentially impact mission success and safety.
Veterans transitioning back to civilian life might face the lingering impact of stress-related disorders that negatively affect their ability to get and hold down a job.
How to Cope with Military Stress
Although challenging, learning to cope with military stress is doable — and it’s critical for maintaining mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The stressors linked to military service are unique. Several practical strategies can help.
Tips for coping withmilitary stress:
Combating Stress with Professional Support
Getting professional support can be a vital resource when combating military stress. Therapy, combined with personal coping strategies, is a powerful way to overcome anxiety, depression, or any other stress-related condition so you can live life to the fullest.
Talkspace offersonline therapy for veteransor active duty military that is convenient and affordable. We’re here to provide essential mental healthcare to support you on your journey to find balance and peace. Our therapists are skilled, experienced, and qualified to treat the types of stress, PTSD, anxiety, trauma, depression, and other conditions service members often experience.
Sources:
Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.
Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.
Share0Tweet0Pin it0
Share0
Tweet0
Pin it0
