Common Issues Facing Veterans
Life after the military can pose many challenges to veterans and family members. For some, returning to civilian life may feel like another battle that poses a variety of challenges that must not only be fought, but also understood and accepted in order to be successfully overcome.
Family Reintegration
A veteran’s military experience can have a tremendous impact on not only the veteran, but also his/her family. Combat deployments typically lasting a year or more, sustaining injuries (both physical and psychological), and losing fellow comrades can drastically impact the veteran and ultimately, alter family dynamics and the individual attitudes of the veteran, spouse, children, and/or parents.
Military Sexual Trauma
Military sexual trauma is both sexual harassment and sexual assault that occurs in military settings. As in civilian life, both men and women can experience military sexual trauma and the perpetrator can be of the same or opposite gender.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or experience.. During this type of event, you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also called “acquired brain injury” or simply “head injury,” occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue.
Substance Abuse
Every year, thousands of troops depart from military service and rejoin their families and civilian communities. Given the demanding environments of the military and traumatizing experiences of combat, many veterans experience psychological distress that can be further complicated by substance use and related disorders.