Veterans are often brave, highly capable individuals. Many have seen combat and lived to tell about it. However, many also suffer either physical wounds, mental ones, or both.
Let’s talk about some of the health risks out there that are particularly veteran-specific.
Drug Use or Addiction
Many veterans find that they have a hard time when they get back from their deployment. They can’t seem to readjust to their surroundings. Many of them resort to drug or alcohol use to take the edge off, and from there, addiction is definitely possible.
Veteran drug rehab is always available, but only if an individual is willing to seek it out. A veteran who’s getting into trouble with drugs or alcohol may need a friend or family member to step in and help them. It’s anyone’s guess whether they’ll be willing to accept that assistance, though.
Suicide
Some veterans have seen things from which they can never truly recover. Seeing friends or civilians die in combat can be extremely traumatic. It’s no surprise that some vets who have seen the atrocities that can happen in an active war zone come back scarred in ways both obvious and invisible.
Such individuals might attempt to take their own lives. The number of vets who die by suicide every year in this country is staggering. There are many mental health facilities that help veterans that are thinking of ending it all, but some always seem to fall through the cracks.
Homelessness
Some veterans have a hard time holding down a job. They come back from active duty maladjusted, and they can’t seem to get into the regular routine that a 9-5 civilian job demands.
These individuals might lose their homes if they can’t keep a job. If they don’t have family members with whom they can live, they can easily find themselves out on the streets.
These situations are tragic, as you might see many vets begging for change on street corners in major cities. They can die from exposure in cold winter weather, and they have a much higher risk of contracting other serious health problems if they live outdoors as well.
Seeking Out Physical Confrontations
Some veterans get used to physical confrontations if they see active duty on the front lines. When they are discharged and have to return to civilian life, they may retain the mindset that most of the people around them are enemies.
If a vet has that attitude, they may go around in a highly confrontational mood. They may even encourage those around them to have physical altercations. That can cause a serious injury or get the vet into a legal quagmire.
PTSD
PTSD in vets is very common. It can happen if someone in the military sees combat, but even someone who is never called into active duty can develop it. The rigors of military life can bring on this condition.
Any vet who develops PTSD might need to seek treatment in the form of medication, therapy, or both.