Veteran Addiction: The Hidden Impact of Untreated Trauma

Published On: November 18, 2024

Veterans often face a significant amount of challenges after serving in the military, including physical injuries, trauma, and even substance abuse. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among active-duty service members and veterans and is a common risk factor for substance use disorders (SUDs).

When emotional trauma is left untreated, this can cause veterans to self-medicate with alcohol, recreational substances, or prescription drugs, potentially leading to addiction.

Understanding The Impact of Unresolved Trauma on Veterans

Active-duty military service members often carry a lot of physical and emotional weight from their distressing experiences. Military combat, loss of comrades, bodily injuries, and mental health challenges can all precipitate emotional trauma in veterans.

The symptoms of untreated trauma can include:

High blood pressure
Hypervigilance
Trust issues
Headaches
Nausea
Emotional numbness
Anxiety and depression
Insomnia
PTSD
Substance use disorder (SUD)

Unresolved trauma can result in lasting psychological, emotional, social, and physical consequences that affect all areas of a veteran’s life.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common consequence of untreated trauma, especially in veterans and military service members. PTSD symptoms often include disturbing flashbacks, severe anxiety, depression, emotional numbness, and physical signs of stress. These symptoms can usually lead individuals to isolate themselves from certain places and people, exacerbating loneliness and depression.

As a result of these distressing thoughts and flashbacks, veterans with PTSD may struggle to maintain social connections and relationships.

Depression and Anxiety Disorders

Untreated trauma often leads to the development of chronic anxiety and depression in veterans. When veterans suppress their feelings and experiences, they might also face persistent sadness, fear, and overwhelming emotions. Mental health disorders can significantly affect one’s ability to live a fulfilling life. Military veterans are higher-risk populations for experiencing depression, anxiety symptoms, and PTSD.

Substance Abuse as Self-Medication

The mental health impact of untreated trauma can lead veterans to turn to drugs or alcohol for solace. Substance abuse is commonly used as a coping strategy for emotional or mental health challenges, including untreated trauma. This reliance on substances for emotional relief can quickly lead to dependence and addiction.

Using alcohol or drugs as a temporary escape from untreated trauma can facilitate long-term consequences and health issues for veterans. Self-medicating with substances is a significant risk factor for developing an addiction and substance use disorder (SUD).

Chronic Health Conditions

Trauma impacts physical health and well-being just as much as mental and emotional. When trauma is left untreated, veterans are at an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions. Unresolved trauma and PTSD can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and gastrointestinal issues from chronic stress.

Sleep Disorders

Untreated trauma often disrupts sleep patterns and quality, which can result in nightmares, insomnia, fatigue, and low energy. Poor sleep quality coupled with unresolved trauma further exacerbates physical and mental health challenges. This can lead veterans to misuse sleep medications, alcohol, or recreational drugs like marijuana (cannabis) to help them rest.

Isolation and Loneliness

Unresolved trauma in veterans can manifest as irritability, aggression, and social withdrawal. These symptoms can make maintaining relationships with friends and family challenging. The emotional toll of trauma and PTSD often pushes military veterans into isolation and withdrawal.

When veterans with untreated trauma have a lack of support, this exacerbates feelings of loneliness and depression, further heightening the risk of substance abuse.

The Link Between Untreated Trauma and Addiction in Veterans

Drug and alcohol abuse in veterans with untreated trauma is a hidden wound that often goes unaddressed. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most common type of substance use disorder (SUD) among military veterans and active-duty members. Military personnel and veterans often use alcohol to cope with symptoms of PTSD, including stress, insomnia, and anxiety.

They are more susceptible to tobacco use than the general population, with a higher proportion of veterans with coronary heart disease.

Transition Challenges

Deployment and post-deployment reintegration can present many emotional and physical challenges for veterans that increase their risk of SUD. As veterans are transitioning back into their community, they may feel out of place when around friends and family members.

The lack of structure can be challenging for their mental and emotional health, causing them to seek out substances to cope. For those who may not have a robust support system or close friends, this can heighten feelings of loneliness and isolation, leading to substance abuse.

PTSD as a Trigger

Unresolved trauma can lead to the development of several mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans with PTSD are at an increased risk of substance-related disorders from prescription drug abuse, illicit drug abuse, and alcohol abuse.

PTSD symptoms like disturbing flashbacks, depression, and anxiety can trigger veterans to misuse alcohol or drugs. When symptoms arise, if veterans are accustomed to managing their untreated trauma and PTSD through substance use, this can create a cycle that’s difficult to break.

Stigma Around Mental Health

The stigma surrounding mental health and addiction prevents many individuals, especially military personnel and veterans, from seeking treatment. Military service members often feel the pressure and responsibility of appearing strong, which can cause them to mask their mental health issues and trauma. This stigma can not only exacerbate mental health challenges but also lead veterans to seek out drugs or alcohol to numb the pain.

Breaking the stigma around mental health and substance abuse could create a safer space where veterans and other real-life heroes feel comfortable being vulnerable. If military veterans and active-duty members can address their emotional trauma, it could help reduce substance abuse and addiction rates.

Limited Access to Resources

While numerous resources exist for active-duty service members and veterans, many fail to seek the necessary care and support. The Veterans Affairs (VA) system offers support for military veterans struggling with unresolved trauma, PTSD, and substance abuse issues. However, long wait times and other obstacles can discourage former service members from seeking and receiving timely treatment.

Veterans Addiction Treatment in Palm Beach Gardens, FL

At Palm Beach Gardens Recovery, our veteran’s addiction treatment programs are tailored to treat their unique challenges with mental health and substance abuse. A comprehensive approach to substance abuse treatment addresses both addiction and unresolved trauma through inpatient treatment, therapy, and trauma-informed care.

Contact us today for more information on our veteran addiction and mental health treatment in South Florida!