Mental health support for veterans

🔴 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is extremely common among veterans. It develops after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events — combat, accidents, abuse, loss of colleagues. It is a recognised medical condition, not a sign of weakness.

Common symptoms

• Flashbacks — reliving events as if they're happening now
• Nightmares — repeated disturbing dreams about the trauma
• Hypervigilance — constantly scanning for danger, can't switch off
• Avoidance — staying away from places, people, or situations that remind you of the trauma
• Emotional numbing — feeling detached, unable to feel joy or connection
• Anger and irritability — unpredictable explosions of rage or frustration
• Concentration problems — can't focus, forgetful, brain fog

Treatment that works

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) — recommended by NICE for PTSD
• Trauma-focused CBT — structured talking therapy
• Op COURAGE — NHS specialist mental health service for veterans
• Combat Stress — specialist residential and community treatment
• Medication — antidepressants can help manage symptoms alongside therapy

😴 Sleep Problems

Sleep disruption is one of the most reported problems among veterans. It can be caused by PTSD, hypervigilance, anxiety, or simply the disrupted patterns built up over years of service.

• Can't get to sleep — mind races, hypervigilant, can't feel safe
• Wake repeatedly through the night
• Nightmares and night terrors
• Sleep in short bursts and feel permanently exhausted

What can help

• Sleep hygiene — consistent times, no screens before bed, dark cool room
• Grounding techniques before sleep
• PTSD treatment often significantly improves sleep
• Speak to your GP — sleep-specific medication and CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) are available
• Avoid alcohol as a sleep aid — it fragments sleep further

You're not alone in this. It's one of the most common things veterans talk about in our support space.

💢 Anger & Frustration

Anger is a normal human emotion, but many veterans describe a level of anger that feels out of proportion, hard to control, or frightening — to themselves and others. This is often a symptom of PTSD or hyperarousal, not a personality flaw.

• Anger management therapy — often alongside PTSD treatment
• Mindfulness and grounding — pausing the reaction before it escalates
• Physical exercise — a significant evidence-based outlet for hyperarousal
• Being honest with your family — they need to know what's happening, not be left to guess

☁️ Depression & Low Mood

Depression affects around 1 in 5 veterans. It often develops after leaving service — the loss of structure, purpose, identity and camaraderie can be profound and underestimated.

• Persistent low mood — nothing lifts it
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Feeling worthless, hopeless, or like a burden
• Fatigue, changes in appetite, poor concentration
• Thoughts of death or suicide (please see our crisis page)

Depression is treatable. Talking to your GP is the right first step. Op COURAGE and Combat Stress also provide specialist veteran mental health support.

⚡ Anxiety

Anxiety can look very different in veterans than in the general population. It often presents as hypervigilance — sitting with your back to the wall in restaurants, scanning crowds, unable to relax in public. This is your nervous system doing exactly what it was trained to do. But civilian life doesn't switch it off.

• Panic attacks — sudden overwhelming fear, heart racing, difficulty breathing
• Social anxiety — crowded places, loud environments, feeling watched
• Health anxiety — hyper-aware of physical sensations
• Generalised anxiety — constant low-level dread

🧩 Neurodivergence in Veterans

A growing body of evidence suggests that veterans — particularly those who have experienced significant mental health difficulties — have higher rates of ADHD and autism than the general population. Many were never diagnosed.

Military life can actually mask neurodivergent traits — the external structure, clear hierarchies, and routine can compensate for difficulties that only become visible after leaving service.

🛠️ Self-help strategies that veterans report helping

🔗 Get support