Why Is Anxiety Common Among Military Veterans?

Anxiety after military service is remarkably common among veterans due to the unique and intense stressors they face during and after their service. Anxiety is the most common health condition for military members, with the VA reporting a 327% increase in reported anxiety disorders. The roots of veteran anxiety stem from multiple traumatic exposures inherent to military service, including war zone deployment, training accidents, and military sexual trauma.

Combat exposure subjects veterans to life-threatening situations, witnessing injury or death and operating under constant hypervigilance, which can rewire the brain’s threat detection systems. Beyond combat trauma, stressful life events, such as the transition from military to civilian life or difficult work situations, can cause anxiety disorders, as veterans must navigate significant identity shifts, career changes, and social readjustment challenges.

The prevalence of anxiety and PTSD in veterans is compounded by the fact that the most common mental health challenges for veterans are often co-occurring and amplifying each other’s effects, creating a complex web of mental health challenges that require specialized understanding and treatment.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety in Veterans?

Recognizing anxiety symptoms in veterans is crucial for early intervention and effective treatment, as these symptoms can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.

• Physical Symptoms: Veterans with anxiety frequently experience physical manifestations that can be particularly intense due to their heightened stress responses from military service. Physical symptoms often include sweating, rapid heart rate, and shallow breathing, which may be accompanied by muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, and digestive issues.
• Hypervigilance: A hallmark symptom among veterans is an exaggerated state of alertness and reactivity to their environment. Veterans may constantly scan for threats, feel jumpy at unexpected sounds, or have difficulty relaxing even in safe environments. This hypervigilance stems from combat training and experiences where constant alertness was necessary for survival.
• Sleep Disturbances: Veterans can experience nightmares, sleeplessness, or anxiety, with many struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or experience restless sleep due to racing thoughts or nightmares. Sleep problems often create a cycle where fatigue worsens anxiety symptoms during the day.
• Emotional and Behavioral Changes: Veterans with signs of PTSD may also find it difficult to sleep or relax, be prone to anger or irritability, startle easily, act recklessly, or abuse drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. Veterans may notice increased irritability, mood swings, emotional numbness, or conversely, feeling overwhelmed by emotions.
• Cognitive Symptoms: This can be distracting and make it difficult to focus or enjoy simple experiences, like dinner with family. Veterans often report difficulty concentrating, memory problems, racing thoughts, and persistent worry about potential threats or worst-case scenarios.
• Avoidance Behaviors: This can mean avoiding places or things that remind you of the experience, where veterans may avoid crowded places, loud noises, certain people, or situations that trigger memories of traumatic events. This avoidance can significantly limit their daily activities and social connections, potentially leading to isolation and worsening anxiety over time.