Veterans and Anxiety Disorders: Treatment Options That Work

Author:

Hayley Snelling

B.S. Psychology

Editor:

Emma Loker

B.S

For many veterans, the fight doesn’t end when they hang up their uniform. Constant worries, tension, and sleepless nights can leave you feeling like you have an invisible enemy following you around, even when you’re settling back into civilian life. Sound familiar?

Anxiety disorders in veterans are more common than most people realize, with around 22% of veterans showing anxiety symptoms.¹ From social anxiety to panic attacks, it can feel overwhelming…but it’s also treatable.

If you’re concerned about anxiety in yourself or someone you care about, Mission Connection can help. On this page, we’ll dive into anxiety disorders in veterans, including:

What anxiety disorders are
Why veterans are at greater risk of anxiety
Options for anxiety relief for veterans, exploring therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes
The VA services available to you
Where to find professional support for anxiety in veterans

Understanding Anxiety Disorders in Veterans

With so many Veterans showing signs of anxiety, it can be helpful to understand the different conditions they may be experiencing. The following information takes a closer look at how the different types of anxiety can affect veterans.

Veterans With Generalized Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is when someone excessively worries that they can’t control, often about a wide range of things such as world events, finances, health, work, and family.² Nearly 8% of Veterans have been shown to have GAD, but the good news is that it is highly treatable.¹

Social Anxiety in Veterans

If you avoid social situations because you fear others may judge you negatively or you worry you’ll do something embarrassing, then you might have a social anxiety disorder.³ If you feel like this, you’re far from alone – nearly one in ten U.S. Veterans experience this form of anxiety.⁴ However, with the right support, it’s possible to overcome social anxiety.

Post-Deployment Anxiety

Feeling anxious after coming home from deployment isn’t unusual. Transitioning back into civilian life can be exciting, but it can also be challenging. For instance, the experiences you had in the military may have left you on constant high alert for threats. If you relate to this, you may be experiencing post-deployment anxiety.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is when repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) trigger you to perform certain tasks to feel better (compulsions). For example, an obsession with contamination, safety, or illness may lead someone to compulsively clean. Additionally, worrying that you haven’t completed an action could cause you to believe something bad will happen. Fortunately, OCD can be treated effectively with therapy.

Panic Disorder (PD)

Panic Disorder is characterized by multiple bouts of overwhelming physical and emotional fear and panic. These attacks are also linked to avoidance of certain situations or people due to worries about triggering further attacks. Although panic disorder can feel scary, it is treatable.

Anxiety and PTSD in Veterans

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop if you’ve been in a traumatic situation, such as combat, or have witnessed life-threatening events. For instance, you may find yourself having flashbacks or nightmares about the event, have difficulty concentrating, or feel scared, angry, or guilty. PTSD is a separate condition from anxiety, but you can have both anxiety and PTSD at the same time. In fact, seven out of every hundred Veterans experience PTSD according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).⁴

Now that you know a bit more about anxiety disorders, let’s look at why veterans may be more prone to developing them.

Why Are Veterans at Greater Risk for Anxiety?

Serving in the military can have immense effects on your mental health. For instance, anxiety disorders in veterans are far from rare, with around 22% of Veterans experiencing at least mild anxiety symptoms.¹ But what is it about life in the military that can make you more prone to anxiety? The following information outlines why veterans may be more at risk.

Combat and trauma: Being in life-threatening situations and seeing people get injured or killed can lead to PTSD and anxiety.
Deployment stress: Separation from family and loved ones for months or years at a time can increase stress and anxiety.
Military sexual trauma: Experiencing harassment or assault during service can have a significant impact on mental health.
Transitioning to civilian life: This can be a time of stress and challenges, such as anxiety around finding employment and establishing your place in your community.

Several factors can contribute to anxiety development, and coping with anxiety after military service can feel like an uphill struggle. Thankfully, this is a battle you don’t have to face alone; help and support are available. Anxiety disorders can be effectively treated, and the next section covers your options for treatment.

Effective Therapy for Anxiety in Veterans

When anxiety is affecting your day-to-day life, it’s time to seek support. One of the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders in veterans is therapy. Many different therapeutic approaches are available, but one in particular is backed by a large amount of evidence showing how effective it is: cognitive behavioral therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for veterans, more commonly known as CBT, is short-term, structured, and helps you to understand your anxiety better. It gives you a safe space to look at and tackle any distressing thoughts or feelings you have, confront your fears, and learn new skills for managing anxiety.

CBT is recommended as a veteran mental health treatment for anxiety by the VA, as research shows that it is particularly effective in veterans with anxiety.⁵ In addition, multiple research studies show that CBT effectively reduces symptoms of anxiety in the general population.6,7

However, there are other therapies that can be effective for treating anxiety, including:

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): Research on the use of mindfulness has increased since the 2010s and shows that mindfulness-based interventions can have similar outcomes to CBT.⁸
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Studies show that ACT can reduce symptoms of anxiety by encouraging you to accept difficult emotions rather than fighting against them, and finding ways to move forward with coping strategies.⁹
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP): ERP can be effective for those with specific phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as anxiety. It allows you to face your fears in a manageable way.¹⁰
Trauma-Focused Therapy: Trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR can be effective for treating veterans with anxiety and PTSD, allowing them to process the trauma they have experienced.¹¹

Anxiety is highly treatable, and with the right support, you can begin to feel calmer and happier. Therapy lets you get to the root of what is causing your anxiety, bringing long-lasting positive changes.

Medication for Anxiety Disorders

When it feels like anxiety is taking over your life, anti-anxiety medications can be a valuable treatment option, especially when used alongside therapy. These medicines help to balance out the chemicals in the brain that control your mood, which is how they work for reducing anxiety in veterans. Different types of medication can be used to treat anxiety, including:

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors): These affect your levels of a chemical called “serotonin,” also known as the “feel good” chemical, which can help you feel calmer and happier. SSRIs are usually the first line of medications tried by healthcare providers.
SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors): SNRIs increase serotonin and norepinephrine, the latter being connected with the “fight or flight” response.
TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants): These affect your serotonin levels, but can have more side effects than the medications mentioned above, so they are usually used when SSRIs or SNRIs have not had the results you hoped for.
Benzodiazepines: These work on a chemical called “GABA” in the brain to calm and slow down your nervous system. They are also known as sedatives because they can make you feel relaxed and sleepy.

When it comes to treating anxiety disorders in veterans, a combined approach of therapy and medication can be very effective. For instance, medication can help to take the edge off anxiety and make you feel calmer, putting you in a good headspace to get the most out of therapy.

Lifestyle Changes for Veteran Anxiety

You don’t have to wait until you start medication or therapy to prioritize your mental health. There are simple changes you can make to your lifestyle that can improve your well-being and help you manage anxiety, including the following:

Mindfulness: Developing a mindfulness practice can help keep you in the present rather than worrying about the future or the past. Try a breathing exercise, meditation, or mindful movement to get started.
Exercise: When you are physically active, mood-boosting chemicals called “endorphins” are released into your body. Exercise also helps to release tension, improve your sleep, and potentially works just as well as medication for some people when it comes to reducing anxiety symptoms.¹²
Diet: Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for your physical and mental health.
Sleep: Studies show that poor sleep can actually make anxiety worse, so make time for a good sleep routine every night.¹³

VA Services for Veteran Anxiety

With anxiety disorders in veterans being fairly common, the VA provides a variety of valuable resources, including:¹⁴

Information about anxiety conditions
Helplines you can call 24/7 for support
Treatment options, including medication and therapy, such as CBT
Online veteran self-help
Mobile apps to support you in managing mental health conditions

The VA website contains more information about VA services for anxiety disorders.

Starting Treatment: How Mission Connection Can Help You Take the Next Step

If you’re a veteran struggling with anxiety, the hardest part can be reaching out for help. But taking this first step doesn’t need to be overwhelming, and you don’t have to do it alone.

At Mission Connection, we make starting treatment for anxiety in veterans as straightforward and supportive as possible. Our admissions team is available to answer any questions you have, listen to your concerns, and guide you through every step of the process. First, you’ll speak with one of our specialists and will be asked to do an online assessment so that we can understand how to help in a way that works.

We offer a range of services and create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs to help you achieve your goals. Our treatment options include:

Residential Treatment – for those wanting 24/7 support and care.
Intensive Outpatient Programs – offering a highly supportive and structured environment, allowing you to rest and recover at home in the evenings.
Outpatient Therapy – including CBT and trauma-focused therapy.
Telehealth – letting you access all the benefits of outpatient therapy from the comfort of your home.

We understand that cost can be a worry to some people when it comes to mental health treatment. That’s why you’ll find clear information about all the financial payment options available here. From working with insurance companies to payment plans and sliding scale fees, we want to help you get the right support at the right time.

Healing is possible, and you deserve it. Contact us today to talk with someone who understands anxiety disorders in veterans – and knows how to help.

References

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