Depression in the Military

Depression is classified as a mood disorder, and it seems like a constant struggle of suppressing an emotional rollercoaster. Emotions like anger, sadness, or a feeling of hopelessness contribute to depression. According to surveys and studies, the research found that Veterans were no more likely than non-Veterans to have depression or anxiety. Depression in the military is the most common mental health diagnosis.¹ Bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorder do not fall behind on the list of mental disorders that troops mentally manage.

Working Away from Home & Depression: How to Cope

Feelings of severe and sustained and dejection experienced while living away from home are normal. People tend not to admit that they are sad about moving and living away from where they considered home. People will move abroad due to a new opportunity, usually work-related, or in this case, due to deployment. A new culture and environment can propose new worries as one may not feel comfortable or safe. The Military and Navy are transmitted to places like Quam, Thailand, and Japan. They do not always understand the language and culture, which can be stressful and cause culture shock and homesickness.

An individual should focus on proper self-care like getting enough sleep, staying active, and avoiding large quantities of alcohol. Other methods to deal with depression away from home are taking time away from social media since seeing friends or family doing activities back home may increase homesickness. Also, it is vital to communicate and seek help, leaning on new friends or making time to call friends and family back home to express emotions and be advised of a healthy coping mechanism.

Depression Caused by Isolation

Depression skyrocketed for troops in the military and for their family during the start of the Covid outbreak. Many troops were obligated to spend a long duration of time alone, especially if they came back to work after visiting family members. Plus, many were sent home, and their wives or husbands had to figure out how to deal with a depressed spouse. It is not easy to watch a loved one in emotional or mental pain. It is crucial to support family recovery. Isolation and depression go hand and hand. It was tough for people to adjust to a brand new protocol and not be able to easily communicate with others like other members of the crew in the military. Thankfully, the numbers have decreased since the second wave of Covid has passed. It’s important to recognize the signs of depression.² Some symptoms include:

Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite or weight changes
Chronic physical pain with no clear cause
Thoughts of death, suicide, self-harm, or suicide attempts
Feeling bothered, annoyed, or angry
Loss of interest in hobbies and interests you once enjoyed

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities

Banyan offers successful drug and alcohol treatment centers across America. We provide exceptional care for those struggling with addiction or mental illness. For those who formed depression in the military, our team does not take this emotional distress lightly. Our program for Veterans and active duty service members is widely beneficial, and our highly trained staff and licensed professionals will help you throughout the process of our unique therapies and services. From family support services to individual therapy sessions, we want to get patients safely through withdrawals and enter recovery.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Military & Veterans in Recovery Program at Banyan, as there is always someone available to provide you with more information. We are here to work with you throughout the process. We offer residential care and treatment as well as medically monitored detox plans. Again, do not wait to get in touch with a professional and start the recovery process today.

Please contact Banyan Treatment Center today at 888-280-4763 to learn more about our Active-Duty and Veteran services for addiction!

Source:

Military.com - Mental Health Disorders in Troops Far Below National Average

Alyssa, Director of Digital Marketing

Alyssa is the National Director of Digital Marketing and is responsible for a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. All articles have been written by Alyssa and medically reviewed by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne.