12 Ways Trauma Impacts Military Professionals & Their Families
Growing numbers of active-duty members and veterans deal with traumatic experiences that negatively affect them personally, financially, and relationally. Sadly, a lot of this trauma faced by the military is hidden from view. As more people become aware of these issues, there is more opportunity to develop solutions to help these individuals and their families. In turn, this helps create healthier and stronger communities. This guide contributes to this vision by explaining how trauma impacts military professionals and military families.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is a psychological and emotional response to an event or series of events that are extremely distressing or disturbing. These events often threaten one's life or well-being and can overwhelm one's coping skills. Trauma can result from a wide range of experiences, such as accidents, natural disasters, interpersonal violence, and military service.
Military personnel experience trauma through combat, witnessing injuries or death, and other distressing circumstances unique to military life. The effects of trauma may manifest in various ways, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or difficulties in personal relationships.
How Non-Combatant Military Personnel Face Trauma
While some may assume that trauma only occurs through combat, military professionals may experience trauma even in the absence of direct combat exposure. Non-combat stressors arrive in various forms, such as:
Secondary trauma encountered by medics, chaplains, or support staff
The loss of colleagues, friends, or superiors
Work-related decisions that bring up moral and ethical challenges
Frequent relocations and/or separation from loved ones
Training accidents
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
A non-combat stressor that induces a trauma response in one individual may not have the same effect on another. Each person’s background and health status influence the way their body and mind will handle the trauma.
Support Our Military With Trauma Healing Services
As each military professional has faced a particular set of challenges, their trauma manifests in unique ways. Because of this, each one requires personalized care from healers and wellness professionals. To make this affordable and prompt, Healing Can’t Wait invites you to contribute to our operational reserve. As we raise sufficient funds to coordinate healing treatments with vetted service providers, we forge a sustainable path for healing from deep trauma.
Will you partner with us? Every dollar you donate helps mitigate the long-term impact of combat and non-combat stressors on servicemen and servicewomen. Click the link below to donate today. We thank you for your contribution!
How Trauma Impacts Military Professionals
Military professionals can be profoundly affected by trauma, both during and after their service. Here are some common ways trauma affects military professionals:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD symptoms may include chronic pain, intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing, impacting the individual's overall mental well-being. Relief from PTSD symptoms is often found through personalized clinical PTSD treatment plans.
Cardiovascular Issues
Trauma can contribute to cardiovascular issues through prolonged stress responses, inflammation, disruptions in the autonomic nervous system, and unhealthy lifestyle choices adopted as coping mechanisms. Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep patterns can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
Relationship Strain
Military professionals may find it challenging to connect with others or maintain healthy relationships due to the emotional and psychological impact of trauma. Intimacy issues, communication difficulties, and emotional withdrawal are common challenges.
Sleep Disturbances
Trauma can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia, nightmares, and other sleep-related issues. Sleep disturbances can exacerbate other health challenges and disrupt daily functions.
Professional Challenges
Trauma may affect a military professional's ability to perform their duties effectively. Difficulty concentrating, heightened stress levels, and a weakened decision-making ability can impact job performance and career progression.
Risk of Suicide
Military professionals dealing with trauma, particularly those struggling with mental health challenges like PTSD, may be at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Access to mental health support [link to blog post #6] is crucial in mitigating this risk.
How Trauma Impacts Military Families and Support Systems
Family members and support systems can be significantly impacted by their loved ones' traumas, even if they were not directly involved in the traumatic event. The effects can be multifaceted and may include:
Secondary Trauma
Family members can experience secondary trauma or vicarious trauma by witnessing or hearing about the emotional and psychological struggles of their loved ones.
Changes in Family Dynamics
Roles and responsibilities may shift as family members adapt to the needs of the individual who has experienced trauma. This adjustment can create additional stress and disrupt established family routines.
Financial Impact
Trauma-related issues can lead to financial strain on the family. Medical bills, therapy costs, and other related expenses may accumulate, placing an additional financial burden on the family.
Parental Stress
In military families, children may be particularly affected by a military parent's trauma. The stress and emotional toll experienced by the parent may impact their ability to engage in effective parenting, potentially leading to behavioral and emotional challenges for the children.
Isolation From Other Families
Families may become socially isolated as a result of the stigma associated with trauma or mental health issues. Fear of judgment or misunderstanding from other family units can lead to withdrawal from community and support networks.
Coping Mechanisms
Family members may adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as denial or avoidance, to manage their feelings about their loved one's trauma. These coping strategies can hinder open communication and long-term healing.
What We Covered
Untreated trauma carries painful consequences for military professionals – with or without combat experience. For example:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Cardiovascular issues
Relationship strain
Sleep disturbances
Professional challenges
Risk of suicide
Not only is the individual’s personal and professional life affected, but so are those who love them. Military families may experience the following:
Secondary trauma
Changes in family dynamics
Financial impact
Parental stress
Isolation from other families
Coping mechanisms
Recognizing how trauma impacts military professionals and their families is imperative for improving health outcomes among active-duty members, veterans, and communities at large. With greater awareness comes more potential to provide sustainable solutions to the trauma-related questions and challenges that military families face every day.
Thank You for Giving!
Are you ready to take a stand against health inequity among veterans who have selflessly served our country? As we coordinate free and affordable health treatments for veterans and active duty members, we invite you to support us financially. With each monetary donation we receive, we become better equipped to vet holistic healers and wellness professionals who provide services that address the root causes of military professionals’ suffering. Within 2023 and early 2024, our growing fund will specifically be applied to building our San Diego network of healers, as well as our mobile app used for health treatment scheduling. Please see your donation options here.
Healing Can’t Wait is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Aspen Bentley, who has endured the loss of dear military soul family members, as well as her own health battles while deployed in Bahrain. Read Aspen’s story here.
