PTSD in veterans is a common and treatable reaction to trauma experienced during military service, such as combat, the loss of fellow service members or military sexual trauma. The VA’s National Center for PTSD estimates that about 7 out of every 100 veterans will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Proven treatments, VA programs and community care options can help you or the veteran you love feel better.
Coming home does not always mean leaving the mission behind. If you are a veteran who still feels on guard, has nightmares or feels disconnected from the people you love, this guide explains the symptoms of PTSD, the resources available to you and how to get treatment. For a general overview of the condition, see our guide to PTSD signs, effects and treatment.
If you are in crisis right now: dial 988 and then press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. You can also chat online. Help is free, confidential and available 24/7, and you do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
How Common Is PTSD in Veterans?
PTSD is more common among veterans than in the general population. According to the National Center for PTSD:
- About 7% of veterans will have PTSD in their lifetime, compared with about 6% of U.S. adults overall.
- About 13% of female veterans and 6% of male veterans will have PTSD at some point.
- Rates vary by service era: about 29% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF), 21% of Persian Gulf War veterans, 10% of Vietnam veterans and 3% of World War II and Korean War veterans will have PTSD in their lifetime.
What Causes PTSD in Veterans?
Military service can involve repeated exposure to danger. The VA’s page on combat exposure and PTSD explains that service members face the risk of death or injury and may see others hurt or killed. Other stressors include staying constantly alert, long separations from home and unexpected extended deployments, which can be especially hard on National Guard and Reserve members.
Military sexual trauma
PTSD in veterans is not only linked to combat. The VA also identifies military sexual trauma (MST), which is sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment that happens during military service. MST can affect service members of any gender and can occur in peacetime, during training or in combat settings.
Factors that raise the risk
Among service members who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, research summarized by the National Center for PTSD links a higher risk of PTSD to factors such as longer or multiple deployments, more severe combat exposure, traumatic brain injury, poor unit morale or social support, and prior trauma.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD in Veterans
PTSD symptoms fall into four main groups, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. To be diagnosed with PTSD, symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with daily life.
- Re-experiencing: flashbacks, nightmares and upsetting memories, sometimes with a racing heart or sweating.
- Avoidance: staying away from places, events or objects that bring back memories, or avoiding thoughts and feelings about what happened.
- Arousal and reactivity: being easily startled, feeling on edge, trouble sleeping, irritability or angry outbursts, and risky behavior.
- Changes in thinking and mood: guilt, blame, negative thoughts about yourself, losing interest in activities and feeling distant from others.
Many veterans notice that certain sounds, crowds or news stories bring on strong reactions. Our guide to PTSD triggers explains why this happens and how to cope. Veterans who experienced long-lasting or repeated trauma may also relate to our article on complex PTSD.
PTSD and Substance Use in Veterans
Some veterans turn to alcohol or drugs to sleep, relax or quiet painful memories. The National Center for PTSD reports that veterans who had PTSD at some point in their lives were 2 times more likely to have problems with alcohol and 3 times more likely to have problems with drugs than veterans without PTSD. Research also shows that treating PTSD and substance use at the same time works for both conditions. Learn more about PTSD and addiction.
Effective PTSD Treatment for Veterans
PTSD treatment works. The VA’s PTSD treatment basics identify three trauma-focused talk therapies with the strongest evidence:
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): helps you examine and change painful beliefs about the trauma, such as guilt or self-blame. Read our guide to cognitive processing therapy.
- Prolonged exposure (PE): helps you gradually and safely face trauma memories so they lose their power over time.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): another trauma-focused therapy that helps you work through the traumatic memory.
These therapies usually take about 8 to 16 sessions. The VA also notes that the medications with the most evidence for PTSD are paroxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine. A provider can help you decide which option fits your needs.
VA Resources for Veterans With PTSD
VA PTSD treatment programs
The VA runs almost 200 PTSD treatment programs across the country. Services include one-on-one assessment, medication, individual therapy such as CPT, group therapy, residential programs and telemental health care.
Vet Centers
If you served in a combat zone, you can get free, private counseling and alcohol and drug assessment at one of about 300 community Vet Centers, even if you are not enrolled in VA health care.
National Center for PTSD
The VA’s National Center for PTSD, at ptsd.va.gov, explains PTSD and its treatments in plain language, including what to expect from therapies like CPT. The VA also points veterans to PTSD Coach Online to help manage stress between appointments.
Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988 and press 1, or chat online, to reach trained responders, many of whom are veterans themselves, according to VA News.
Getting PTSD Treatment Through VA Community Care
Sometimes the care you need is not available at a VA facility, or you would have to wait too long or drive too far. In those cases, you may be able to get care from a community provider. According to the VA’s page on eligibility for community care outside VA, you must be enrolled in or eligible for VA health care and have approval from your VA health care team before you get care, except in emergencies. You must also meet at least one other requirement, such as:
- The service you need is not available at a VA facility
- For mental health care, the VA cannot schedule you within a 30-minute average drive time or a 20-day wait time
- You and your VA provider agree that community care is in your best medical interest
Eligible veterans may receive community care through the VA Community Care Network. The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services accepts VA Community Care Network (VACCN). Learn how this works in our guide to VA Community Care Network mental health coverage, or read about VA Community Care Network coverage for addiction treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Veterans Crisis Line number?
Dial 988 and then press 1. You can also chat online. The line is free, confidential and open 24/7.
Do I need to be enrolled in VA health care to get help?
Not always. The Veterans Crisis Line is open to all veterans, and combat veterans can use Vet Centers without being enrolled in VA health care. Community care requires VA eligibility and approval first.
How can I help a veteran with PTSD?
Learn about PTSD, listen without pushing for details, and encourage them to talk with a provider. If they are in crisis, help them dial 988 and press 1.
Get Help for PTSD in Veterans in Lancaster, PA
At The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services, we offer structured, trauma-informed care for veterans and civilians alike. Our mental health partial hospitalization program provides full-day programming five days a week, and our intensive outpatient program offers three-hour sessions three days a week while you live at home. Care includes cognitive processing therapy, CBT, DBT, individual, group and family therapy, and psychiatric care, with integrated dual diagnosis care if substance use is part of your story. We accept VA Community Care Network and many other plans. Verify your insurance or contact our admissions team, available 24/7. Calls are free and confidential.
