According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, around 7 out of every 100 veterans will have PTSD. From losing friends in combat, to physically and mentally becoming injured during war, veterans have experienced a range of stressors that can put them at an increased risk of struggling with PTSD. Unfortunately, many do not know how to cope with their trauma and may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. In this article, you’ll learn more about PTSD and alcohol abuse in veterans, and why trauma and alcohol abuse can be connected.
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What is PTSD?
Before understanding PTSD and alcohol abuse in veterans, it’s important to know what is PTSD. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health condition that occurs when an individual experiences a traumatic experience. Traumatic events can range from physical events like physical violence, to emotional or psychological, such as manipulation or emotional abuse at the hands of a loved one.
While everyone is at risk of developing PTSD if they are exposed to a traumatic event(s), veterans oftentimes are at an increased risk of developing PTSD because they’ve experienced trauma at war. Although not all veterans will struggle with PTSD, it’s important to understand your risk factors.
Why are Veterans with PTSD at Risk of Alcohol Abuse?
PTSD and alcohol abuse in veterans can be linked because some veterans who struggle with unresolved trauma may turn to unhealthy coping strategies, like drinking alcohol, to cope with their trauma.
Using Alcohol as an Unhealthy Coping Strategy
As explained above, veterans with PTSD oftentimes may turn to unhealthy coping strategies, like abusing alcohol, to cope with their unresolved trauma. Inevitably, constantly turning to alcohol to cope with your trauma can raise your risk of dependency and alcohol addiction. This is why it’s critical if you are struggling with trauma to seek professional support so you can heal from your trauma in a healthy manner.
Abusing Alcohol as a Means to Combat Sleep Problems
Some veterans who struggle with PTSD may also struggle with sleep problems because of their trauma and being more on high alert. Therefore, some may turn to alcohol as a sort of sleep aid to help them fall asleep. Unfortunately, again this only increases one’s risk of developing an alcohol addiction. You should never be turning to addictive substances, like alcohol to help you fall asleep.
Self-medicating with Alcohol to Disconnect From Past Trauma
Trauma is difficult, and many veterans may turn to alcohol as a means to self-medicate and disconnect/forget their past trauma– even if it is only for a short while. However, turning to alcohol to disconnect from your trauma does not treat the source of your trauma, thus you’ll keep turning back to and abusing alcohol as a coping strategy for your trauma. This is why it’s critical you heal the source of your trauma if you suspect you may be struggling with PTSD.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about PTSD and alcohol abuse in veterans. Unfortunately, many veterans who struggle with unresolved trauma may turn to unhealthy habits, like drug or alcohol abuse, to try and cope with their untreated trauma.
While short-term alcohol abuse may seem to relieve your trauma symptoms, long-term turning to alcohol raises your risk of developing an alcohol addiction, without addressing the source of your trauma. If you or someone you know is struggling with unresolved trauma or another mental health condition, it’s critical to seek professional help to safely improve your mental health and well-being.
Our compassionate team of addiction specialists and mental health professionals at Maui Recovery are here to help you safely and effectively achieve long-term sobriety. Whether you are struggling with alcohol addiction, opioid addiction, anxiety, depression, or a dual diagnosis, we provide a comprehensive range of addiction and mental health treatment options. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your unique recovery journey.
