Why this conflict triggers veterans
When a new conflict escalates, it triggers emotions for those who went through Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans experience:
- Flashbacks to their own combat experiences
- Nightmares and sleep disruption
- Hypervigilance and anxiety watching news coverage
- Survivor’s guilt about those who didn’t come home
- Moral injury — questioning decisions made in combat
PTSD affects deployed veterans three times more than non-deployed veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Impact on veteran families
Psychiatric disorders are more frequent among family members of patients with PTSD. Spouses, children, and parents of veterans experience secondary trauma, and caring for a veteran with chronic PTSD compromises their own quality of life.
Resources for veterans
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1; or text 838255
- VA Mental Health Services: Contact your local VA for counseling
- Hope for the Warriors: Nonprofit offering mental health support during the Iran conflict
- Vet Centers: Community-based counseling for combat veterans
- Peer support groups: Connect with fellow veterans who understand
What the community can do
Veterans are concerned about developing the conversation about service members when they return home. Building community support now — before troops come back — can help ease the transition.
Sources: Military.com, Spectrum News, KPBS