Relearning Safety as a Veteran

For many veterans, it can be challenging to adjust to everyday life upon returning home. During your service, hypervigilance and constant awareness of your surroundings are often part of your days, and you might have experienced or seen things that left a lasting impact on you.

Because of this, you may end up feeling on edge in normal situations and struggle to feel truly safe no matter where you are. At Jackson House, we are here to help you work through the effects of service and heal from trauma so you can relearn what it means to feel safe.

Common Struggles as a Veteran

Many veterans report feeling unsafe even when they are physically secure. Crowded stores, loud noises, or unfamiliar environments can trigger intense reactions due to past experiences, and this constant alertness takes a toll over time.

In addition to constantly feeling on edge, mental health conditions and addiction issues can result from or be worsened by the effects of service.

Some common examples of this include: 

1. Addiction: Some veterans turn to alcohol or other substances to try to help with intrusive thoughts, stress, and other mental health difficulties that they are dealing with. This only worsens symptoms and leads to long-term issues with your health, work, friends, and family.
2. Anxiety: Persistent worry, restlessness, irritability, and muscle tension are all signs and symptoms of anxiety. Veterans often struggle with anxious thoughts that are very disruptive and distressing. 
3. Depression: Some veterans experience feelings of hopelessness, emotional numbness, and even start withdrawing from loved ones. These are usually signs of depression, and they can be caused by the loss of familiar camaraderie, issues with your identity, struggles with the structure that comes with leaving the military, and more.
4. PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common mental health challenges veterans can face. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, emotional numbing, and hypervigilance, with anxiety and depression often feeding into this.

Physical Issues for Veterans

Veterans may also experience physical problems upon returning home due to struggles with their mental health, adjustments to a new routine, or lifestyle choices.  These only worsen over time if they are not addressed. 

There are several common physical issues that veterans face, including: 

• Appetite/stomach problems: Some veterans report a lack of appetite or an upset stomach due to the stress and anxiety they battle. Others struggle with overeating or having a poor diet.
• Breathing/shaking: You might experience a rapid heart rate or feelings of shakiness. 
• Headaches: Chronic stress and muscle tension can lead to frequent headaches or migraines. These can often worsen over time, especially during periods when you feel extra stressed or anxious.
• Lifestyle problems: Some veterans have a hard time keeping up with exercise and healthy practices and fall into unhelpful habits, such as smoking and other forms of coping. 
• Sleep issues: Insomnia, nightmares, exhaustion, and restless sleep are quite common. Even in a comfortable and secure bedroom, you could still feel unsafe, making it harder to get a proper night’s sleep.
• Worsened health issues: When your stress levels are heightened and your lifestyle choices are not serving you, it can negatively affect your health. 

Relearning Safety

Relearning what it means to feel safe as a veteran involves guiding your nervous system back to a sense of balance, managing your mental health symptoms, and learning strategies for reaching a calmer place.

In order to calm your brain and body down, you can try:

1. Breath work: Slow, controlled breathing activities can help to reset your nervous system and reach a calmer mental and physical state. 
2. Community: When you start to feel unsafe, try to surround yourself with the people in your life who make you feel at ease.
3. Focus on the present: You can pull yourself away from the past by focusing on the present moment. Try to name things you can see, smell, and hear around you.
4. Gentle movement: Stretching, yoga, walking, and other forms of lighter exercise are healthy outlets and great ways to create a sense of calm.
5. Micro-Pauses: These are brief moments throughout the day where you intentionally stop and pause for a moment. Taking the time to reset yourself helps you relax and deal with any anxiety or other emotions you are experiencing.

The Jackson House Veterans Program

In addition to the steps you can take in your everyday life, professional support can offer the guidance you need to work through the past, address mental health concerns, and reach a true place of feeling safe.

At Jackson House, we understand the unique experiences and sacrifices veterans make. Our veterans program is specifically designed to support those transitioning from the military back to regular life. 

We provide:

• A welcoming, respectful environment
• Evidence-based therapeutic options
• Individualized treatment plans
• Support for co-occurring disorders
• Trauma-informed care

Our clinicians understand the complexities of military culture and combat-related trauma. Treatment may include cognitive behavior therapy, trauma-focused therapy, group support, and more.

The goal is not to erase your experiences. Instead, it is to help you integrate them in a way that lets you feel grounded, empowered, and safe in your daily life.

Connect With Us

We are committed to helping veterans rediscover their safety, peace, and stability in their lives. When you are ready to start your healing journey, we are here to listen. 

Connect with one of our staff members today so we can learn more about how we can help you.