Veterans who served in the military have gone through a lot. Many of these individuals have experienced trauma in their lives. It’s not surprising that veterans may have a dual diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. Veterans and depression can go hand-in-hand if they don’t get the help they need to overcome feelings of guilt, frustration, anger, or hurt. Fortunately, PTSD and depression treatment is available, which may help them move forward with their lives in a healthier manner.
Whether a veteran is struggling with a co-occurring disorder or needs help with alcohol addiction, some programs can help. For support, please contact Bayview Recovery today at 855.478.3650.
Veterans and Depression: Mental Health Matters
Depressive disorders can affect anyone, but veterans and depression seem to go hand-in-hand when they experience trauma on the job. Whether this depression stems from losing someone they care about at war or because of frustration with an injury, they may have a hard time getting past it without the right support system in place.
Depression and depressive disorder have the potential to affect anyone. Some of the signs that a veteran could be struggling with depression include:
- Feeling tired
- Losing or gaining weight
- Feeling sad and hopeless
- Eating too much or too little
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
This depression may also come alongside post-traumatic stress disorder, another severe mental health disorder that some veterans develop.
When Post-Traumatic Stress Is Present in Veterans
Post-traumatic stress disorder sometimes includes elements of depression but has more symptoms. It may be grouped into one of four clusters based on the patient’s symptoms. Some have intrusive thoughts, such as flashbacks and avoidance. They may attempt to avoid external reminders of an event or arousal, such as self-destructive behaviors or hypervigilance. Others have negative moods and cognition, which may include feelings of detachment or depression.
Fortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder is treatable with the right therapies and medications. It’s possible to treat the condition without medicines in some cases, or some people may benefit from using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
How Can Veterans Benefit From PTSD Treatment?
There are a few ways that veterans can benefit from post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. If the illness is severe enough, getting diagnosed and treated may allow veterans to collect Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and Social Security Disability Income.
Looking at just the health aspects of treatment, a treatment allows veterans to start recovering from what can be a serious, painful, and distressing disorder.
What Are Some Possible PTSD Treatment Options?
There are treatments available that may help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as with depression. Some treatments include:
- Individual therapy
- Group talk therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Anger/stress management education
- Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing
- Antidepressants, which are FDA approved for the treatment of PTSD
Every patient is different, so it is essential to try other treatment techniques following a diagnosis.
If the first-line therapies don’t work, there are some second-line therapies that may. These include other tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and other medications that may help block night terrors to help veterans get more rest during their recovery.
Get Help for a Dual Diagnosis with Bayview Recovery
At Bayview Recovery, we know that a dual diagnosis is tough to face. A substance use disorder combined with a serious depressive episode or post-traumatic stress disorder can make it hard to see a way forward. Fortunately, PTSD treatment and other options are available.
Our programs focus on helping you or someone you love to get past these feelings and treat the underlying trauma, so you can get back to feeling like yourself again. If you’re ready to get started, call us today at 855.478.3650. Our team is here to help.
