depression

Helpful Information

• Stigma

Downloadable Resources

Brain Injury Assoc. of Ohio

Brochure

Returning Home AP

Resource Guide

Some service members and veterans have significant difficulty and struggle with their transitions back home. Combat stress reactions become a problem when a service member feels down, sad, hopeless or despairing. These feelings can lead to thoughts of wishing for death, or to actually harming or killing him or herself.

The following is a list of feelings or behaviors someone may experience if they are depressed:

• Constant attempts to avoid thoughts, feelings, people, places, or events that remind them of the

experiences.
• Feelings of numbness, where they find it difficult to have pleasant or loving emotions.
• Guilt and shame may be overwhelming and result in feelings of self-hate, hopelessness or despair.
• Keeping away from old or new friends. Social isolation means loss of support, friendship, and closeness.
• Not talking about what hurts with those who were once close to them.
• Dropping out of pleasurable or recreational activities. This decreases opportunities to feel good or feel a

sense of achievement.
• Using anger to control others or keep them away.
• Trying to constantly avoid people, places, or thoughts that are reminders of the traumatic event.
• Working all the time to try and avoid distressing memories of the trauma (the “workaholic”).
• Using or abusing alcohol or other drugs to reduce anxiety or relax, to stop thinking about the traumatic

experience, or to go to sleep.

Drinking alcohol or abusing other drugs is a common way to “self-medicate or cope with upsetting traumatic stress reactions. Returning service members may use alcohol or other drugs to numb themselves to deal with the difficult
thoughts, feelings and memories related to their active duty experiences. When they want to avoid these thoughts and memories, the use or abuse of alcohol and other drugs may seem to offer a quick solution. The reality is that continued use or abuse of alcohol and other drugs may lead to more problems. If a service member is experiencing any symptoms or are concerned about their use of alcohol or other drugs, please consult a physician or behavioral health professional.