Depression
Depression
Posted on Aug 13, 2024
Depression during transition: Did you experience depression and/or anxiety after you got out? How did you manage it?
Posted Anonymously
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Full transparency here since we're in the "trust tree." Depression for me runs deep but it was always something that felt the in background. I didn't disclose it when I enlisted mostly because I didn't think it was a problem. Whenever I was training or deployed I was actually the happiest and I never had any problems. I get out of the Army I then experienced the worst year of my life. Sometimes I wouldn't get out of bed until 3pm. I didn't want to do anything and I was having serious problems concentrating. Then I started having what I later learned were panic attacks. I felt like my mind was scattered and on overdrive. It was scary because my mind wouldn't be thinking rationally and I honestly wasn't sure what I was capable of doing in that state. My heart would be racing like it was beating throughout my whole body. My breathing was so bad I'd be hyperventilating just to get some air and then it would suddenly go away and I'd feel a calm come over me but I couldn't move. I couldn't speak or anything for about ten minutes. The only thing that has helped is medication which I hate but it's better than the alternative.
Does anyone else go through the same thing and what helps you manage it? The feeling really sucks.
Does anyone else go through the same thing and what helps you manage it? The feeling really sucks.
Depression
Mental Health
Transition
Posted 1 mo ago
Responses: 14
First, you are absolutely not alone in your feelings and experiences. Many veterans develop post-separation anxiety/depression when leaving the military with the impacts ranging from mild to severe.
I would HIGHLY advise you to look at the VA's resource, 'MakeTheConnection'*. The site is a gateway into thousands of Veterans sharing their stories through video interviews, articles and podcast episodes. You can filter the content by symptoms, conditions, life events and combat experience, service era, and more to find stories relatable to you.
Have you explored establishing/expanding your ties back to the military community?
I'm not sure what resources the other Services provide, but the Army has been focusing on the "Soldier For Life"* resources heavily for a number of years now, and many of those resources are geared towards keeping those retired Soldiers connected to the military community. While it is tailored towards the Army, much of the information contained in the "Retired Soldier Handbook"* is applicable to the other Services as well.
Some of the other 'military community' venues you may want to explore (outside of online/Social Media like RallyPoint that is):
• Most installations (at least Army installations) have Retiree councils that represent the local community of retirees (for example, the Fort Belvoir Retiree Council which is near me meets six times a year)
• The VA runs Vet Centers* across the country which community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible veterans at cost and in a non-medical setting (great overview video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMzkZNbKk1I)
• Exploring the Veteran Service Organizations local to you (DAV, American Legion, VFW, etc). Truthfully, this will be hit-or-miss and depend greatly on what they offer, what you are looking for, and how you fit if there's a match.
Again, I'd start with the MakeTheConnection site so you can see many other veterans that have much of the same experience with you and how they have handled it. If you are ok with in-person interactions, then find the Vet Center close to you and explore the support groups and programs they provide.
And of course, RallyPoint is here and many vets will engage and share their experiences as well.
Good Luck!
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* MakeTheConnection - https://www.maketheconnection.net/
* Soldier For Life - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/post-retirement
* Retired Soldier Handbook - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/static/Post/Retired_Soldier_Handbook.pdf
* Search for a Vet Center by zip/city/state - https://www.va.gov/find-locations/?facilityType=vet_center
I would HIGHLY advise you to look at the VA's resource, 'MakeTheConnection'*. The site is a gateway into thousands of Veterans sharing their stories through video interviews, articles and podcast episodes. You can filter the content by symptoms, conditions, life events and combat experience, service era, and more to find stories relatable to you.
Have you explored establishing/expanding your ties back to the military community?
I'm not sure what resources the other Services provide, but the Army has been focusing on the "Soldier For Life"* resources heavily for a number of years now, and many of those resources are geared towards keeping those retired Soldiers connected to the military community. While it is tailored towards the Army, much of the information contained in the "Retired Soldier Handbook"* is applicable to the other Services as well.
Some of the other 'military community' venues you may want to explore (outside of online/Social Media like RallyPoint that is):
• Most installations (at least Army installations) have Retiree councils that represent the local community of retirees (for example, the Fort Belvoir Retiree Council which is near me meets six times a year)
• The VA runs Vet Centers* across the country which community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible veterans at cost and in a non-medical setting (great overview video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMzkZNbKk1I)
• Exploring the Veteran Service Organizations local to you (DAV, American Legion, VFW, etc). Truthfully, this will be hit-or-miss and depend greatly on what they offer, what you are looking for, and how you fit if there's a match.
Again, I'd start with the MakeTheConnection site so you can see many other veterans that have much of the same experience with you and how they have handled it. If you are ok with in-person interactions, then find the Vet Center close to you and explore the support groups and programs they provide.
And of course, RallyPoint is here and many vets will engage and share their experiences as well.
Good Luck!
--------------------------------------
* MakeTheConnection - https://www.maketheconnection.net/
* Soldier For Life - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/post-retirement
* Retired Soldier Handbook - https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/static/Post/Retired_Soldier_Handbook.pdf
* Search for a Vet Center by zip/city/state - https://www.va.gov/find-locations/?facilityType=vet_center
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MAJ Byron Oyler
One of the areas that I have found both in my personal and professional life is, is it really depression in a mental health sense or something else in your body? Is it lack of energy from poor sleep, diet, or vitamin D? I do not have depression from mental health issues when I wake early in the morning not wanting to go to work, I have lack of energy and so many are addicted to caffeine. I get up, consume 80mg of caffeine and I am ready to take on what all my come into my emergency room. I dont encourage people to live on caffeine and it can be dangerous but everyone feeling down should look at their caffeine consumption. Is it a lot and the day you feel blue because you did not get your daily dose? Some of these issues could be days starting on active duty with a cup of joe and once out were out of the military you stopped that daily cup of joe. Another issue is vitamin D. It is produced by the skin exposed to sunlight. So if you were already not getting enough sun and felt blue, stayed inside, well you just made matters worse. Ask your provider for blood work to test for vitamin D. If I miss more than a couple daily doses, I really feel it. Low vitamin D can make a big difference in how you feel and in cold, dark areas it is called seasonal affective disorder. Big issue up in Alaska.
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Not so much. I used my PTDY to find a job in my field that worked with military and law enforcement personnel. So I was in a familiar, albeit new, environment.
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Yes, especially after retirement- no group bond, no one watching my 6. Had to wake up every day and force myself to believe I would manage it
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SGM Mikel Dawson
II missed it after I retired, especially being here in Denmark where I am basically alone. I do find the occasional Danish vet to talk to once in a while, but the internet has been my connection now. Yes I miss the physically seeing, being around a group, having a beer, all of it. I just learn how to deal with it and drive on.
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