Depression in Veterans: Signs, Causes and Treatment Options

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for expert medical or mental health advice. If you or a loved one is struggling with depression and other related concerns, please contact a licensed treatment provider. Call 9-8-8 or 9-1-1 in case of crises, emergencies, or other urgent needs.

Leaving military service is something life-changing. The structure, the mission, and the fellow service members who understood you all shift at once. For many veterans, low mood follows. Veteran depression is common; it is treatable. Recognizing the early warning signs and reaching out for the care you need and deserve early leads to the best outcomes.

Major depressive disorder (or depression) does not always look like low mood or persistent sadness. In veterans, it can also show up in other ways:

• Feeling empty or emotionally numb most days

• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy

• Irritability, frustration, or a short temper

• Fatigue, low energy, or trouble focusing on the tasks at hand

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Unexplained headaches, body aches, or digestive concerns

• Feeling worthless, guilty, or like a burden

• Thoughts of suicide or death

If any of these signs last two weeks or more and impact your daily life and functioning, it may be time to speak with a licensed clinician who understands your experiences and needs and suggests the right level of care for you.

If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or death, call 9-8-8 and press 1 for Veterans Crisis Line immediately.

There is rarely one reason. Some of the common ones can be:

• Combat exposure, bereavement, grief, or other traumatic experiences

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which frequently occurs alongside depression

• Moral injury or survivor’s guilt

• Chronic pain or injury, such as traumatic brain injury

• Difficulty adjusting to civilian life, career, or finances

• Loss of purpose, identity, or community

• Alcohol or substance use, which can worsen mood over time

• Genetics, family history, and other health conditions

Anxiety After the Military

Depression and anxiety can often occur together. You may feel constant worry, a racing mind, tension in your body, or dread without a clear threat/reason. Anxiety after the military can also look like startling at sudden sounds, avoiding crowds, or struggling to relax. Both conditions can be treated with behavioral health treatment and can be addressed at the same time.

Isolation and Loneliness

Social withdrawal can be one of the signs of depression. Many veterans miss the closeness of a unit. Back home, it can feel like no one understands what you have been through. Isolation and loneliness can then deepen depression, as pulling away feels easier but leaves you with less interpersonal connectedness. Reconnecting, even in small ways, is central to recovery. Peer community meetings and group therapy with other veterans can be useful during this time.

Anger After Deployment

Anger after deployment is common and often misread. Depression can show up as a short temper, outbursts at home, or even road rage, especially among men. Anger can also come from unprocessed trauma or from feeling out of place. If anger is straining your relationships or career, it deserves care.

Sleep Problems

Sleep problems are both a symptom and a reason for depression. You might lie awake, wake during the wee hours of the morning, sleep too much, or wake feeling unrested. Years of irregular schedules and night duty can leave the body struggling to settle. Disturbed sleep then makes mood, focus, and irritability worse. It is one of the earliest symptoms that can indicate both depression and PTSD, so speak to a licensed clinician as soon as you notice it.

Veteran depression can be treated with trauma-informed personalized care that is tailored to each person’s symptoms, history, and needs:

• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy enables you to understand patterns and build coping skills. NuView Treatment Center offers both individual therapy and group therapy for privacy and supportive settings, respectively.

• Medication Management: When required, medication can improve mood, sleep, and energy, often alongside therapy.

• Structured Outpatient Care: For more structure, partial hospitalization programs or intensive outpatient programs provide several days of care each week while you stay home. An evening track can fit around demanding day schedules as well.

• Co-Occurring Disorder Care: When depression comes with PTSD or substance use, dual diagnosis treatment addresses both together.

• Lifestyle Modifications: Nutrition, 7-9 hours of sleep, exercise, time outdoors, and staying in touch with those you trust are all useful to build healthy routines.

NuView Treatment Center offers structured, personalized outpatient care that meets you where you are for a relevant, empowering healing experience.

We are a Joint Commission-accredited treatment center, in-network with the VA Community Care Network through TriWest. Your eligibility is determined by the VA, and authorization is required before you begin your healing journey with us.

But you do not have to figure this out on your own. Call us at (323) 307-7997, and we can confidentially verify your insurance to see if VA Community Care applies to you.

NuView partners with VA Community Care Network through TriWest. Behavioral health care for major depressive disorder and co-occurring concerns can be covered once authorized.

The VA is responsible for determining your eligibility, and you will need pre-authorization before you begin treatment. Here are some steps you have to follow:

1. Contact your VA primary care provider or your mental healthcare provider

2. Enquire about a community care referral

3. VA will approve your referral and direct it to TriWest

4. Ask for NuView Treatment Center as your treatment provider

5. Begin treatment with NuView once everything is confirmed

Our team will verify your benefits free of cost. Reaching out does not mean you have to commit to any of our programs right away. It is only an information-gathering step that provides you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions in your healing and recovery.