Mental Health and the Veteran Community
Military veterans have experienced traumas that many of us couldn’t even imagine. They’ve undergone traumatic events, lived in extreme weather and socio-political conditions and were often faced with disturbing realities on a regular basis. These intense experiences have the potential to cause significant damage to the mental, emotional and physical well-being of a person, which can then negatively impact their daily lives. Trauma affects people in different ways, but one of the most consistent manifestations of military combat trauma is the development of various mental health issues. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the [...]
How Trauma Works as a Trigger for Mental Health and Substance Issues
When someone is struggling with a mental health condition, they often have a relatively fragile emotional or mental state (sometimes both) that can be easily triggered. When someone is struggling with a substance use disorder, the dependence on drugs or alcohol can also make them vulnerable to being influenced into using. Trauma can act as a trigger for both mental health and substance issues. The severity and generally long-lasting effects of trauma can leave a person reeling, no matter how hard they may try to shove down the feelings of pain. For men, especially, the tendency to avoid facing and [...]
How Sexual Assault Affects the Mind and the Body
Sexual assault refers to sexual contact, coercion, behavior or forced conduct that occurs without the explicit consent of the other individual. It is a grave violation of human rights and a person’s dignity, as well as a severe criminal offense. Regardless of how extreme the assault was, it usually causes severe mental and emotional harm to the person it was inflicted upon, even if that isn’t initially realized. The immediate physical trauma of sexual assault can be so intense that many people don’t realize the toll it’s taken on their mental and emotional health until weeks or months later. [...]
