Hawaii Island Recovery 
Fear is an intense emotion, and experiencing some degree of fear at some point in life is completely normal. However, for veterans of any military branch, these feelings of fear can be incredibly profound and carry lasting effects on each veteran’s emotional well-being. The life-threatening situations, traumatic experiences, stress, and more experienced by military personnel can follow them home, continuing to impact veterans’ emotional health and daily life even after being discharged from service. Professional support and treatment are crucial to address pervasive and constant feelings of fear among veterans and to minimize potential self-destructive attempts at addressing it.
The Effects of Fear Among Veterans
Persistent feelings of fear can be overwhelming, affecting not just a person’s thoughts but also causing many physiological responses. Increased heart rate, panic, anxiety, an altered sense of perception, and more are all common. For military personnel, navigating situations wrought with fear is common, with many not only being tasked with navigating these life-threatening situations and uncertain circumstances but also returning to the line of duty again to face future fears.
However, veterans can carry these traumatic experiences back home with them, with fear among veterans becoming a constant feeling in daily life even after leaving the line of duty. Some of the effects on veterans’ daily life due to pervasive feelings of fear include:
- Development of avoidance behaviors
- Flashbacks
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nightmares
- Hyper-vigilance
- Catastrophizing situations or jumping to worst-case scenario outcomes
- Emotional distance between family and loved ones
- Difficult to trust others
Fear can cause a person to approach situations differently. Constant fear can birth new behaviors that seek to avoid future feelings of fear or danger, even at the expense of other areas of one’s health.
Living through an intense military lifestyle can not only expose a person to many different traumatic experiences that can bring feelings of fear but can also introduce unhealthy coping mechanisms. Active warzones, survivor’s guilt, witnessing violence or atrocities, personal injury, and more can all come with a great deal of fear, and it is common to not only push down these emotions but also emotionally brace for having to navigate these challenges again.
On-base drinking cultures and substance use can be attempts at suppressing feelings of fear. Alcohol use, prescription drugs, marijuana, opioids, and more are all common ways to attempt to self-medicate its pervasive effects. However, these self-destructive practices can quickly develop into addiction. Engaging in effective, comprehensive treatment at Hawaii Island Recovery is essential to explore the emotional impact of fear among veterans and the use of drugs or alcohol in tandem for sustainable change.
Addressing Fear and Substance Use in Tandem
Veterans of the armed forces may turn to addictive substances to cope with the continued emotional weight of fear for a myriad of reasons. For many, addictive substances can be a way to push down traumatic memories and flashbacks that inform feelings of fear. However, while this may provide short-term relief, it leaves the sources of fear unaddressed and continuing to manifest. Others may turn to drugs or alcohol due to prevalent stigmas among veterans preventing other, healthier ways of coping with feelings of fear, anxiety, panic, and more in veteran life.
Veteran-Specific Treatment
While feelings of fear throughout life are common, veterans may harbor unique fears given their life experiences, perspectives, and traumatic experiences in the line of duty. Anxiety, PTSD, flashbacks, and more can all inform a pervasive feeling of fear that can be tied to authentic experiences of imminent and life-threatening danger.
Having peers who understand these challenges and can share some experiences is crucial for exploring truly effective ways of addressing fear among veterans. Likewise, finding programs that address substance use and fear in tandem and are also curated to the specific needs of veterans is crucial. Hawaii Island Recovery’s treatment programs in Hawaii are one option to explore healing alongside a dedicated veteran community.
Addressing Personal Relationships
Trauma, substance use, and fear among veterans are not an isolated challenge, with many veterans experiencing turmoil in their relationships while coping with these situations. Fear of being judged or rejected is common, while others may find it difficult to trust others due to atrocities witnessed in an active warzone. Lastly, consistent exposure to loss and feelings of survivor’s guilt can cause a person to fear similar things happening to their loved ones at home, subconsciously building up emotional barriers that can affect these relationships.
Addressing these challenges, how drugs and alcohol affect family and loved ones, and exploring the cyclic nature of substance use alongside family are all part of a comprehensive approach to healing, understanding, and change.
Challenging Fear Among Veterans
Many attempts to cope with fear include attempts to push down and move past it. However, this can cause future challenges. Instead, confronting and validating feelings of fear is necessary for effective healing. A supportive and understanding environment, dedicated and trauma-informed professionals at Hawaii Island Recovery, and time to process fear step by step are all important.
Some veterans may employ exposure therapy, while others may explore increased mindfulness-based strategies to explore how fear affects their bodies, thoughts, and even attitudes toward drugs or alcohol. This kind of professional treatment and support is necessary, and having trained professionals and a supportive veteran community is necessary for validating, challenging, and overcoming the effects of fear and its impact on substance use for a sustainable and sober veteran life.
Fear can be a profound part of daily life. If you or your veteran loved one is coping with fear’s pervasive and daily effects following their time in service, Hawaii Island Recovery can help today. We offer a comprehensive approach to dedicated veteran programming, empowering you to personalize your treatment plan to address feelings of fear and their connection to substance use, trauma, PTSD, and much more. We also introduce you to a community of veteran peers to help you explore these needs in solidarity with others. For more information on our treatment programs in Hawaii, or to speak to a caring, trained staff member about your needs and goals in recovery, call (866) 390-5070.
