The Impact of Violence on Mental Health and Substance Use

Experiencing violence of any kind can be a traumatic experience. However, veterans are at a much higher risk of being in the midst of violent activity, leaving lasting impacts on veterans’ mental health and substance use. Understanding the connection between violence and associated challenges, as well as learning about the various forms that violence may take, is necessary to create a healthy approach to recovery that addresses these needs while creating a personalized recovery plan for the future. 

Violence can be a devastating and wholly transformative experience. However, for many veterans, violent experiences are all too common. From living through active warzones to enduring combat training and more, violence can be easily normalized in the lives of veterans, making it difficult to process and address its profound effects on their mental health and substance use. Whether hearing stories of active warzones or engaging in armed conflict oneself, violence is a profound part of military life. 

This direct engagement with violence is not the only way that it can continue to impact veterans. For some, childhood traumas, abuse, and more can all be common as well. These experiences will affect an individual’s perspectives of violence, mental health, and substance use as much as their experiences in the military. Military personnel may normalize the use of violence themselves, even utilizing violence as a problem-solving strategy. This can further lead to violence being used as a common reaction to adversity, stress, and more, and can result in compromised relationships or domestic abuse in dire situations. 

Either using violence oneself or witnessing violence perpetrated on another, violence is a ubiquitous experience among the veteran community. However, these feelings can continue to impact each veteran’s mental health in civilian life, informing feelings of anxiety, depression, panic, and much more. Moreover, leaving these feelings unaddressed can motivate the use of drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

Experiencing violence of any kind, especially if an individual has lived through armed conflict and life-threatening situations while deployed in the military, can wholly impact a person’s mental health. Trauma is common following these experiences, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being one of the most prevalent challenges that veterans face after deployment.

While members of the military are already at an increased risk of developing PTSD, the percentage of veterans continues to increase with subsequent deployments. Those who have been deployed are three times as likely to develop symptoms of PTSD. Further, 29% of those who were deployed during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have experienced PTSD at some point in their lives, making it a prevalent concern for many. 

However, feelings of anxiety, depression, survivor’s guilt, and much more are all direct impacts of violence on veterans’ mental health. Flashbacks to violent experiences and more are also common following violent experiences, further complicating each veteran’s mental health. Overcoming not only symptoms of mental health concerns but also addressing the violent experiences that inform them is necessary for a transformative recovery. 

It can be difficult for veterans to emotionally process the effects of violence on their emotional state. These challenges can persist even long after an individual has been discharged from active service. The use of drugs or alcohol is common among veterans to suppress these memories, flashbacks, or uncomfortable emotional states, numbing their emotional states to avoid addressing them. However, these coping strategies can quickly lead to addiction as an individual develops a reliance on these substances to avoid the uncomfortable and persistent effects of violence.  

Not only does this strategy do little to process these feelings, but it can also have actively detrimental effects on the impact of violence among veterans. Substance use can often compromise an individual’s ability to manage their emotions and can lead to further feelings of anxiety, depression, and more. An increase in violent outbursts and anger as a result of substance use is also possible, especially without other coping strategies in place for veterans. This can perpetuate the prevalence of violence throughout civilian life and create a dangerous and destructive cycle. 

Violence has many lasting effects on an individual, with veterans being among those most exposed to its devastating effects. Physical reminders of violence, like scars or chronic pains, as well as the emotional impact of violence, can taint veterans’ perspectives and worldviews. 

Fortunately, Hawaii Island Recovery can help. Our treatment centers in Hawaii offer professional support for addressing the continued impact violence has throughout the transition to civilian life. Professional treatment is often necessary for veterans to understand the impact that substance abuse can have on the long-lasting perpetration of violence. 

Addressing both the role of violence on mental health and substance use in tandem is necessary for a healthy and effective recovery program. Dedicated veteran recovery programs are instrumental in exploring these connections and how violence may continue to impact the daily life of veterans. 

Violence can be commonplace for veterans of the armed forces, either through constant exposure to violent experiences to its normalization on base. Addressing the emotional effects of violence can be difficult. Fortunately, we at Hawaii Island Recovery are prepared to help you today. Our treatment centers in Hawaii offer a dedicated space for veterans to explore the emotional effects of violence, as well as how it may continue to impact their use of addictive substances or their relationships in civilian life. From proven therapeutic and spiritual practices to a community of peers focused on healing and betterment, recovery is always possible. To learn how we can personalize your time with us, call to speak to us today at (866) 390-5070.