When soldiers in World War I began reporting symptoms like dizziness, tremors, and amnesia with no sign of physical injury, doctors theorized their brains had suffered unobservable damage from the extreme sound waves of bombs or maybe toxic gasses released from the explosions. They called it “shell shock.” Of course, we now know these symptoms to be the physical expression of a psychological condition known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But though our understanding of the condition has evolved, there remains a perception that it is still directly tied to exposure to battle. Those bombs weren’t damaging brains—they were damaging minds. Without question, the violence of battle can cause PTSD. But even back in World War I, many of the soldiers reporting these symptoms had never seen combat. As a combat veteran myself, I’ve come to believe the majority of PTSD comes from something perhaps less dramatic than the horrors of war—but no less severe: the painful loss of community servicemen and servicewomen face when transitioning back to civilian society.

When you join the military, you’re asked to strip elements of your individuality, which can be jarring at first, but in exchange, you’re given a commonality, a purpose, and a new community of people whose lives are inextricably linked to yours. You learn the importance of rank, leadership traits, and the benefits of working within a team. This new community provides a sense of belonging and purpose rarely felt in civilian life, which only grows as service members progress in their military careers.

Within the military community, societal structure is well defined through a person’s rank and role. Throughout their careers, service members are taught to take pride in their unit and understand that hard work and dedication will lead to advancement in rank, which is literally worn on their sleeves. As a Service Member achieves higher rank, their pride increases as does their “social value.

When service members transition to civilian life, that structure, rank, and place within the community is suddenly gone. I believe this loss causes more stress than we, as a society, are able to quantify, especially since 2014 when the majority of combat related operations ceased in both Iraq and Afghanistan (with some exceptions). While parts of the military continued to deploy as advisors, most did not serve in direct combat, yet, instances of PTSD within the service community did not change. This leads me to believe most PTSD comes from the transition to civilian society, or events prior to the military, rather than combat-related trauma.

While we may not yet understand the full depth of trauma caused by the transition back to civilian life, we should not underestimate the impact. The loss of your sense of identity and belonging can be as painful as the loss of life. The VA is taking steps to expand access for mental health services for Veterans, but this trauma must be processed on an individual level to mitigate its impact.

The Solution:

I believe a Veteran’s ability to cope with PTSD is dependent on their support system. When transitioning to civilian life, Veterans must understand the stress that comes with leaving the military lifestyle and be intentional about developing a new sense of purpose by becoming a part of a community and strengthening their social connections, which includes the family. If the Veteran has a healthy balance of physical health (care), behavioral health (resources), and community health (feeling of belonging) then they will be more likely to cope with trauma effectively. Here are five ways to begin:

1. Join a workout program. Going to the gym is great for everyone, but to help treat PTSD, I recommend joining an actual program where you interact and sometimes compete with people on a regular basis. This can be a Crossfit, boot camp, mixed martial arts or anywhere else where you form social bonds with those in the same program. For Veteran-focused organizations, check out Team Red, White and Blue or Merging Vets and Players.
2. Get off social media. Most individuals on applications like Instagram or Facebook are showing one part of their lives. While this is exciting for some, it can also be isolating for others who are having trouble coping with PTSD. My advice is to get off social media and plan a trip to see one of your friends from military service. The in-person connection will energize you and discussing shared experiences reminds you how interconnected you are with those friends. If you are unable to travel, organizations like the Warrior Gamer Foundation and Objective Zero connect Veterans virtually.
3. Volunteer for an organization focused on service and community-building. There are thousands of organizations across the country dedicated to doing good work for poorly served communities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans/military families. Join an organization that does meaningful work for others and make some friendships along the way. Check out organizations like Irreverent Warriors or Team Rubicon.
4. Let people depend on you. I cannot stress this one enough. This suggestion will mean different things to each reader, but I suggest that each person put themselves in a position where people will depend on you. This can be within your family, work, or volunteer role in your community. Commit to doing something that positively affects others and keep that commitment.
5. Get help. Get help: Know that whatever you are experiencing and wherever you are in your service journey, you are not alone. Whether through the VA website and the 988 Veteran Crisis Line, through Facebook forums, social media chatrooms, or other online communities, or through your community or local civic groups, a wealth of resources are available to reach out for help with a click, text, or call.

While combat experiences can certainly contribute to the development of PTSD, it is important to recognize that the transition back to civilian life can be just as traumatizing. The loss of identity and community that comes with leaving the military can be incredibly difficult to navigate. It is crucial for Veterans to establish new support systems and a sense of purpose in order to effectively cope with this trauma. By joining workout programs, disconnecting from social media, volunteering for service organizations, and committing to making a positive impact on others, veterans can begin the journey towards healing and finding a new sense of belonging in civilian society. Change must occur on an individual level, and it starts with taking steps to prioritize mental health and well-being. Remember, you are not alone in this journey.

About the Author: Chris Gonzalez is the President of A-G Associates, a Service-Disabled Veteran / Minority-Owned Small Business. Chris is a combat veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine. Chris currently serves in the Marine Corps Reserves and works with clients in the Department of Veterans Affairs and volunteers with several veteran-serving nonprofits, including the Bastards Road project. You may reach him by email at cgonzalez@a-gassociates.com.