Managing Anxiety for Veterans: Recognizing Symptoms and Finding Support

Anxiety is something most people experience at some point in their lives. For military personnel, feelings of anxiety can be a strength. The heightened awareness that comes with anxiety can often  help service members operate effectively in high-stress and unpredictable environments. After leaving the military, however, that same sense of alertness can carry into everyday situations.

Understanding how anxiety can show up is an important step toward managing it. With the right tools, support systems, and awareness of personal triggers, veterans and their families can build resilience and protect their mental health.

What is Anxiety? 

Anxiety is an emotional response that causes feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease.

Anxiety may produce physical symptoms such as:

• Increased heart rate
• Sweating
• Trouble sleeping
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating

Many people with anxiety experience ongoing or excessive worry, often about the future or the unknown. Symptoms can last for weeks, months, or longer, and may come and go overtime.

How Common is Anxiety in Veterans? 

Anxiety is common. Approximately one-third of adults will experience some form of anxiety, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans tend to experience more severe anxiety than the general population due, in part, to their military service. 

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) reports anxiety as one of the five most common health issues veterans face, according to its most recent  Warrior Survey.*

Of WWP® warriors surveyed, 80% self-reported anxiety. Additionally, women warriors reported a higher incidence of anxiety and more severe anxiety symptoms when compared to their male counterparts.

“Thinking about the men and women we serve at Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP), what they have been through, including combat exposure and related trauma they may have experienced, it is not surprising that veterans have heightened levels of anxiety as well as other mental health challenges,” said Sonal Patel, Ph.D., a mental health expert with WWP.

Common anxiety symptoms reported in WWP’s Warrior Survey include:  

• Becoming easily annoyed or irritable.
• Having trouble relaxing.
• Feeling nervous or on edge.
• Worrying too much and not being able to stop worrying.
• Feeling afraid.
• Being restless, jittery, and unable to sit still.

The Differences Between Anxiety and PTSD 

There are several different types of anxiety disorders, each with similar but different symptoms, noted Dr. Patel. Some of the most common include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder, marked by prolonged and excessive worry that may trigger physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, or a rapid heartbeat.
• Panic disorder, which includes panic attacks.
• Phobias such as fear of leaving the house, separation anxiety, or fear of social interaction.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was previously considered a type of anxiety disorder.

According to the American Academy of Neurology, although similarities exist between the two conditions, PTSD was reclassified in 2013.

Dr. Patel adds that symptoms commonly experienced by veterans with PTSD can increase anxiety.

“Many of the symptoms reported by veterans with PTSD, including sleep disruption, memory issues, and substance and alcohol use, can all contribute to heightened anxiety,” she says, adding that more than 85% of WWP warriors who self-reported anxiety in a recent survey also reported PTSD related to military service.

Why Anxiety Feels Different for Veterans 

Heightened emotions are natural when faced with something new or unfamiliar, says Kyle Terrill, a manager with WWP’s mental health Triage team.

“Being in a state of heightened awareness when encountering a new situation is common. Military service personnel may experience increased anxiety before a new assignment,” he says.

Military training also often focuses on leaning into anxiety to stay alert and respond quickly to potential danger. The challenge is that for some people, the body’s stress response never fully turns off.

When that happens, the heightened awareness can evolve into hypervigilance — a state where a person is constantly on alert, scanning for potential threats, even in everyday situations.

Terrill says hypervigilance affects many veterans.

“It is common for military veterans to have a persistent feeling of being on guard. They spend years training to be ready to respond to danger. It can be difficult for the brain to adjust,” says Terrill.

The challenge is that prolonged states of alertness can, over time, affect both mental and physical well-being, contributing to sleep disruption, difficulty concentrating, and increased stress.

“It is important for veterans to recognize their symptoms and learn to work through the feelings, so they do not negatively affect their long-term health and wellness,” he adds. 

Signs of hypervigilance:

• Preferring to sit where entrances and exits are visible.
• Feeling uncomfortable in crowded environments.
• Reacting strongly to sudden noises.
• Remaining highly aware of their surroundings and constantly scanning.

What Triggers Anxiety in Veterans?

Veterans may experience anxiety symptoms in situations that remind them of past trauma experiences, but it can occur at any time due to everyday stressors.

“Anything can trigger anxiety, from work or family dynamics to health issues or world events,” says Terrill. “Anxiety can also be triggered by a memory from a traumatic experience.”

Certain environments may make anxiety worse, so he recommends being mindful of situations that may involve the following:

• Crowded public spaces
• Sudden loud noises
• Loud explosions
• Heavy traffic
• Unfamiliar surroundings

How Can Veterans Manage Anxiety?

Managing anxiety often involves a combination of therapy, coping strategies, and support from others.

The VA reports that there are various evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, that are effective options for anxiety.

The WWP Warrior Survey found that almost 70% of veterans prefer talking with another veteran to help with mental health concerns, including anxiety.

“Peer support and connection are extremely valuable for veterans. Understanding that you are not alone in how you feel often helps you identify ways to better those feelings,” says Terrill. 

To help manage anxiety symptoms, Kyle recommends various coping strategies:

• Deep breathing exercises.
• Grounding techniques, such as mindfulness or meditation.
• Physical activity (i.e., workout, yoga).
• Journaling or creative activity.

“It’s helpful to have different tools to help when things feel overwhelming. Left untreated, it can lead to depression, affect sleep, and start creating challenges in other areas of life,” says Terrill.

FAQs

How WWP Can Help

WWP provides support to help veterans and their loved ones manage anxiety, improve mental wellness, and build peer connections. 

• Social connection: The WWP Alumni program offers meaningful opportunities for warriors and families to connect with other veterans and families through in-person and virtual events. Peer Support Groups are also available to help build relationships and share experiences with others who’ve walked in the same footsteps.
• Talk it out: WWP Talk is a nonclinical phone-based support program where veterans and family members can talk with a dedicated specialist to work through challenges, learn coping skills and set personal growth goals.
• Adventure-based healing: Project Odyssey^® is a 12-week program that helps warriors develop better coping and communication skills.  Warriors can participate in all-male, all-female, coed, family, or couples’ programs. 
• Outpatient care at a leading medical center: Warrior Care Network^®  is a two-week outpatient program in partnership with four of the nation’s top medical facilities that provide mental health care for veterans with PTSD and brain injuries. Warrior Care Network provides clinical care and wraparound support to ensure each veteran receives a personalized level of care.
• Physical well-being: WWP offers physical health and wellness activities, including a 90-day coaching program, to help address physical health, sleep, nutrition, and overall well-being.

For warriors who need additional support, WWP can also provide referrals to community partners or other groups that can help. 

WWP offers various opportunities for veterans and their loved ones to connect with others.

Contact: Cynthia Weiss – Public Relations, cweiss@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.738.2589

*Warrior Survey, Wave 3 (conducted May 25 – Aug. 1, 2023) 

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the nation's leading veterans service organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.