Veterans Day: Supporting veterans facing the invisible wounds of PTSD

LANCASTER – As the Antelope Valley prepares to observe Veterans Day this Wednesday, Nov. 11, to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, the occasion is also an opportunity to recognize challenges many veterans continue to face long after their military service ends.

For them, returning to civilian life can mean adjusting to a new career, reconnecting with family and friends, or finding a new sense of routine and purpose. For others, those challenges may be complicated by post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and symptoms such as nightmares, unwanted memories, difficulty sleeping, anxiety or flashbacks.

“The transition from military to civilian life can bring enormous change and for veterans living with PTSD, that adjustment can be especially difficult,” said Dr. Omar Eslao with Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley. “PTSD can affect sleep, relationships, work and a person’s overall sense of well-being. The important message for veterans is that they don’t have to manage these symptoms alone. Treatment and support can make a meaningful difference.”

PTSD can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks and recurring memories or dreams, avoiding reminders of the trauma, feeling on edge or easily startled, and changes in mood and thinking. Symptoms must last more than a month and be significant enough to interfere with areas such as work or relationships for a PTSD diagnosis, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

New research points to a growing PTSD burden among veterans

A nationally representative 2025-2026 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study surveyed 2,636 U.S. veterans and estimated that 14.4% had experienced PTSD during their lifetime and 7.3% had PTSD within the past month. Those figures were significantly higher than estimates from earlier waves of the same national study.

The study also found striking differences by age. Among veterans ages 18 to 44, an estimated 35.3% had experienced PTSD during their lifetime and 16.1% had past-month PTSD, compared with 5.7% and 2.8%, respectively, among veterans ages 60 and older. Combat-exposed veterans also had higher rates than veterans who had not been exposed to combat.

“PTSD is more than having a bad memory of something that happened in the past,” Dr. Eslao said. “A reminder of a traumatic experience can make the body and brain respond as though danger is happening all over again. That can bring intense fear, anger, avoidance or even a feeling of shutting down or becoming emotionally numb.”

Those symptoms can make everyday life more difficult. Research from the 2025-2026 national veteran study found that PTSD and greater cumulative trauma exposure were strongly associated with increased functional disability.

 “When PTSD begins interfering with someone’s ability to sleep, work, go to school or maintain relationships with a spouse, children, friends or loved ones, that's a sign the person may benefit from additional support,” Dr. Eslao said. “Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a step toward regaining control of your health and your life.”

Anyone can develop PTSD, not only people who have experienced combat. Trauma can include experiencing or witnessing violence, sexual assault or abuse, serious accidents, disasters and other life-threatening events.

Healthy ways to cope with PTSD

While coping strategies are not a substitute for professional PTSD treatment, they can help veterans manage stress and support overall well-being. Dr. Eslao recommends the following:

1. Ground yourself in the present

During moments of anxiety or distress, grounding techniques can help redirect attention to the present.

• Take slow, controlled breaths.

• Notice what you can see, hear, feel and touch around you.

• Try progressive muscle relaxation by gently tensing and relaxing different muscle groups.

  
  
  
  

2. Recognize emotional triggers

Learning to identify situations, sounds, places or other reminders that intensify symptoms can make them easier to manage.

• Develop a “cool-down” plan for times when tension rises.

• Step away from a stressful situation when appropriate.

• Practice self-compassion rather than blaming yourself for symptoms. 

“Sometimes the first step is simply recognizing what your body is telling you,” Dr. Eslao said. “If you notice your heart racing, your muscles tightening or your emotions escalating, pause if you can. Ground yourself in the present, slow your breathing and remind yourself that you're safe right now.”

3. Challenge unhelpful thoughts

Trauma can sometimes affect the way people see themselves or the world around them.

Ask yourself whether the facts support a troubling thought or whether there may be another way to view the situation. Instead of thinking, “I’m weak because I'm struggling,” consider, “I went through something difficult, and getting help is part of recovering.”

4. Take care of your physical health

Mental and physical health are closely connected.

• Get regular physical activity.

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

• Eat regular, balanced meals.

• Limit alcohol and other substances, which may interfere with sleep or aggravate mental health symptoms.

• Establish routines that can create predictability and structure.

  
  
  
  

5. Stay connected

PTSD can lead some people to withdraw, but supportive relationships can play an important role in recovery.

Veterans may benefit from talking with trusted family members or friends, connecting with other veterans through peer-support programs and working with a mental health professional experienced in trauma.

6. Reconnect with meaning and purpose

Activities that provide a sense of purpose can also support emotional well-being. Depending on the individual, that could include volunteering, faith or spiritual practices, art, music, writing or spending time outdoors.

“Recovery doesn't necessarily mean forgetting what happened,” Dr. Eslao said. “It’s about reaching a point where those experiences no longer control your everyday life. With the right support, veterans with PTSD can heal, reconnect with the people and activities that matter to them and move forward with a renewed sense of purpose.”

Knowing when to seek help

Professional help is particularly important when PTSD symptoms become more frequent or severe, interfere with relationships or work, disrupt sleep or cause someone to rely on alcohol or other substances to cope.

PTSD is treatable. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that treatment can include psychotherapy, medication or a combination of approaches, depending on the individual.

“You don’t have to wait until you're in crisis to ask for help,” Dr. Eslao said. “If symptoms aren't improving or they're beginning to interfere with your relationships, sleep, work or daily life, talk with your health care provider or a mental health professional. Getting support earlier can help put you on a healthier path forward.”

For someone experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts, immediate help is available: 

• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1.

• Text: 838255.

• Online chat: VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

• If there is an immediate danger or medical emergency, call 911. 

Kaiser Permanente also provides PTSD information and care resources for members.