It is a sad reality that many individuals who serve our country in the armed services find themselves struggling with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or both. At Peak View Behavioral Health, we are honored to provide services that are designed specifically to help members of the Veteran community.
Vets Are Sometimes Slow to Seek Out Help
In a previous blog post, we considered why Veterans might sometimes be reluctant to seek out the help they need, writing that they are often committed to self-reliance:
Life in the military often involves teamwork, but it also fosters a spirit of toughness and self-reliance. In civilian life, however, those tendencies can get in the way when a Veteran needs help dealing with mental health disorders—whether those disorders predate their service, developed in response to their experiences while serving the country, or a combination of the two. Issues might include:
- A sense of shame or embarrassment that they cannot seem to overcome issues on their own
- A sense that no one in civilian life can really understand what they have gone through
- A desire to represent the military in a positive manner
Factors like those can prevent a Veteran from seeking out treatment for serious issues like anxiety, depression, or trauma-based disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder. Instead, they try to tough it out, keep others from discovering they are struggling, and behave as if nothing is wrong. And that can all too easily lead to other issues.
That portentous final line refers to challenges Veterans might encounter with drugs or alcohol.
Reason Why Vets May Develop Issues with Drugs of Alcohol
In another post dedicated to Veteran issues, we looked at the reasons Veterans may begin to use drugs or alcohol to cope with a variety of challenges.
Military service is frequently characterized by structure, defined procedures, and clear responsibilities. It also can provide a person with a clear sense of purpose and a close-knit team of people they can always count on. Back in civilian life, a Veteran may feel as though they have lost all of those things—including their sense of purpose. As a result they may turn to drugs or alcohol to try to fill the void they are feeling.
In addition to these issues, many Veterans struggle with mental health disorders…[and] they may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to “self-medicate” in the hope of dealing with their difficulties on their own.
Chronic pain can be another problem. If a Vet was injured while serving, they may experience significant ongoing pain that they cannot manage. They may turn to illicit drugs as a solution, or they may seek help from a physician. A doctor may prescribe strong painkillers in a good-faith effort to help a Veteran find relief from the pain. Unfortunately, however, this can put a Vet at risk of developing a substance use disorder centered on prescription painkillers.
At Peak View, We Provide the Tactical Recovery Program
The special situations and challenges faced by military personnel lead to a need for special approaches to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. That is what we offer at Peak View Behavioral Health. The Tactical Recovery program was created specifically for Veterans. The program takes into account military culture and the factors that might make a Vet reluctant to fully engage with a treatment program.
As a result, we are able to provide effective care that helps Vets turn their lives around. We can help those who serve regain and maintain their sobriety. And we can help Vets improve their mental health and maintain those improvements over time.
We Can Help a Range of Folks
While it is our honor to provide services to those who served their country, Veterans are not the only people we serve at Peak View Behavioral Health. We offer robust programs for adults, adolescents, and families. We are fully committed to providing high-quality, personalized treatment to each and every person we work with. From young people to Veterans, we are able to help individuals and families move forward in positive and healthy ways.
Renewing Balance. Embracing Hope.
Those two phrases—Renewing balance. Embracing hope.—exemplify our work at Peak View Behavioral Health. We are dedicated to improving lives by leaning into evidence-based practices, our high levels of expertise, our years of experience, and our commitment to empathy. We offer a robust inpatient program that includes round-the-clock physician supervision, medication management, and group therapy. We also provide excellent outpatient programs and virtual options for treatment. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View Behavioral Health is an excellent option for those who need to make lasting changes in their lives.
