Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

It is very common to feel unsettled, sad or shaken up after witnessing after a traumatic event, as more than half of Americans have experienced this type of event in their lives.

Traumatic events can impact anyone; however military members can be more susceptible to them simply based on their day-to-day duties such as combat, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc.

PTSD comes into play if those symptoms still remain months or years after that traumatic event. Some people may not experience these feelings initially since they may begin later on, or the emotions may come and go over time.

Working through your stressful situation is important and TRICARE is here to help you, whether you are just beginning to take steps or you are still seeking help and advice.

Substance use disorder

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use?
• Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

If you responded yes to one or more of these questions, you may be experiencing symptoms of substance abuse. This does not mean that you have a substance use disorder, but it may mean that it is time to discuss these symptoms with your doctor.

^*Drug use includes illegal drug use and the use of prescription medications other than prescribed.

Treatment options

TRICARE may cover:

• Inpatient services (emergency and non-emergency)
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Management of withdrawal symptoms (detoxification)
• Medication assisted treatment
• Behavioral health therapeutic services
• Office based opioid treatment
• Opioid treatment programs
• Partial hospitalization programs
• Residential SUD treatment

^**TRICARE does not cover aversion therapy or unproven treatments. This list of covered services is not all-inclusive.

Suicide prevention

You are not alone. We are here to help and support you in everything life throws your way.

In the United States, one person dies by suicide every 10.9 minutes, making it the 11th leading cause of death in America, yet it is the second leading cause of death in the US military. Additionally, suicides have consistently been underreported and experts estimate the number may be 10-15% higher than what is on record.

Personal factors that lead people to thoughts of suicide include financial problems or divorce to military-specific factors such as deployment or transition issues. According to the CDC, most people who die by suicide do not have a known mental health condition. Whatever the struggle, it is important to know TRICARE has programs and treatment options available.

Working through your stressful situation is important and TRICARE is here to help you, whether you are just beginning to take steps or you are still seeking help and advice.