Insights & Impact: Supporting Veterans and Strengthening Workplaces

The DSM – 5 says PTSD is a mental disorder that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, war, rape, or a natural disaster.

It is normal to have distressing or upsetting memories, feeling on edge, or trouble sleeping after the event. Everyday activities may be hard to do, such as going out and being social, going to work or having healthy relationships with your family and friends.

PTSI/D may start sometime after the event.

A point to note at WMtD we prefer calling Post Traumatic Stress an Injury not a Disorder. We believe that the change of language from disorder to injury can help the sufferer heal. What the healing and recovery looks like is as individual as the people experiencing it. This is for information only and not to be used to diagnose.

A) Reliving the event/s (re-experiencing symptoms) Memories can come back at anytime and can appear to be very real. Nightmares, night terrors and/or Flashbacks. You may see, hear or smell something that causes you to relive the event.

B) Avoiding situations or people that could end up with you remembering or reliving the traumatic event.

Avoiding crowds the feeling of safety and security away from them

Avoiding driving if you were in a convoy that had been attacked in some way

Avoiding watching films or tv programs about a similar event you experienced

Keeping busy to avoid thinking or talking about the event

C) Your thinking may be more negative as in how you view yourself and others. Feeling numb – not able to feel positive feelings towards other people or yourself, loss of interest in things previously enjoyed.

Memory – the event has been “wiped” or changed to something different, to less painful to remember.

Paranoia – the world and everyone is out to get me. No one is to be trusted.

Feelings of Guilt or shame – you may feel guilty that you survived and your oppo didn’t. There may be shame about a decision.

D) Constantly on the lookout for threats that aren’t there i.e. Walking down a street why is a window open and the others closed on that road.

Insomnia – not being able to sleep or going to sleep but then waking up a few hours after and not sleeping again.

Concentrating – Finding it hard to focus

Loud noises – Again this is avoidance, not wanting to go to firework displays because it triggers recall of the event

Risk taking – Gambling, abusing alcohol or other substances

Grounding – Breathing techniques and noticing how you are breathing.

Meditation/mindfulness – meditation can take many forms such as walking, sitting and having a mantra or something to focus on

Diet/nutrition – The better diet and more nutritionally dense the foods you eat the more positive the effects on the brain and body

Peer support/community – Finding people with similar experiences and sharing with them. Connecting with people is essential in helping to recover.

Clear guidelines and rules provide structure and predictability.

Helps reduce ambiguity during operations, exercises, or daily routines.

Promotes teamwork and coordination based on defined procedures.

Supports individuals with neuro-differences by offering a systematic approach.

Loss of structured environment and familiar routines.

Increased ambiguity and uncertainty in job roles and expectations.

Difficulty adapting to less formalised processes and organisational cultures.

Potential isolation without the strong community found in the uniformed services.

Seek out employers or industries with clear structures and processes.

Utilise transferable skills gained from uniformed services (e.g., teamwork, problem-solving).

Explore neuro-friendly workplaces that value diversity and inclusivity.

Consider seeking support through coaching or mentorship programs.

Find a community that can support you

Imagine this: joining the military is like setting sail on a new journey across unfamiliar seas. Everyone around you is in a similar boat, heading in the same direction. You’ve been through basic training, Phase 2, and countless challenges—prepared for rough waters, stormy weather, and the unknown. But through it all, you had your comrades, a mission, and a clear sense of purpose.

Then, you leave. And suddenly, you’re caught in a storm you never trained for.
Hurricane 1: A New Career – You know how to do the job, but where do you fit in? The culture, expectations, and unspoken rules feel completely different.

Hurricane 2: New Relationship Rules – You’re home more. But instead of feeling connected, friction builds. Arguments, miscommunication, and a sense of being in each other’s way start creeping in.

Hurricane 3: A New Location – You’re in a new community, but how do you integrate? Where do you belong now?

Hurricane 4: Navigating Civilian Services – Need a doctor or dentist? Good luck getting an appointment. The systems you relied on are gone, and now everything takes time, effort, and patience.

Hurricane 5: BILLS, BILLS, BILLS – Rent, council tax, utilities… Why does it all cost so much? And why is no one explaining it?

Hurricane 6: The Boat Feels Outdated – The skills, mindset, and ways of operating that served you well in the military don’t seem to fit here. You feel lost. The urge to go back is strong. At least there, you knew the rules.

Your original boat still has value. It carried you through some of the toughest times. But what’s missing is someone to help you upgrade it—to navigate this new environment, update your maps, and make sense of these new waters.

The problem? No one talks about it. Others seem to have figured it out, but their upgrades happened gradually, almost unnoticed.

So here you are, feeling adrift, wondering:

Why did I leave? Should I rejoin? How am I meant to cope?

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.

If you’ve spent years in the military or as a first responder, you’ve likely been trained to prioritise others—your team, your mission, and the people you serve. That selflessness is a strength, but it can also become a silent burden. When your own needs are constantly pushed aside, burnout and anxiety creep in, often without you realising it.

Ignoring personal well-being isn’t a sign of toughness—it’s a recipe for exhaustion. Over time, the stress builds up, impacting not just your mental health but also your effectiveness in the field. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. Whether it’s seeking professional support, finding an outlet like exercise or meditation, or simply setting boundaries, small steps toward self-care can make a world of difference. The stronger you are mentally and physically, the better you can continue to serve others without sacrificing yourself in the process.

Your mission matters—but so do you.

Avoiding difficult conversations—whether at work or at home—can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and even the erosion of trust and worst of all, contempt. Once that is reached then the relationship is pretty much over.

Over time, a lack of clear communication can damage relationships, making it harder to resolve conflicts or work together effectively. So how can you communicate better?

One key strategy is asking open-ended questions. Instead of prompting a simple “yes” or “no,” these questions encourage deeper responses, helping you understand the other person’s perspective more fully. For example, instead of asking, “Are you okay?”, try “How have you been feeling about this situation?” This small shift creates space for meaningful dialogue.

Another essential element is giving people time to process. Not everyone is ready to answer tough questions on the spot, and that’s okay. A response like, “I’m not ready to answer that right now. Can we revisit this in a couple of days?” allows both parties to reflect and respond more thoughtfully.

For those looking to dive deeper into effective communication, Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg is a fantastic resource. His approach teaches how to express needs clearly while fostering empathy and understanding—key ingredients for stronger relationships in both personal and professional settings.

By being intentional about how we communicate, we can turn difficult conversations into opportunities for growth, deeper connection, and lasting trust.

Leaving a profession can lead to feelings of separation. The provided text highlights that moving on from a career frequently involves the loss of a strong social network. This absence of a close community can then contribute to a sense of being isolated when facing challenges. Consequently, individuals may experience abandonment as they navigate their post-career lives without their former support system.

Integrating into new social dynamics can present significant challenges, potentially leading to difficulties in maintaining healthy connections. The process of finding one’s place within family units, local communities, or professional environments may feel demanding and increase the likelihood of strained relationships or feelings of being cut off. These excerpts highlight the potential for social friction and loneliness when adapting to unfamiliar relational structures.