By Archbishop Dr Peter McInnes, AICA Primate, RSL Chaplain – www.aicaustralia.com

This piece aims to help veterans and their families understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and offer some practical ways to manage it.

PTSD doesn’t only affect war veterans. It can be triggered by extreme stress, especially the kind built through military training and service. From day one of recruit training, we’re conditioned—yelled at, stripped of personal items, issued uniforms, given a number, and made to follow orders without question. This breaks down civilian habits and replaces them with military discipline, both physically and mentally.

Over roughly three months, we’re retrained to follow commands instantly, regardless of personal feelings. We’re taught to override the natural “fight-or-flight” response and run towards danger, not away from it. This is reinforced through repetitive drills, harsh correction, and peer accountability. By the end of training, reactions to threats become automatic.

This conditioning continues into initial employment training—especially for infantry. We’re taught contact drills: to run, drop, crawl, observe and return fire. Yelling out “Contact front!” or “Ambush left!” becomes second nature, reinforced by simulated attacks and live-fire exercises. If you don’t act fast and instinctively, lives can be lost. This saves lives in combat—but can cause trouble later.

This same training sets the stage for PTSD. Once out of uniform, reacting to everyday stresses as if they’re life-or-death can wear us down. Imagine facing a threatening crowd: a civilian would run. A trained soldier might charge in. This instinct can become a problem in daily life, where that level of threat doesn’t exist.

We were trained to fight with anger and hate to release the adrenaline needed to survive. That mindset—rewarded with pay, medals and survival—can feel like the only way to live. But in the civilian world, that level of alertness harms our health and relationships. Many believe this training saved their life, so they stick with it. Some carry survivor guilt, haunted by sayings like, “Death is nature’s way of saying you failed selection.”

After service, our “stress barrel” changes. Where we once had high alertness and combat readiness, we now deal with PTSD symptoms—hyper-vigilance, overreaction, and emotional overflow. Coping mechanisms often become alcohol, nicotine, or overworking—all encouraged during service but harmful in the long run.

Instead, healthy coping tools are crucial:

• • Relaxation techniques

  • Good communication

  • Conflict resolution

  • Problem-solving

  • Goal-setting

  • Time management

As we age, tolerance for stress drops. That’s normal. Therapy—both talk and medication—can help. Relearning how to respond to stress and breaking old instincts helps us move from survival to truly living.

After I left the military, I felt used and tossed aside. I struggled with anger, injury, and fitting back into civilian life. Two marriages ended, and it took time to find peace. Seeing the world through my daughter’s eyes helped. I found faith—not in strict religion, but in a real relationship with God. I became a minister to help others. Teaching martial arts gave me structure and an outlet for stress, much like military life.

PTSD is complex. This short guide can’t cover everything, but I hope it offers a clearer understanding. If you or a loved one is affected, talk to professionals who understand PTSD. With effort, healing is possible.

You can overcome it.