Do Marine Corps Have Depression?
By
PsychReel
This blog will cover topics like Depression in Marine Corps, treatment, research, military affected wellbeing, and frequently asked questions.
Do Marine Corps Have Depression?
Yes, the marine corps have depression and there have been studies on them to study their mental health and wellness in the marine department.
Mood disease is a group of psychological disorders that are characterized by mood swings. Among the most prevalent mood disorders, depression can strike anything at any time. Military personnel, on the other hand, are at an especially high risk of getting these diseases. According to recent studies, military service people experience depression at a substantially higher rate than civilians.
Up to 14% of service members are thought to suffer from depression after deployment. However, because some service personnel may not seek medical attention for their ailments, the figure could be substantially higher.
Furthermore, 19% of service members say they have suffered traumatic brain injuries while in combat. Head trauma, which can cause brain damage and cause depressive symptoms, is a common type of injury.
Multiple deployments and traumatic stress not only increase the likelihood of depression in service members but also increase the risk of suicide. Their spouses are at higher risk, and their kids are more likely to have emotional and behavioral issues.
Although the effects of combat deployment on PTSD have been thoroughly examined, there is limited information on the consequences of combat deployment on depression and anxiety. The factors linked to anxiety and depression were investigated in a sample of 1560 US Marines deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The effects of eleven demographic and psychological factors on depression and anxiety were investigated. Deployment-related stressors, combat exposure, leadership attitudes, mild traumatic brain injury symptoms, and marital status all emerged as important predictors in depression.
With the exception of marital status, the same characteristics were found to be relevant in relation to anxiety.
What is depression?
Depression is a common mental illness affecting around 8% of people in the United States. It affects all aspects of your life, from how you view it to how you live and connect. Not only can depression impair people’s ability to appreciate enjoyment, but it also causes them to endure deep, unrelenting sadness.
People lose trust in things they used to like, withdraw from ordinary connections, lose or gain weight for no apparent reason, and suffer a variety of health problems.
Depression causes exhaustion and sluggishness. It also impairs one’s ability to engage in anything, particularly once-enjoyable activities (anhedonia). Even if they are napping much more than usual, sadness can cause a human’s activity levels to decrease.
Depression symptoms in marine soldiers and their spouses
Military personnel and their spouses suffer from depression at higher rates than the general population. Depression is a serious illness marked by long-term, profound emotions of melancholy.
Your mood and conduct may be affected by this mood disorder. It may also have an impact on physical functioning including appetite and sleep. Depression makes it difficult for people to carry out daily tasks. They may also feel as though life isn’t worth living at times.
Depression and violence research
Depression has a catastrophic effect on families, according to studies of Vietnam veterans. Divorce and marital issues, domestic violence, and partner distress were all more common among veterans of that conflict than among non-veterans.
Soldiers who have returned from combat frequently withdraw from normal life owing to emotional issues. It is tough for them to maintain ties with their spouses and children as a result of this.
New research of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans has looked at how families functioned after deployment in the short term. Dissociative behaviors, sexual issues, and sleep problems were found to have the biggest influence on family connections.
After returning home, 75 percent of soldiers with partners experienced at least one “family adjustment concern,” based on one mental health evaluation. In addition, over 54% of veterans said they assaulted or yelled at their spouses in the months following their deployment. Depression symptoms, in particular, were the most likely to lead to domestic violence. Depressed service members were also more likely to indicate that their kids were afraid of them or did not show affection for them.
Results of Survey
At one month, 4.2 percent of the soldiers had probable PTSD and 4.4 percent had depression; at four months, 12.2 percent of the soldiers had PTSD and 8.9 percent had despair; and at seven months, 12.0 percent of the soldiers had PTSD and 9.3 percent had depression.
78.8% of those who were positive for PTSD or depression at 7 months screened negative for both disorders at 1 month in the longitudinal cohort. When demographic characteristics, combat exposure, and deployment duration were accounted for, high levels of physical issues at 1 month were significantly predictive of PTSD (odds ratio=9.1) and depression at 7 months (odds ratio=5.7).
After controlling for 1-month PTSD and depression severity, demographic factors, combat exposure, and deployment length, physical problem severity was also linked to PTSD and depression severity at 7 months.
Getting help for eating disorders
A counselor can assist you and your household in resolving any problems. Relationship challenges, financial hardships, and emotional issues are just a few examples.
Service personnel and their families can get confidential therapy through a variety of military support programs. You can also learn to cope with stress and loss from a counselor. Army OneSource, Tricare, and Real Warriors can all be useful starting points.
In the meanwhile, if you’ve returned recently from deployment and are having problems transitioning to civilian life, you can try the following coping strategies:
Patience is required.
Reconnecting with relatives after returning from combat can take time. This is common at first, but you’d be able to re-establish the connection with time.
Speak with someone.
Even if you feel lonely right now, there are individuals who can help you. Talk to anyone you trust about your problems, whether it’s a close friend or a family member. This individual should be someone who will support you and listen to you with respect and acceptance.
Spend time with your loved ones
Isolation from other people should be avoided.
Spending time with family and friends, particularly your partner and children, is essential. Reestablishing your relationship with family members can help you relax and feel better.
Share your loses
You may be hesitant to discuss the death of a soldier in war at first. However, keeping your feelings bottled up might be harmful, so it’s a good idea to talk about them in some way. If you’re afraid to talk about it with somebody you know, consider joining a military assistance group.
This type of support network might be very helpful because you’ll be surrounded by people who understand what you’re going through.
These tactics can be quite beneficial when you transition back to civilian life after combat. If you’re suffering from significant stress or grief, however, you should seek medical help.
As soon as you see any signs or symptoms of depression or another mood illness, make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health expert. Treatment as soon as possible can help to avoid symptoms from worsening and shorten recovery time.
If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.
Conclusion
It is one of the most difficult jobs to get rid of all the violent memories, but certain job roles are built to run so efficiently that brainpower expectations are usually high. Depression can happen to anybody, and therefore it is important to address it at the right time before it starts getting huge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Do Marine Corps Have Depression?
Can you be in the Marines with depression?
To join, a person with a mental disease must be stable for at least 36 months, without treatment or symptoms.
Can you get an honorable discharge for depression?
Serious mental illnesses, such as major depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia, may be grounds for medical discharge or retirement in the military, depending on their severity and treatment ability.
Can you have depression in the military?
According to recent studies, military service people experience depression at a substantially higher rate than civilians. Up to 14% of service members are thought to have depression after deployment. However, because some military members do not seek treatment for their disease, this figure could be substantially higher.
Can you take antidepressants in the Marines?
Antidepressants are disqualifying for one year after you stop taking them. You must stop with your doctor’s advice; do not stop on your own. These medications often have to be reduced slowly to lower side effects and reduce the risk of relapse.
Do suicidal thoughts disqualify you from the military?
Suicidal gestures and self-mutilation are both prohibited by DoD regulations for military duty.
What happens if you lie at MEPS?
Falsely enlisting in the military is a serious offense that can result in a felony conviction. Yes, you must be caught in the act of lying, but this isn’t as tough as it may appear.
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