The military has made its soldiers strong and adept at handling tough situations. It can be difficult to handle symptoms of combat stress and PTSD on your own, though.

Getting help can make readjusting to civilian life easier. Confide in friends or family, and call a mental health professional, who can work with you to manage and treat your PTSD.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Get help now

• The Real Warriors Campaign website features articles, tools, and information for service members, veterans, and family members. It also includes a 24/7 confidential live chat feature with a trained health resource consultant. For more details, call toll-free 24/7: 866-966-1020, or resources [at] dcoeoutreach [dot] org (send an e-mail. )
• Find a VA facility near you or call 1-800-905-4675. Services may cost little or nothing, according to benefits and ability to pay.
• Search the ADAA Find a Therapist directory. 
• Contact Give an Hour, which offers free mental health services to military men and women and their families.
• Call the Defense Centers of Excellence Outreach Center’s free hotline at 1-866-966-1020 or chat with them online at www.realwarriors.net/livechat.
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Recommended websites

• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
• Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
• Gift From Within – PTSD Resources for Survivors and Caregivers
• Military OneSource
• National Center for PTSD
• Real Warriors
• Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program
  
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Recommended books

• After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families by Laurie B. Slone, PhD, and Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD
• Request your free copy of A Handbook for Family & Friends of Service Members -- Before, During & After Deployment (Defense Centers of Excellence, 2010).