Spirituality can be described as your personal connection with meaning and purpose in life through something greater than yourself. This may include belief in some sort of higher power, or devotion to a set of deeply held personal values. People often express their spirituality through a particular religion or faith — although many people consider themselves spiritual without a formal religious affiliation.
Some Veterans may find that their life experiences strengthen their spirituality or faith. Others may find that their experiences in the military cause them to rethink or question spirituality or religion. If you practice a religion, you may be concerned about losing faith in what you believe. If you don’t, you may struggle with questions about what is significant and worthwhile in life.
“I was asking, ‘Why me? Why did you let me live? Is this the plan, because I don’t like it.’”
You may wonder:
- What death and suffering mean in the broader scheme of things
- If there is any meaning or purpose to the things you saw or experienced
- If you are a bad person because of your actions
- Why bad things happened to you or people you care about
- Why you survived when other people didn’t
These kinds of questions are common after a difficult or traumatic experience, such as military combat, natural disasters, or accidents. For many people, thinking about what they believe, and why they believe it, is part of making sense of difficult experiences.
While wrestling with these sorts of questions can be difficult, many people find that the process eventually leads to a sense of growth or resolution. For some, though, their experiences leave them with an ongoing sense of unaddressed spiritual injury or suffering.
In recent years, it has become clearer how spiritual issues relate to health. Individuals and care providers should keep an eye out for spiritual struggles such as:
- Loss of faith
- Difficulty forgiving others or oneself
- Feeling abandoned or punished by God
- Anger toward God
- Guilt or shame
- Grief and loss
- Difficulty merging deeply held values with life experiences
If you are experiencing these kinds of spiritual problems, you may not feel like your old self. You might find that you have stopped doing things you used to enjoy, or perhaps you have isolated yourself from others, including members of your faith or spiritual community. If you have struggled with these kinds of spiritual issues or a crisis of faith over a long period of time, you may also be dealing with relationship problems, feelings of depression or anxiety, or other issues that you may want to address.
Learning to make sense of what happened can rebuild your sense of purpose and meaning. Try to take the time to:
- Talk about your questions and beliefs with someone you trust.
- Spend time thinking, expressing, and making sense of the experience, whether through talking, writing, painting, music, or other means.
- Practice your spirituality or meaningful religious traditions to feel more connected and focused on what is important to you.
- Share your thoughts, feelings, and questions with counselors or chaplains; they can help you examine your beliefs and find meaning in your life.
Talking to close friends and loved ones about what you are thinking and feeling may help you, and it allows your friends and family to provide support. In other cases, you may want to speak to someone else who you feel will understand your concerns, such as a spiritual or religious adviser, an educator, or a professional counselor.
Every day, Veterans from all military service branches and eras connect with proven resources and effective treatments. Here’s how to take the next step: the one that’s right for you.
New to VA? Apply for health care benefits.
- Getting started is simple. Create a free account online to help ease your enrollment process. To prepare to apply for VA health care in person, by telephone, or by mail, explore VA’s “How to Apply” page.
- Not sure whether you are eligible for VA health care benefits? Read about eligibility for VA health care.
- Unsure of what kind of help you need? Call 1-877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387) to find the right resources to meet your needs, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 1-800-877-8339.
- Veterans’ family members and caregivers can see whether they qualify for VA medical benefits as a spouse, surviving spouse, dependent child, or caregiver. Explore family and caregiver health benefits.
Already enrolled in VA and interested in mental health support? Schedule a mental health appointment.
- If you’re already enrolled and using VA health care, the fastest way to schedule VA appointments is to call the VA facility where you want to receive care.
- With VA Appointments tools, you can schedule some VA health care appointments online, view details about upcoming appointments, and organize your health care calendar.
- If you’re not using VA medical services, contact your nearest VA medical center or Vet Center to talk about your needs.
What about other options at VA? VA offers a variety of tools and resources.
- The Veteran Training online self-help portal for overcoming everyday challenges includes modules on managing anger, developing parenting and problem-solving skills, and more.
- Mental health apps for Veterans cover a variety of topics, ranging from PTSD to anger management to quitting smoking.
- VA TeleMental Health connects you with a VA mental health provider through a computer or mobile device in your home or at your nearest VA health facility. You can learn more about this option from your local VA medical center.
- Community-based Vet Centers provide confidential counseling, community engagement and referral services to eligible individuals and their families. You don’t need to be enrolled in VA healthcare or have a service connection to receive services. Find a Vet Center near you or call 1-877-927-8387, 24/7 to talk with a fellow Veteran about your experiences.
What about support outside of VA?
FindTreatment.gov and the National Resource Directory list programs outside of VA. Use these tools to find resources near you.
Learn more about what you can do if you are experiencing specific concerns related to spiritual issues, such as relationship problems, alcohol or drug problems, reckless behavior, posttraumatic stress, and depression.
