Maybe you’ve noticed lately you’re a lot more interested in risky and dangerous activities. Or perhaps you’re pushing things to the extreme, spending large amounts of money on a whim, or not thinking about the consequences of your actions until it’s too late. If this is the case, you may be showing signs of reckless behavior.
Serving in the military, especially if you were in a combat zone, can sometimes require engaging in a certain amount of risk to stay alive and protect yourself. However, engaging in risky behavior on an ongoing basis — particularly once you’ve returned from deployment or just in order to get an adrenaline rush — can lead to serious injury or death.
The reasons for pursuing reckless behavior differ from person to person and may or may not be directly related to the kinds of dangerous situations someone encountered in the military. Your reckless behavior may seem minor, like not wanting to obey speed limits and traffic lights, or more risky, such as driving extremely fast or picking a fight with people who irritate you. Many people who repeatedly do reckless things are seeking a feeling of excitement. For some people, however, no risky behavior ever seems to be exciting enough — no matter how thrilling the activity.
“Serving in a combat zone made civilian life kind of boring. When I first got back, I felt like ‘civilian’ rules just didn’t apply to me.”
Choosing to engage in reckless behavior affects more people than just you. It can also cause the people you care about to worry, and can be dangerous to yourself and others.
Reckless behavior is different from acting irresponsibly only once in a while. A pattern of reckless behavior may involve the following features:
- Repeatedly going over the limit in almost any activity
- Doing risky or hurtful things to yourself or others
- Putting others at risk
- Ignoring or not thinking about the potential results of risky activities
- Not paying attention to others' concerns about your actions
- Feeling regret after irresponsible actions
There are things you can do to prevent yourself from engaging in risky behavior. Try to remember to:
- Establish periods of downtime, especially if you often feel riled up, overly excited, or angry.
- Take deep breaths when you feel stressed, and give yourself a break by relaxing in a peaceful, quiet place.
- Plan ahead to avoid situations that might lead to reckless or dangerous behavior—for example, try to leave early or late to avoid rush-hour traffic, or arrange for a ride home if you’ll be drinking.
- Recognize cycles of reckless behavior and work with your close family and friends to identify and avoid them.
- Find safe ways of getting an adrenaline rush in new activities that won’t lead to negative consequences.
- Find a way to avoid or get out of potentially risky situations.
“I had this sense of invincibility. But looking back, I see how ridiculous it would have been for me to survive all that time overseas just to come back and hurt or kill myself in some reckless stunt.”
Your close friends or family may be the first to notice your reckless behavior. Consider sharing with them what you're feeling and experiencing that leads to this behavior and ask what they've noticed. They may be able to provide support and help you find resources to address the issues you’re dealing with.
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 other concerns that may occur alongside reckless behavior, such as transitioning from service, stress and anxiety, anger, and posttraumatic stress.
