Something else that causes problems with some vets is an irrational sense of guilt that they made it through without any physical damage. These were the guys who were in theater but never went on patrols, repulsed an assault, took incoming mortars/rockets. They don’t have the war stories to tell about being the sole survivor in a squad, seeing their best friend blown up, seeing children caught in the line of fire. They feel they walked out on the backs of their fellow soldiers, or never had a chance to prove themselves worthy.
This can show up as self-destructive behavior like heavy drug and alcohol use, becoming a “dare devil”, or suicide. It can also show up as aggressive behavior directed at others, sometimes dangerous life-or-death confrontation.
All wounds are not visible and sometimes there is no way to tell what’s going to happen until it happens.
People often ask themselves, "why did I survive when women and children died".
It has always been very prevalent in the military.