Yes, veterans often experience more intense PTSD symptoms during the holiday season, and there are specific psychological and environmental reasons why this happens. The combination of forced social gatherings, disrupted routines, seasonal changes, and cultural expectations of happiness can create a perfect storm for symptom flare-ups in those who’ve served our country.
The holidays bring unique challenges for veterans that civilians might not fully understand. While most people associate December with joy and connection, veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress often find themselves fighting an internal battle that intensifies during what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year.
The Hidden Holiday Battleground
Dr. Jennifer Thomson’s research reveals that veterans and their families most commonly associate PTSD with war, combat experiences, and nightmares (Thomson, 2021). During the holidays, these associations become more problematic because family gatherings and social expectations can trigger memories and hypervigilance responses that were adaptive in combat but become overwhelming in civilian settings.
The holiday season creates several specific triggers that don’t exist during the rest of the year. Large family gatherings can feel like threat assessments rather than celebrations. The noise, crowds, and unpredictable social dynamics mirror some of the environmental stressors that originally contributed to trauma responses. Veterans might find themselves scanning rooms for exits, feeling trapped at dinner tables, or experiencing flashbacks triggered by unexpected sounds like champagne corks popping or fireworks during New Year’s celebrations.
Veterans Affairs research shows that risky behaviors and ongoing stressful events can prolong or worsen PTSD symptoms, even years after the initial trauma (VA National Center for PTSD, 2024). Holiday stress often falls into this category of ongoing stressful events that can reignite symptoms that seemed well-managed throughout the rest of the year.
When Seasonal Changes Compound the Challenge
New Hampshire’s winter landscape brings its own set of complications. The shortened daylight hours and cold temperatures can trigger seasonal depression, which compounds existing PTSD symptoms. Veterans who served in different climates might find that the stark winter environment triggers memories of difficult deployments or training exercises.
The isolation that winter weather can create in New England becomes particularly challenging for veterans who already struggle with feelings of disconnection and estrangement. These are core symptoms of PTSD that can worsen when external circumstances reinforce the internal sense of being cut off from others.
At Oasis Therapeutics, our veteran-owned clinic, with locations in Nashua and Concord, understands these seasonal challenges because we’ve lived them ourselves. Dr. PK Suchdev, Dr. James Mirazita, and Dr. Santharam Yadati—all recognized as New Hampshire Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctors—have developed treatment approaches specifically designed for veterans who experience holiday-triggered symptom exacerbations.
The Myth of Universal Holiday Joy
Research from the early 1980s identified one of the most damaging aspects of holiday PTSD triggers: the cultural myth that everyone else is having a wonderful time with loving family relationships (Peretti, 1980). This creates additional psychological pressure for veterans who might be struggling with family relationships affected by their service or dealing with the loss of military brothers and sisters who didn’t make it home.
Veterans often describe feeling like outsiders looking in during holiday celebrations. They see families gathered around tables, sharing stories and laughing, while they’re internally managing hypervigilance, emotional numbing, or intrusive memories. This disconnect between external expectations and internal reality can create intense feelings of isolation and shame.
The pressure to appear grateful and happy during holidays can be particularly difficult for veterans. Society expects them to be thankful for their freedom and family time, but PTSD doesn’t pause for gratitude. Veterans might feel guilty for not experiencing joy during times when they “should” be happy, creating a secondary layer of emotional distress.
Understanding the Physiological Response
PTSD involves actual changes in brain structure and function, particularly in areas responsible for threat detection and emotional regulation. During the holidays, the increased stimulation from social gatherings, changes in routine, and heightened emotions can overwhelm these already-taxed systems.
Veterans with PTSD often have hyperactive threat-detection systems that were life-saving in combat but become exhausting in civilian life. Holiday gatherings present multiple potential “threats” to monitor: unfamiliar guests, loud conversations, unexpected movements, and social expectations for engagement. This constant state of alertness during what should be relaxing celebrations can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion.
The disruption of normal sleep and eating patterns during the holidays can also destabilize mood and increase PTSD symptoms. Veterans who’ve worked hard to establish routines that support their mental health might find these structures completely upended during holiday weeks.
Advanced Treatment Options for Holiday Challenges
When traditional therapy and medications haven’t provided sufficient relief for holiday-triggered symptoms, advanced interventions can offer new hope. Our clinic specializes in innovative treatments like Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), which has shown particular promise for PTSD symptoms. This procedure targets the sympathetic nervous system’s overactivity that contributes to hypervigilance and anxiety responses.
For veterans experiencing treatment-resistant depression that worsens during the holiday season, treatments like intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy can provide rapid relief. These interventions work differently than traditional antidepressants, often providing symptom improvement within hours or days rather than weeks. This rapid response can be particularly valuable when dealing with acute holiday-triggered episodes.
Many veterans hesitate to seek help because they worry it may be seen as a sign of weakness. In reality, reaching out for help is an act of strength, resilience, and commitment to personal well-being. While every individual’s experience is different, many veterans find that addressing holiday-triggered symptoms helps them feel more grounded, more connected, and better able to fully participate in meaningful moments with loved ones during the holiday season.
Practical Steps for This Holiday Season
This week, veterans can take several concrete steps to prepare for potential holiday challenges. First, create a safety plan that includes identifying supportive people to contact if symptoms worsen, recognizing personal warning signs, and having an exit strategy for overwhelming social situations.
Second, maintain established routines as much as possible during holiday disruptions. This might mean continuing morning workouts, keeping regular sleep schedules, or preserving quiet time for reflection or meditation. These anchors can provide stability when everything else feels chaotic.
Third, communicate needs clearly with family members. This might involve explaining why certain sounds or situations are triggering, requesting seating positions that allow clear sight lines to exits, or establishing signals with trusted family members that indicate when additional support is needed.
The holiday season doesn’t have to be endured; it can be managed with proper preparation and support. Veterans who served our country deserve to experience peace and connection during this season, and with the right combination of preparation, understanding, and professional support when needed, that’s absolutely possible.
References
Peretti, P. (1980). Perceived primary affect and dimensional analysis of Christmas depressions. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 36(2), 450-452.
Thomson, J. L. (2021). PTSD perceptions in U.S. military members and their families: A qualitative study. SAGE Open, 11(2). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440211006393
VA National Center for PTSD. (2024). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.research.va.gov/topics/ptsd.cfm