Understanding stress during military transition – and how to manage it

Many of the qualities developed during military service — discipline, resilience and adaptability — can also help service leavers build healthy long-term habits once they recognise the impact stress can have on their wellbeing.

Leaving the Armed Forces can be one of the biggest adjustments many service personnel will face. Alongside the excitement of a new chapter can come uncertainty around employment, finances, identity, family life and adapting to civilian routines — all of which can place significant pressure on both mental and physical wellbeing.

Stress is something everyone experiences and, in many situations, it can actually be helpful. In military life, stress responses are often essential for staying alert, focused and prepared in demanding environments. However, problems can develop when stress becomes ongoing and the body remains in a constant state of “fight or flight” for long periods after leaving service.

For veterans and service leavers, prolonged stress may contribute to fatigue, poor sleep, low mood, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and digestive issues. Adjusting from the structure and routine of military life to civilian life can also affect motivation, confidence and overall wellbeing.

Nutrition can play an important role in supporting the body during periods of stress. According to Nicola Moore, registered nutritional therapist and Fellow of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, high stress levels can increase cravings for sugar, caffeine and convenience foods, particularly during busy or uncertain periods. While these may provide short-term energy, they can also contribute to blood sugar crashes and place additional strain on the body.

Simple lifestyle habits may help support resilience during transition from the Forces into civilian life. Eating balanced meals containing protein, fibre and healthy fats, reducing excessive caffeine intake, improving sleep routines and staying physically active can all support the body’s stress response. Spending time outdoors, maintaining social connections and setting realistic goals may also help improve mental wellbeing.

Many of the qualities developed during military service — discipline, resilience and adaptability — can also help service leavers build healthy long-term habits once they recognise the impact stress can have on their wellbeing.

At the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), the focus is on training practitioners to improve wellbeing through personalised diet and lifestyle strategies. Validated by the University of Portsmouth, ION offers a range of courses for those wishing to become qualified nutritional therapists, including the Cert HE in Personalised Diet and Health, BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy degree, and Graduate Diploma in Integrative Functional Nutrition.

ION is also an ELCAS-approved provider, allowing eligible service leavers to use their Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) towards selected courses.

For more information visit:
https://www.ion.ac.uk/campaign/elcas