Military Retirement Anxiety

Military Retirement anxiety, like law enforcement retirement anxiety, is different than civilian retirements.

WHY?

Military and law enforcement careers are forced into this cohesive bonding between employees, like nowhere else. Military live in far off places, worldwide, away from their partner and children at home. They face heart-breaking good-byes and long separations. They rely on their military family like most people don’t rely on co-workers. 

Military personnel live in a very regimented military lifestyle for years. They are subject to the brutalities of life that many of us never experience. They are brave, courageous, and often face danger daily. They rely on each other physically but also for emotional support.

That’s not bad, it’s great… they need to have each other back in so many stressful situations.

Then comes retirement… and those co-workers are gone. The military is no longer your life. You are free to do whatever you want to do.

BOOM. Gone.

Your normally too-busy days are now filled with nothingness. Nobody is asking you for advice, nobody is even around. 

BOOM. Gone.

You are back with family, but they don’t really understand what you’ve been through, not like someone who has been there with you. You feel lost without your disciplined lifestyle, despite craving this freedom for years.

You Are Not Alone!


Please Share Your Own Story on Military Retirements


Your comments will help others to think about military retirement, before leaping into the "depression at retirement" pit. Please share what happened to you so that others can plan ahead accordingly:


  • Did you fall into anxiety or depression when you retired?

  • How long did it last?

  • In your opinion, what helped you to break away from this anxious state?

  • How did you walk out that retirement door? Did you voluntarily retire, or did you leave because of a disability, employer forced you out, etc?

  • Tell your military story... why is it so difficult to leave it all behind?

Read about what other Visitors have to Say...

Click below to see contributions from other visitors on this topic:

My life is great…but it doesn’t feel great 
I retired from the Air Force almost a year ago, after 20 years of service. I was on the fast track to make E-9 until we arrived at my final duty station. …

Military Retirement: In a similar path as most of you, but I think I found my exit 
I just retired, 1 Aug 20, had just returned from a deployment and because of COVID-19 was delayed in returning. I was able to do my 14-day quarantine and …

Military and Just retired 
I'm glad I stumbled on this and to listen to familiar stories. It has been difficult trying to adjust. I had this great plan before I joined, after …

Retirement after Military 
Good discussion here. I am retiring 1 May, terminal leave starts next weekend, and have been wondering whether to return to my civilian job. 23 years …

The best laid plans of mice and men.... 
I received local papers from home for over a year prior to retiring to check on available jobs - although I wasn't sure on what I wanted to do - there …

Life After The Military 
I retired in June 2016 and moved to Oahu, Hawaii. Here is my advice: 1. Relax. Accept that military retirement is the start of something new. Think …

Military Retirement: You are not alone!  
My ex and father of our 7 month old baby is in an angry, reckless, volatile spiral as well. We met at the end of his 23 year active duty service with …

Military Retirement: Lost as well 
I'm really glad to see a forum with others like me. I retired from the Navy in 2013. I worked as a Command Career Counselor and it was the most rewarding …

Military Retirement: Beyond Confused and deeply hurt 
Reconnected with a man that i met when I was 14. I lived in Florida and he lived in North Carolina. We dated long distance for a year and saw one every …

Retirement: Is that all there is? 
Health forced retirement 10 years ago. I also found out that since I was a Vietnam Veteran i was eligible for funds besides Medicare. It took a few years …

Army Retirement after 22 years 
I'm retiring after a 22-year AD/NG mixed career with about 11 active. I enlisted at 18 years old and I'm 40 now on to the second half. I feel anxiety …

Retired from the Navy... now what? 
I retired from the US Navy in 1992. I moved from job to job, never staying at one very long. I lose sleep, and dream about the Navy on an almost nightly …

Medically Retired from Military 
Well... it's been 93 days of leave and now. I'm 4 days into retirement. After serving for over 14 years, it's finally over. I've had a difficult career …

Military Retirement: I feel exactly the same... 
I felt >>Read Jay's Story on tghe bottom of Military Retirement Anxiety page EVERYTHING you wrote on this blog. I'm 42 yrs old, 20 yr retirement, …

Retired: Life After the Military - Who Am I??? 
I'm 38 years old and recently retired from the military after 21 years of service. Sounds great huh? I thought so too at first. But not long after …

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