Every year, Memorial Day marks a solemn time of reflection, remembrance, and recognition of those who have died in military service to the United States. For many, it is a patriotic holiday filled with flags, parades, and barbecues. But for others, Memorial Day is a deeply emotional experience, bringing up grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression. This article explores the mental health impact of Memorial Day and offers strategies to care for your emotional well-being during this time.
The Mental Health Impact of Memorial Day
While Memorial Day is intended to honor fallen soldiers, the emotional toll it takes on veterans, active-duty service members, their families, and trauma survivors is often overlooked. The holiday can be a trigger for individuals coping with:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Grief and loss
- Survivor’s guilt
- Depression and anxiety
- Substance use relapse
For veterans, Memorial Day may stir up painful memories of combat, lost comrades, and unresolved trauma. For civilians, particularly those who have experienced their own form of trauma or loss, the themes of death and remembrance can bring emotions to the surface that are difficult to manage.
Why Memorial Day Can Be Difficult for Everyone
It’s important to understand that you don’t have to be a veteran to find Memorial Day emotionally challenging. The holiday can evoke:
- Unprocessed grief for loved ones lost to illness, suicide, accidents, or violence
- Feelings of disconnection or isolation if you don’t relate to patriotic celebrations
- Reactivation of past trauma from childhood, relationships, or witnessing death
- Internal conflict between honoring tradition and managing personal mental health boundaries
The expectation to celebrate, gather, or appear “fine” during a national holiday can lead many people to suppress their feelings, which can intensify mental health symptoms.
How to Care for Your Mental Health on Memorial Day
Whether you are a veteran, a trauma survivor, or someone simply feeling heavy this weekend, it’s okay to prioritize your mental health. Here are strategies to help you navigate Memorial Day with mindfulness and care.
1. Acknowledge Your Emotions
You don’t have to be strong, stoic, or silent. Give yourself permission to feel what comes up. Naming your emotions—whether sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness—is the first step in processing them.
Tip: Write in a journal, talk to a trusted friend, or engage with a therapist to express what Memorial Day brings up for you.
2. Create Your Own Rituals of Remembrance
If traditional Memorial Day events feel too painful or disconnected, create personal rituals that align with your values and needs. Light a candle, create art, take a quiet walk in nature, or write a letter to someone you’ve lost.
Tip: Rituals can help transform grief into a meaningful expression of love and remembrance.
3. Limit Exposure to Triggers
Media coverage, war-themed films, and social media posts can be overwhelming. Be selective about what you consume.
Tip: Use your phone’s screen time limits, unfollow triggering accounts temporarily, and spend more time offline doing grounding activities.
4. Set Boundaries Around Social Gatherings
You are not obligated to attend every BBQ, family event, or community gathering. Check in with yourself and ask what feels nourishing versus depleting.
Tip: Practice saying, “Thank you for the invite, but I need some quiet time this weekend to take care of my mental health.”
5. Seek Support If You Need It
There is no shame in reaching out for help. Whether you need a therapist, a support group, or a crisis line, know that resources are available.
Tip: The Veterans Crisis Line (988, then Press 1) and SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) are open 24/7.
6. Use Grounding and Coping Techniques
Grounding practices can bring your nervous system back to safety. Try:
- Deep belly breathing
- Holding an ice cube
- Walking barefoot on grass
- Doing a guided meditation or body scan
Tip: Apps like Insight Timer, Calm, or Headspace can offer quick access to soothing tools.
7. Honor the Complexity of Your Experience
Grief and gratitude can coexist. You can feel sad and still love your country. You can need space and still respect others’ ways of remembering. Your experience is valid.
Tip: Give yourself permission to feel ambivalence and avoid all-or-nothing thinking.
Psychedelic Therapy: A New Avenue for Healing
For individuals living with treatment-resistant PTSD, anxiety, or depression—including many veterans and trauma survivors—psychedelic-assisted therapy is emerging as a powerful alternative. Therapies using ketamine, MDMA (in clinical trials), and psilocybin have shown promising results in helping people safely revisit, reprocess, and integrate traumatic experiences.
At Psyberspace Therapy, we specialize in trauma-informed care that includes psychedelic integration and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for individuals navigating emotional pain that hasn’t responded to traditional treatment. If Memorial Day has stirred something inside you, consider this a signpost that healing is possible.
Learn more about our trauma recovery and psychedelic therapy services at www.psyberspacetherapy.com
Final Thoughts
Memorial Day can be a day of solemn reflection, personal pain, and meaningful connection. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. You deserve care, support, and healing—this weekend and every day. Prioritize your mental health, honor your truth, and take the steps that help you feel safe, grounded, and seen.
Ready to take the next step in your healing journey? Visit www.psyberspacetherapy.com to book a consultation, learn more about trauma-informed psychedelic therapy, and access free mental health resources.
