Mental illness is common and can affect anyone, including serving and ex-members of the armed forces and their families. While some people cope by getting support from their family and friends, or by getting help with other issues in their lives, others need clinical care and treatment. Although it's completely normal to experience anxiety or depression after traumatic events, this can be tough to deal with. Furthermore, the culture of the armed forces can make seeking help for a mental health problem appear difficult. Some people may not experience some of these symptoms until a few years after leaving the armed forces. They may also delay seeking help for a number of reasons, such as thinking that they can cope, fear of criticism, or feeling that therapists won't understand.