For Veterans With PTSD, Pandemic ‘Feels a Lot Like Wartime' Some veterans have spent years working to overcome their trauma. The COVID-19 crisis has thrust them back to their darkest days Published March 8, 2021 Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images The pandemic has put unprecedented strain on the mental health of people from all walks of life. But the crisis has been particularly agonizing for some military veterans already suffering from PTSD, NBC News reports. The massive loss of life and ever-present fear of an unseen threat have been triggers for veterans grappling with combat-related trauma. And while isolation is a natural tendency for many with PTSD, experts say it can be incredibly harmful for treatment and recovery in the long term.