Many have said it before, many times, in many ways. Leaving the military is challenging. Whether you do it on your terms, or or a less desirable way, or you do it after three years or twenty-three, it’s a challenge. You can do all that you can to prepare, or Read more…
Welcome to the middle of the night. It’s 1AM, and there’s a storm inside of you. There’s thunder in your heart, and lighting in your brain. Whatever happened, whenever it happened, really doesn’t matter: it’s the middle of a sleepless night and the storm is raging. It might be fear; Read more…
Every week, I’m going to have an opportunity to interact with anyone who may be listening to talk about #VeteranMentalHealth. I’ll talk about what’s been happening on the blog, and some of the stuff that’s going to be coming up. In this week’s talk, I cover: This week’s Tuesday post, Read more…
This article was originally featured on the online news outlet American Grit. You can see the original article here and find more articles written by and featuring veterans and those who support them. I don’t know about you, but I don’t enjoy being sick. It’s no fun. Headache, congestion, pain, Read more…
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Shell Shock. Battle Fatigue. Call it what you want, it’s that combination of psychoglogical and behaivoral reactions to exposure to traumatic events that people see in combat veterans. There is a lot of discussion, whether at the water cooler, kitchen table, social media, wherever, about what it is. Read more…
This was originally posted on the Military Spouse Advocacy Network blog, and I’m honored to be working with them! You can read the original post, and find more great information for those who support service members and veterans most, by going here. Just as the body goes into shock after a physical trauma, so does the Read more…
The impact of stigma against seeking help for mental health concerns is significant in the veteran population. Other than the barriers that exist externally, such as lack of access to care or societal perceptions about veterans in general and mental health specifically, the internal stigma against seeking help is one Read more…
Technology is amazing. It’s how I’ve been able to get my message out and has provided a voice to the previously voiceless. Over ten years ago, I had the honor of participating in an online community of Army Noncommissioned Officers called, at various times, SquadLeader.com, the NCO Website, and ultimately Read more…
When I talk about being “radical,” I don’t mean holding on to an extreme ideological viewpoint, nor do I mean being totally awesome from an Eighties standpoint. The concept of something “radical” that I’m talking about here is based on another definition of the word: relating to or affecting the fundamental Read more…
What veteran, who still holds true to the values they learned in the service, doesn’t want to help their buddy out? It’s the whole concept of “battle buddy”, of the Warrior Ethos: Never leave a fallen comrade. It’s something that’s instilled in us when we were in Basic Training or Read more…