Four Veterans Explain How Treatment Changed Their Lives
3-minute read
Four Veterans Explain How Treatment Changed Their Lives
3-minute read
Many Veterans want to unlock their potential to become healthier versions of themselves, no matter where they are in life’s journey. But how does a Veteran do that if they are experiencing mental health challenges with conditions such as depression and anxiety, or with the ongoing impact of past trauma?
For National Recovery Month in September, 4 Veterans share how mental health treatment helped them move forward and enrich their lives. As part of VA’s This Version of Me campaign for National Recovery Month, these Veterans also talk about what drives and defines them today as they embrace their present and new opportunities.
Stefan, U.S. Marine Corps (served from 2010–2015)
This version of Stefan draws energy and finds happiness from physical activity and nature—he has a special passion for wakesurfing—and from being surrounded by people he loves.
How mental health treatment helped:
Joining the Marines felt like a calling, but Stefan questioned the purpose of his deployment to Afghanistan, which made it especially difficult to deal with a friend’s death while he was there. “Anything traumatic like that will have an impact on anyone,” he says.
Returning to civilian life after service, he almost always felt on guard or prepared to attack. After beginning treatment, he was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. Therapy taught him ways to manage the symptoms, freeing him to enjoy his friends, family, and activities.
“If you’ve ever questioned it [seeking mental health treatment], if you’ve ever thought about it, it’s one of the best things that I’ve ever done,” he says. “I would be doing a disservice to my brothers and sisters not wanting to encourage them to take that next step.”
Jo, U.S. Air Force (served from 1991–2018)
After serving in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years, this version of Jo found a new source of camaraderie and support by bonding with women Veterans of all different eras and service branches. She also found a sense of peace through activities like journaling and nature walks.
How mental health treatment helped:
A terrorist bombing of her barracks in Saudi Arabia reinforced Jo’s commitment to remaining in military service, but it also contributed to her development of PTSD symptoms such as anxiety and hypervigilance, which isolated her from family. Women’s therapy groups helped put her on a path to reconnect with family and discover new sources of self-care.
Says Jo of her women Veterans group: “Although we were of different eras and different services, sharing our stories with other people and giving them hope is actually also therapeutic and helpful.”
Kurt, U.S. Army (served from 2001–2006)
This version of Kurt learned how to put himself first by taking care of his body and mind through workouts, yoga, and meditation, which also helped him become more open-minded. The U.S. Army Veteran found another way to serve: as a police officer.
How mental health treatment helped:
When he came home after sustaining a severe injury during combat in Iraq, Kurt experienced survivor guilt, anxiety, and depression. He didn’t feel like anyone could relate to him, and he was skeptical about therapy. But Kurt says talk therapy and exposure therapy taught him how to understand different perspectives, helped him manage his triggers, and eased his burdens.
“I felt that a weight had really been taken off my shoulders,” he says. “It made everyday life better.”
Kelly, U.S. Navy (served from 2001–2006)
After transitioning to civilian life, this version of Kelly found a new passion in farming and a new purpose in founding a project to help low-income youths and families.
How mental health treatment helped:
Kelly was affected by depression and anxiety long after transitioning out of the Navy. She describes her therapy as transformative, helping her process past trauma and rediscover her self-worth.
“It was like releasing the toxins, releasing the buildup of the fear or the rage or the overwhelming feelings of shame,” Kelly says. “What therapy does for me is allows me to say what I need to say, the way that I need to say it.”
