So the transition experience, I'm still struggling with that. I don't feel like the military properly prepares you for that transition to get out and that was the biggest problem. Where do I go from here?
My first name is Tpau. I was in the Navy from 1999 till 2020. I was an Aviation Maintenance Administrationman. I was a young eighteen-year-old, first time away from home. I didn't really recognize that I had mental health issues. I knew I had a problem, but I was afraid to seek help. I just didn't want to be seen as weak. I would say about 18 years in or so, I got into a car accident and that subsequently led me to having a back surgery. I got into that accident, then I had another accident, and that led to another back surgery. So it was just, I was dealing with chronic pain.
I couldn't stand up for a long time. I couldn't sit down for a long time. So the hardest thing to do is to actually seek help. I didn't really find out the extent of my issues until I actually had my C&P exam by the VA. And when I talked to their medical professional, it went a little bit deeper. And then when I got with the therapist I talked to regularly ... And she's my lifesaver. So I tell anybody, if you're having any kind of mental health issues, get a good therapist. They will help you navigate life.
I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, PTSD, ADHD, anxiety and mood disorder as well. Some of the symptoms I experienced was lack of sleep. I really didn't sleep well. I wasn't eating properly. I would get mad. I would just snap at times. I would get angry. I would just have fits of crying. I didn't know what it was, and I would just get upset. The other thing was when my drinking increased, and I just realized, hey, there's something really going on here.
Fortunately, I curtailed the drinking and since I've been under treatment for mental health, I've been doing so much better in life. So the types of treatments I received is of course the speaking with my therapist about twice a week. I'm on medication. The other therapies I received was learning about meditation and take a deep breath, reevaluate things, and then move forward instead of jumping the gun and making a potential bad decision. I have a good core group of friends, my two daughters and my grandson. So that's my support group. I love Mardi Gras. I ride in a couple parades. I like to do the decorating for Mardi Gras. I'm in two different crews.
We have specialty throws, so I like to decorate these throws. I just ride in the crews. I'm the one that's throwing the stuff off the floats, but I also go to parades. The parades are nothing you'll ever see. I tell anybody, if you ever get a chance to come to New Orleans, come for Mardi Gras. It's just like no other time of the year. It's just my second Christmas.
Now I'm able to actually process emotions and thoughts a little bit better thanks to therapy. So I'm able to have better relationships with people. Be yourself. Don't think you have to fit yourself into a box. Be yourself. As long as you can be a better you, you can help other people. If you feel like you're struggling, seek mental health.
