With May being Mental Health Awareness month I wanted to do a podcast episode highlighting Veterans and Mental Health. What better way to do that than have an open discussion about mental health with a mental health advocate and veteran. So I brought back Tab Bartley to the show. She was a guest on episode 95 sharing her experience in the Marine Corps as she was running for Indiana State Senate. I can’t wait to share this great conversation about mental health.
Veterans and Mental Health
Tab and I both served in the military and both have experienced PTSD post service. We share our experience of service and what challenges we faced in getting help and finding support to find tools along with our process of getting a claim with the VA.
Amanda’s Story to help
I reached out shortly after coming home from Afghanistan because I knew something was off. The person I initially talked to told me to give it time and that I would be fine. I clung to those words for years before finally going to get help. My next big step was group therapy through Celebrate Recovery. I realized that I did need to talk through issues and deal with challenges from my past. Group therapy helped me get on the road to healing but I still needed more support and I got one on one therapy from Cohen Veterans Network. That therapy gave me the tools I needed to be able to recognize what was happening in my body. I also learned how to reflect on my triggers.
Tab Story to help
Tab knew she needed help and when she was at an appointment at the VA she brought her husband. She knew she needed mental health help, but it was hard to ask for it. As the appointment was wrapping up her husband advocated for her by sharing that she needed mental health help. She shared how hard it was to say the words she needed help and was thankful he was there to help her.
Tools in your toolbox
We both discussed different tools we use to help navigate life. Meditation, grounding, focus exercises, ABC charts. There are so many ways to get help and so often your body is giving you triggers you don’t even recognize until someone can help point them out to you.
VA claim
One thing Tab and I both experienced in the VA claim process was that there was a focus on childhood trauma. While we both have experiences from childhood that have affected our mental health we also know that there are incidents from military service that are affecting us today. Because of my work with a therapist I was able to articulate how certain events were triggered by military service and it had a positive effect on my rating. Where Tab did not and got stuck in a focus on childhood trauma instead of the things she dealt with in the military.
Mental health is not an easy topic to discuss and getting help can be very difficult. If you are struggling and need someone to talk to feel free to reach out to Tab or I. Also know if you are post 9/11 vet you can receive free counseling from the Cohen Veterans Network. They have offices across the country that can help you.
