Veteran Mental Health: Breaking the Silence

A statement I came across – We’ve lost more to Veterans Suicide that we did in most wars to include WW I, ‘Nam, and the War on Terror.

Pat Benatar sang Love is Battlefield.

Tim Lahaye wrote a book called Battlefield of the Mind.

What do the two things have in common. They both look at what happens between our ears which leads me to the topic of this blog post.

As some of you might be aware, May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

I’m going to be the first to admit. I’ve taken advantage of mental health services offered by VA and the private sector. And when you admit things like to people, they start looking at you funny. And that’s probably the reason a lot of people don’t seek help. People don’t want to be thought of in those terms and that’s sad.

Tragically, it’s the people were closest to who would look at us differently. In my case, it was after I came back from the Gulf War. Now, I can’t say a lot of my issues came from there, or even as a police officer. It was the sum of that and then some. Add to that someone who suffers from something called Cognitive Distortions and then I wonder why I had issues.

The surprising part is a lot of people suffer from that particular issue. Stripped down to nuts and bolts it’s making a mountain out of molehill. We take one or two things, no matter if their true or not, and reach a conclusion (usually faulty) from it.

Here’s an example. You’re at work, in a meeting, and you say something. What you say may not be acknowledged. That makes you feel unimportant. If I’m unimportant, my bosses must think I’m an idiot. Conclusion, I’m going to be fired.

Think that often enough and you’re in a full-blown depression. I know. I’ve been there a time or two. And looking back, I’ve talked myself into it.

What I learned is there’s tell-tale physiological reactions I get. there’s a sinking pit in my stomach. I take a breath. Then I look at me. What am I thinking. What emotional response did I just have. Usually there’s fear associated with it. I want to run or I feel the need to fight.

Those are clues that I’m having one of those Cognitive Distortion moments.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 10:5 that we’re supposed to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Paul would have made one heck of therapist.

When we apply what he wrote to what goes on between our ears, here’s the things we can learn:

• Know what the thought(s) are doing to you. In my case it was seeing the thought for what it was. I got the physiological cues to know it. Fear doesn’t come from God so the thought was based on me reading into an event or statement.
• Let the thought go. Since I’m a writer, guess where my fears and issues wind up. But there’s nothing wrong with talking it out with someone. Funny part of it is once you put it out there, you start seeing it’s not Everest you’re facing. It’s a bump in the road.
• Memorize the truth. You have these thoughts. You probably always will. But now that you know it, you can do something about it. Emerson Day has a song that illustrates this perfectly. I prefer the metal version of the song. Here’s a lyric from the song I’m including:
  • When fear like a viper strikes and worry starts to creep
    I know that ain’t my Father’s voice, it could only be
    That liar in my ear trying to make me believe
    So I’m calling him out in the name of the Lord
    Listen when I speak
• Pray constantly about it and stay on you guard against it. Knowledge is power and this is rarely a one time thing. It’s a fault in how we think and as a result, how we see the world. I always reflect on it because to deny it or think I’m over it would be a mistake. It will be back again and again.

If you ever find yourself drifting off into this, talk to someone.

Talk to a wise friend.

Talk to a pastor, priest, rabbi, or leader of your faith.

Call your local mental health.

Go to ER.

Call 911.

If you’re a veteran – Call 988.

Since I talk a lot about veterans, I’m making a pledge. From this day forward, I will always have VA contact information posted on my site and blog posts. I don’t care if I writing about kittens that day, the info will be there.

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If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified Veterans Crisis Line responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans themselves. This service is private, free, and available 24/7.

Here’s how you can connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder, anytime day or night:

• Call 988 and select 1.
• Text 838255.
• Start a confidential chat.
• If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-799-4889.

If you’re not a veteran or wish you can also take these actions:

• Call 911.
• Go to the nearest emergency room.
• Go directly to your nearest VA medical center. It doesn’t matter what your discharge status is or if you’re enrolled in VA health care. if not a veteran, go to your nearest hospital.
  Find your nearest VA medical center