America has always been shaped by our resilience. We’ve endured multiple wars: one that gave us our freedom, one that threatened to tear us apart, and two that involved attacks on US soil.
We’ve faced economic depression, fought against civil injustices, and worked for a better tomorrow. Even now, as we face an unprecedented pandemic that has turned our lives upside down, we are working together and taking care of each other.
I have these annoying visitors that pop in occasionally. They’ve randomly shown up for the last 2.5 years and seem to do so at the most inopportune time. Before you think I am a terrible friend, I’m not talking about actual people.
I’m talking about anxiety and panic attacks.
Have you ever been tortured by those two? I had never dealt with them before in my life. I did have some interaction with them equally as the annoying cousin known as postpartum depression after having both my boys, but never anxiety or panic attacks.
Until one morning in November 2018.
Hello listeners! On today’s exciting episode we talk with Dr. Nick Polizzi, Action Officer for the Real Warriors Campaign, a DOD public awareness initiative to reduce mental health stigma and encourage service members, veterans, and families to seek care.
Welcome to another empowering AWN episode! Join the convo with milspouse Kelsey Madden about her life journey, which includes alcohol addiction.
Gonna be honest, I’m hoping that by using the word “spring” in my blog title the universe will decide that we can be done with winter. But, since it’s currently supposed to snow a few more times in the next week, I’m not holding out any hope.
Onto the topic at hand!
Maybe you’re wondering if by “Spring Cleaning” I mean things like vacuuming and dusting, or dishes and yardwork, easy stuff like that.. No way I’m letting you guys off that easy! While scrubbing floors and toilets like Cinderella sounds amazing (no, it doesn’t), I actually mean the type of deep life cleaning that can be painful, but incredibly necessary. Sometimes you’ve just got to purge all the extra crap in order to make room for the stuff that actually matters!
Military spouses are some of the strongest people, but sometimes the strongest thing we can do is to ask for help, especially for our mental health.
When John Dale returned home from Iraq in the fall of 2005, all seemed fine.
“He didn’t show any signs of PTSD or any physical injuries,” recalls his wife, Sarah. “He was just happy to be home and alive.”
But once what Sarah refers to as “the adrenaline from combat” subsided, PTSD symptoms came bubbling to the surface. Multiple physical injuries also began to appear. And Sarah’s role as a caregiver began.
By 2014, the year Sarah first became involved with Hope For The Warriors as the recipient of a Caregiver Scholarship to attend graduate school, John’s PTSD evolved to the point that he medically retired from the military.
Let’s be real—if something has to be done, what is the point of letting it cause us anxiety? That won’t make the task any more enjoyable or help us be complete it any faster.
And if I am lucky enough to read a chapter or two of my personal development book before my family wakes up, I squeeze that in too.
Starting my day off right is only the beginning.
Every month, without fail, I struggle to think of what I should write about.
What kind of profound piece of enlightenment can I possibly share with AWN readers?
My personal Jiminy Cricket strikes again, offering a moment of clarity (usually, right after a moment of absolute chaos). Lately, I have noticed many of my decisions and reactions are hugely impacted by what kind of environment I am surrounding myself with, as well as the useful or harmful voice in my head. What shows am I watching? What books am I reading? What music am I rocking out to?
And most importantly, what people am I allowing to infiltrate my tiny spot in the universe? Each answer can have a precise impact on how my mood, mindset for decisions, and general outlook on life.
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