Do you know a veteran? Are you a veteran? Chances are, we all know someone who has served in the U.S. military.
We often take for granted the safety that surrounds us now and throughout our lives. We owe a major debt of gratitude for their service and for their lives!
Did you know that over 1.2 million American men and women have died in the service of their country in all of the wars and conflicts since the Declaration of Independence wa
s signed in 1776? There are currently an estimated 23.4 million veterans in the United States, and about 2.2 million military service members and 3.1 million immediate family members.
That’s a huge group of people! Though the common man may be acquainted with current and past service-members, they may not be aware of the initial reasons for serving and the life-changing impacts of their time in noble military service. Many do not understand the culture of military life amongst service-members and what one must endure to join and serve, not knowing if injury, disability, loss of life, changes in relationships, and lost opportunities will occur.
These concerns alone are powerful when considering that these selfless servants have given up power over these issues to protect their loved-ones as well as people they don’t even know.
Why do I bring this up as a mental health issue? Because, nearly 1 in 10 Americans currently living are service-members or are closely connected with service-members. Many of these service members quietly rendered the greatest service and humbly returned to lives in their communities where others “just don’t understand.”
If you are a veteran or service-member, remember this:
• Your service was real and the life you gave was (time, sorrow, pain, sweat, tears, private victories) valid!
• If you’ve never been thanked, please accept the sincere gratitude of those who value your service as well as those who don’t know how to say it. You made a difference!
• Though you may feel alone in your understanding of what horrors war can entail, there are brothers and sisters in the community who know your pain and some are willing to share that burden with you.
• If you still feel the hurts of service, know that there are people who are willing to help, even if it is just to be present with you.
• If it feels like bad feelings related to your service will not go away, remember that it can get better – look how much you survived and have overcome!
• A wise man, Marvin J. Ashton, once said, “It’s not the speed at which you are going, but the direction that matters…”; as you keep putting efforts into feeling better, you are making progress.
If your friend, loved-one, or neighbor is a veteran or service member, keep these concepts in mind:
• Consider the true sacrifice this person has endured for the cause of freedom and continue to express sincere gratitude for their lives.
• Understand that one of the reactions to the trauma of war is the self-preserving isolation that occurs when someone has endured hurtful experiences (the mind and emotions unconsciously “shut off” to prevent painful feelings and thoughts) and often impact relationships (for example, in order to avoid painful feelings, happy feelings are turned off too).
• Be patient and constant with this individual as they work through their feelings; it’s a lifetime of recovery and each step forward is a step in the right direction.
To the Veteran and Current Service-Member, thank you! We would not enjoy living in the greatest nation on the earth without your devotion.
If you experience worrisome thoughts, contact the Veterans’ Crisis Line @ 1-800-273-8255 then press “1.”
References:
• Veterans and Military Families (no date) samhsa.gov/veterans-military-families
• Mental Health (no date). mentalhealth.va.gov/
Let Senior Care help you or a loved one.
Call 601-703-4917 for more information. We may have resources to help and we have a location nearby to serve you.
Spencer Blalock, DHA, LCSW, BCD, is the clinical specialist with Senior Care – a service of Rush Health Systems.
