This is the kind of post that takes a shot of whiskey to write. Only, alcohol gives me migraines, so fuck that. We're gonna talk about something that many of you live with and most of you will never be able to find words for... and that's having witnessed or caused the death of children … Continue reading When Children are the Victims of War
What to Do When You Just Can’t Talk About It
It lines your inside, this presence you've become so familiar with that you're not sure where you end and it begins. It's just... there. Always there. Images. Scents. Sounds. Fear. Memories. Pain. You try to shut it out. It returns. You lock it up inside. It gets out. It wants you to stare into its deceiving eyes. And when you … Continue reading What to Do When You Just Can’t Talk About It
Combat Veterans Ask: Can I Be Forgiven?
First off, let me tell you this: forgiveness is a human issue. Not just a God one. There is ample discussion of forgiveness in religion and many sources to find those discussions. Instead of diving into theological viewpoints, I'm going to bring it all down to one fact: We are all of One Source. One … Continue reading Combat Veterans Ask: Can I Be Forgiven?
On Fallujah’s Fall: Was it Worth It?
The public hears about Fallujah falling back into terrorists' hands and it's a blip on their stream of distraction. They don't give a shit. You hear it and it puts into question the reason why you continue to pay a high price for Iraq 24 hours a day. Why your life is what it is … Continue reading On Fallujah’s Fall: Was it Worth It?
Is it Possible to Heal After War?
If you are reading this, chances are you or someone you love is hurting. If you're a warrior, you may be feeling lost, broken, and uncertain if you'll ever find a way back to a sense of wholeness. You're tired of carrying so much weight on your heart, tired of others thinking you're fine when … Continue reading Is it Possible to Heal After War?
Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 1
One of the most challenging aspects combat vets face when coming home is the gap between who they are now and who their loved ones expect them to be. Warriors say that you can't translate much of what they've been through, because there is no substitute for being there. And there is deep truth in … Continue reading Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 1
Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 2
If you haven't read Part 1, please do. This is part of a discussion designed to help combat vets help others understand them better. If this article resonates with you, pass it along to a loved one. Here is what I hear from vets and what they are often unable to share with others: 1.) … Continue reading Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 2
Intrusive Thoughts & What You Can Control
The only thing in life we ever actually have control over is our perspective. How we think and what we choose to believe. If you struggle with intrusive thoughts, it may feel as if you have no control. They intrude and interrupt at will, as if your mind is disconnected from the rest of you. … Continue reading Intrusive Thoughts & What You Can Control
Survivor’s Guilt
Why are you still here? You survived. They didn't. Why? You know it just happened. There was no rhyme or reason. They were with you one moment, gone the next. And you were left alive. You'd take their place in a heartbeat to spare the agony you saw in their loved one's eyes. A hole … Continue reading Survivor’s Guilt
Combat Veterans: Handling Rage and Difficult Emotions
There's a perception out there that it's not okay to express sadness, fear, uncertainty, loss, or guilt. They make you vulnerable, they leave you exposed, they give your power away, right? Anger is okay, though. Anger represents a form of power, though it often is a cover emotion for all of the ones that aren't … Continue reading Combat Veterans: Handling Rage and Difficult Emotions
The Role Your Energy and Soul Play in Healing
There is a myth that says it is possible to come back from war and be unchanged. It's perpetuated by how we've pigeon-holed whether or not you are affected by combat by measuring whether or not you have PTSD. It's an easy-out for our culture and an almost certain condemnation to isolation and suffering for … Continue reading The Role Your Energy and Soul Play in Healing
A Warrior’s Call to Courage After War
How do you see yourself? Don't let your wounds and fears and feeling stuck in this perpetual hell of the unknown take away your identity. Don't let it erase the truth that you are incredibly strong, resilient, tenacious, brave. Don't let a diagnosis replace who you are. You are not your diagnosis. You are not … Continue reading A Warrior’s Call to Courage After War