Replies

Huldah - thanks for this.

What you posted is true. No matter how down you’re feeling, there are resources to help. They don’t have to be VA. There are other resources and organizations available to help not just veterans, but family members or anyone.

The hardest step to take is the first one. Tell someone. You can ‘transmit’ all the signals to everyone you know and then wonder why they don’t demand you talk to someone. The problem is, we’re all proud. Nobody gets it, right? Nobody would understand, right? I’m weak if I ask for help, right?

No. They may not get it, but they do understand and it’s not weak to ask for help. When you’re in training on an obstacle course (or “confidence course” as they called them in my time) you have to rely on the team to get over the wall. Everyone helps the other.

You may not be on a team now. but there are people out there who care about you. Not just your family and loved ones. People that don’t even know you, people you’ve never met.

Just like you would jump in when you see someone in need, regardless of whether you knew them or not. You’d risk yourself for any sister or brother. Same thing.

What you have to do is talk to someone. That’s hard.

I did this. When I was down the point of driving to an isolated place where my loved ones would not have to clean up the mess or see the aftermath, and where I had chosen the gun and the particular bullet, and I had been self-medicating (as they say) with alcohol for more than a decade, when I was at my lowest point...I asked for help.

The doctor said, “I’m sure you would rather have me carve out an organ without anesthesia than tell me these things.” He was right. And he talked to me some more and walked me down a hall to talk to the shrink.

The shrink was a nice, caring lady. I didn’t know her or the doc from Adam. And they didn’t know me. Didn’t matter. They helped me

Ask someone that can help you. It may be your doc, it may be the crisis phone line. They’re not going to come and bundle you up in a straight jacket or call you weak.

You can drop as many hints as you like to the people around you. They will worry but other than that, you probably won’t get what you need.

You need to flat out tell someone that you need some help dealing with things. Straight up. Be honest. Like I said, that’s hard.

For those around veterans, smack them in the face with this. Don’t just say, “you need professional help”. Say, “see this person” or “call this number”. And back it up. Be a drill sergeant - make them see someone or talk to someone. Make them.

The bottom line is eating a bullet or swallowing that bottle of pills is not an answer. Please. If these things have even crossed your mind, talk to someone who can help.

Kit.

blurry monitor. I’m so glad you are here! One thing about the people around you, and the guys in the military, one person gets one sign, another person gets a different sign. Putting them all together is hard.

When it comes to dialing a phone, I have a panic attack just thinking about calling my family! How many guys are yeah, no, talkers on the phone? (my son and brothers)

Question, how can we find them? I want a billion dollar campaign. :)

Cohen Veterans Network is FREE to vets AND THEIR FAMILIES

https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/clinics/

Thank you for the advice, too.