Operation Enduring Freedom

After the attack on our country on September 11, 2001, President Bush declared war on terrorism.  This war was called Operation Enduring Freedom or OEF.  I was serving my country during this time.  Currently, the United States has 30,000 soldiers in Afghanistan.  Thirty-one soldiers died a few days ago and since then my mind has been heavy.

Do the citizens of this country realize that we are still at war?  Are people just tired of hearing about it on the news?  My sister, bless her heart, never followed the news even when I was enlisted. It saddens me to think that the freedoms that are fought for by the brave are taken for granted by the cowardly.  Nobody seems to care unless terror hits their neighborhood.  Then, all of a sudden, they are patriotic.

I feel for all of the children, mother's, father's, sister's, brother's, grandma's, grandpa's, husbands, and wives who mourn the loss of their soldier(s).  War affects everybody whether they are paying attention or not.  Economically, emotionally, mentally, and physically those that are left behind will struggle.  This struggle will radiate outwards into society.  May God Bless America.

Substance Abuse Is Cyclic and Destructive

The worst thing for someone suffering from anxiety or depression is to abuse substances.  Drugs and alcohol make a person feel good at the time of consumption but the aftermath is painful.  This leads to the constant need to have a "downer" type substance to lean on.  Anxiety is worsened with depressants.  Not too many people know this.

Veterans will not be treated through mental health at Veterans Affairs hospitals for substance abuse if they are using.  The first step towards getting better is getting off of the substances.  This would start with an inpatient program where the individual would be required to attend narcotics and/or alcoholics anonymous.  There would also be group and individual therapy sessions.

When we were children, there wasn't anything that we had to consume in order to make our days better.  Why would American adults think that relying on anything that heavily is anything but strange?  Talk about creating your own prison.  We must free ourselves from the chains of stress, anxiety, and depression by helping ourselves.  Healing is a lot of work and isn't for everybody.  You have to want it.

Most veterans acquired drinking problems while serving their country.  Long deployments to third world countries, fear of dying, witnessing death, broken families, PTSD, TBI, missing limbs, and reintegration difficulties all feed a need to numb the pain.  Drinking or drugging is not the solution.  If you feel like you are on a carousel... get off.  Remember that you are not the only one that is going through something so horrible.  There are options.  The best treatment I received was through the PTSD center for women and the family counselor in mental health at VA Palo Alto.  Their services and facility are superior to any VA hospital I have seen yet.  Their web address is: www.paloalto.va.gov

Mental Health Solutions for Veterans

I have researched ad nauseum, solutions for those suffering from PTSD.  Whether the diagnosis is from combat stress, domestic violence, witnessing a crime, or a tragic event like an earthquake, there are ways to relieve the symptoms in conjunction with medication.

One that I strongly believe in is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or EMDR.  I would like to recommend the book "EMDR" by Francine Shapiro, PH.D. and Margot Silk Forrest.  There is a center here in Colorado Springs, CO that is known nationwide for its practice of EMDR with combat veterans.  Nobody likes to feel sick and unable to do basic tasks around the house. That is no way to live.

Another activity that relieves my anxiety are hikes in open areas.  Hyper-vigilance, or the need to  know who and what is around you, can be exhausting and induce a feeling of nausea.  I like to take my dogs on walks to areas that I know are safe and open.  The least amount of trees the better.  I have also found that short stints of gardening around my house on a summer day helped me relax.  I had to limit that time to one or two hours at the most.  Otherwise, anxiety would kick in and I would have to lay down and take a nap.

Owning dogs has played a role in my over-all health.  Physically and mentally I have benefited from playing, hiking, and laughing with my animals.  The dogs have forced me to get outdoors when I clearly preferred to stay in.  Getting outdoors is great for reducing anxiety as long as you are not in a crowded group setting.  I steer clear of shopping malls during busy hours, fairs, amusement parks, and Walmart on the weekends or nights.  Know your limits.

Eating, sleeping, and exercise are a must.  Your body needs balanced meals for good neurological health.  The brain needs REM sleep in order to deal with subconscious thoughts.  If a person is drinking alcohol, not only does that mess with medications, it also inhibits REM sleep.  If your mind cannot deal with issues that are bothering you deep down, then you are literally going crazy.  Exercise and sex are the two things that make an anxious and depressed mind feel better because of the serotonin that is released.  The more you can do of these two activities, the better off you'll be.

Remember that therapy and medication only go so far.  After that it is up to you to do your part.  You must fight for your life anyway you know how.  Research and act upon what you find.  Waiting around for someone to give you your life back could be a long wait.  And if you do all that you can and still find that you aren't getting better, then it might just be a need to adapt.  Isn't that what they say in the service: "Adapt and overcome"?

Definition of a Warrior According to Sitting Bull

Soldiers from all branches in the military sacrifice their minds, bodies, and for many... their lives.  Choosing to defend your country is not an easy one.  For a lot of American men and women, joining the fight against terrorism was the right way to "be" after September 11, 2001.  After swearing to defend the United States of America with hand raised, the civilian becomes the property of the U.S. government.  Ran like a business, the different branches train and maintain their soldiers as resources or property.  The man or woman that every soldier takes orders from is: the President of the United States.

Negative Cartoons Towards the Troops

A couple of days ago, I clicked a link on Twitter that led me to a negative cartoon towards our military.  I was so offended, I was speechless and had to move on.  The picture was of a man sitting in a chair with his legs splayed open.  And I quote "Civilians are tired of supporting the troops.  It's time for the troops to learn how to give oral sex."  This is exactly the cynicism I am talking about.  Hideous!

Yuna - Live Your Life (Audio Only)

What is Considered Torture?

What I really want to know is what the United States Government says is justifiable questioning techniques of prisoners of war.  "Water boarding"?  Really?  Treating people like animals by humiliating them sexually is crossing the line.  But where is this line?  And how long has this kind of stuff been going on?

I am truly ashamed to think that the United States Government, that I honorably defended, would preach the Geneva Convention to it's soldiers, and then follow a completely different set of rules.  It baffles me beyond belief.  I guess I have always been a little disillusioned when it came to the clean-cut image of the military.  Back in the day, I put the armed forces up on a pedestal, as if they set the standard.  After serving my four years, I now know, that like any other institution in this country, they too have their flaws.

Sexual harassment, war crimes, murder, drugs, alcoholism, DUI's, rape, domestic violence, and suicide are just a few of the goings on that I have come across.  It's unfortunate that the acts of a few set the precedent for others to follow.  There is no excuse for misconduct in the military.  I draw the line at the rules that are set before me.  There is no "bending" of the rules.  For many in the service, the rules apply to everybody else.  How far is too far?  When someone leaks a picture or an email to the media.