Men's Mental Health Week Part 1: I have PTSD and Mental Health Issues: So What?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 11:39:17 -0400

I have PTSD and Mental Health Issues “So What”

Everyone at some point in their life goes through struggles that will impact their mental health, it’s inevitable. Although some will have harder battles than others, it’s a shared experience across the board. I am not immune to this shared experience. When I was dealing with my own mental health struggles, the hardest thing for me was admitting to myself “it’s okay to not be okay”
I refused to admit this truth, even to myself, for a long time. I convinced myself that asking for help was a sign of weakness and that I was a soldier. Of course it is easy for me to say now that asking for help is actually a sign of strength and resiliency. However, prior to my suicide attempt, I kept the shame inside me letting it slowly eat away at my resilience. If you have read my past postings you know my story (https://rly.pt/3vqd9oV , I felt it was important to talk about things I do to keep my PTSD in check when my day suddenly turns wrong and things seem lost again.

There are many facets of life, but the ones that I focus on to continue my healing journey are physical, mental and random (yes, there are many things I do to help that don’t fall into any specific category which I don’t think is talked about enough!) The next three days I will be posting an article on each component of health that has helped me stay on my recovery track. Please remember, everyone is different and everyone’s healing looks different. You may need to focus more on your emotional health while others need to focus on their physical health. It is all about having a balanced plan and reliable techniques that while ultimately help you achieve overall health. It is an everyday battle for me, but one that I will continue to fight. I hope this helps keep folks in their path or encourages them to start. Be kind to yourself and know that you are worth the fight.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please get help now. Tell a loved one. Tell a friend. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: [login to see] . If you prefer to talk online, visit the veteran crisis line here: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/military-crisis-line

Title: My Story of Hope - I am a Suicide Survivor and Mental Health Warrior - Part 4. |...

Read day 1 here: https://rly.pt/3unCyzK Read day 2 here: https://rly.pt/3vHUaXd Read day 3 here: https://rly.pt/3b65jcO I just ask for help. So simple right? I realize now that asking for help does not make me less brave, less of a soldier, less of a man. On the contrary, it makes me better in every aspect of my life. It makes me a better soldier because I can help other soldiers battling the same enemy. It makes me a better husband because I...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 21 at 2021 9:25 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 21:25:41 -0400

My friend let me tell you about a magical process. Identify all the symptoms. The symptoms are the threats to you. Identify realistic coping skills to kill the symptoms or the threat. That my friend represents a lot of healing.

In GI terms: Kill the symptoms and win the battle.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jun 22 at 2021 10:45 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 22:45:25 -0400

It is called anxiety. If you want to call it PTSD don’t be surprised when it kicks you in the butt. Your employer can say “ I can’t depend on him, he has a Psyciatric disorder

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jun 23 at 2021 10:41 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 10:41:51 -0400

No it is not OK to not be OK. The military could decide that diagnosed
PTSD should require an RE4 and a lot of people will be out. It is a mental Disorder and it is not OK

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Jun 28 at 2021 4:28 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 16:28:09 -0400

Thank you for the information!

Response by SGT James Murphy made Jun 29 at 2021 12:43 PM

SGT James Murphy — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:43:12 -0400

VET's Resource Page
Home of Green Bay Wisconsin's
Black Robe Regiment https://cutwi.com/vets-resource-page.html

vets-resource-page.html

Response by Millson Gray made Apr 5 at 2023 7:38 PM

Millson Gray — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:38:44 -0400

I know this thread is almost dead but I couldn't resist chiming in since the post caught my attention. Thank you for sharing your story and your journey towards healing. It takes a lot of strength and courage to admit that you need help and to seek it out, and it's important for everyone to hear that message. Additionally, for those experiencing some signs of psychological disorders, I’d highly recommend checking out https://restore-mentalhealth.com/acute-psychosis/. Here you’ll find valuable information on the symptoms of acute psychosis, its causes, and the various treatment options available.

What Is Acute Psychosis and Its Causes? - Restore Mental Health | Inpatient & Outpatient...

Acute psychosis can occur because of a psychiatric issue or because of substance abuse. Exactly how is complex.