What do you do to maintain or improve your mental health?

To relieve stress I work out in my yard. I also help take care of my mom.

Besides medication provided by VAMC. I find it important to be informed. I read by participating online on different meaningful social media platforms. Activities, i.e., walking, light exercise, etc. When at the VAMC. Interacting with other veterans. I have been instrumental in helping older Veterans. Equally important our younger Veterans in obtaining benefits earned making sure paper work is correctly filled out. I find this very rewarding, and keeping mentally aware.

After retirement I utilized the VA’s Post-9/11 outreach resource to complete the 12 week Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) program. Through the VA I was able to schedule medical appointments I needed to address health issues that affected my mental well-being. I keep up with my appointments and am finally slowing down enough to take care of myself. Self-care helps my state of mind. Addressing and processing past traumas with professional help keeps me healthy. I currently have weekly appointments with a therapist I trust. We can all use an unbiased ear to listen.
I volunteer as a soccer coach for 3-5 year olds. I attend community functions that support local businesses. Whenever I see someone wearing service related appeal or accessories I make a point to connect. Even if it’s a spouse or child of a service member. A sense of community helps me feel more at home.
Overall, the biggest help to my mental well-being has been setting healthy boundaries. I do what I can and give myself grace when I need to take a break.

What I do to mai rain or improve my mental health is limit processed foods, move my body throughout the day, and get sufficient sleep every night.

I go to SATT meetings 3 days a week at the Lake City VA while taking my medication and going to all Dr. appointments. I also go to 12 step meetings for my recovery and have a sponsor.

My mental health is always in motion. So, I am blessed to have a family around me. I spend time with my wife of 47 years. A lot of time with our 6 children when we can be by them. Some even live right here in Bountiful. We have 24 grandchildren. Some are close, some away. Yet, we find time to chat and have reunions. The real medicine nis putting yourself out there. If your family and friends know you care about them...they will care about you.

Go camping, riding my SxS, or fishing.

I was always feeling depressed for a long time and then I started listening to the music I liked from the time surrounding the Viet Nam war. i was 19 when I went in and 23 when I got out but those were the happiest days of my life serving my country. I had just forgotten it until I started talking to other vets and now I listen to all the music that was so great in that time of my life.

Hiking with my wife and our two golden retrievers—do hand weights and stretch-play video games to keep my brain sharp—-and having grandchildren who have really good questions about life, well, better not sugarcoat your response —our children are intelligent we just have to give them quality information.

Go to the gym and workout for an hour.