Responding to trauma
Rediscovering hope and getting help
Throughout your military career, you either let the challenge bring you down, or you push forward and figure how to resolve it. I’d been self-destructive long enough to know where this was going. So I felt like I had no choice but to kind of walk into the OSI [Operational Stress Injury] clinic. I’m a guy who is open about his PTSD – I tell my buddies to do this, too. I went into the clinic with all the things that were weighing me down written on a piece of paper. I slammed it down and said, “I need help. I have a kid now and I’m failing.” - Military Veteran
What can you do with these complex problems life has given you? Many Veterans and their families find that they lack a “road map” to deal with some of the problematic consequences resulting from service.
Your road map
If you are a Veteran, Your grief roadmap provides strategies for approaching your grief and trauma.
If you are a family member or friend, Supporting you and the Veteran in your life, provides practical strategies for supporting the Veteran in helpful ways.
Be honest
I told them right off the bat. I have a hard time with loud noises. They remind me of the explosion when my friend was killed and I couldn’t hear for a while. I’ll try not to but I may yell at you if you make a loud noise. - Military Veteran
If you’re struggling with grief, loss, OSI, or PTSD, talk with your family about it. They just need the broad strokes, not the details. Then they will be more likely to understand if you’re triggered or have a major outburst. They’ll know you’re struggling with some distressing losses and experiences because you’ve already told them.
In turn, knowing your kids are aware of your OSI or PTSD, you’ll have more confidence after an outburst to hold them, to say I’m sorry, and to reassure them that it’s “your stuff” and not about them, and that you are working to get to a better place.