The Veritable Veteran Podcast

We often hear about PTSD and the struggles veteran's face, but we typically don't hear much about what the spouse goes through. In this episode, my wife goes solo and talks about the secret struggles the veteran's spouse often deals with and offers encouragement to both veterans and their spouses.Among those struggles are:secondary ptsdcaregiver burdenfeeling the need to do damage controltaking on the veteran's triggersstruggling silentlynot taking care of themselvesThe spouses of veterans often willingly battle these things out of immense love for their veterans. They just want to see their veterans healthy, happy, and alive so that they can live a long, full life together.

All too often, we veterans feel the need to carry the weight of our burdens alone. We fear that if we were to open up to others, we would simply become a burden.In this episode, I talk about going beyond being mentally tough and allowing ourselves to be emotionally healthy. I address the importance of bearing each other's burdens, and the best way we can do that is by starting the conversation and talking.

After one of my recent Instagram videos creating some interesting conversation and receiving a bit of backlash, my wife and I discuss that video and what we have done to foster a healthy marriage for ourselves.We go over the following points:Team Mindset (We > Me)Honoring each otherCommunicating your needsBoundariesFighting for your marriageWe have personally been through hell and back multiple times in our own marriage, but these are the foundations that have brought us back to what holds us together.

Positive self-talk sounds a lot like some hippie mumbo-jumbo, but does it really work? In this episode, I give 5 tips as to how you can use self-talk in your everyday life to improve your self-image, your self-worth, and your overall mental health.

In this episode, we share three transition struggles we were not prepared to deal with.Friendships being harder.Having to re-learn married life together.The smack of the identity shift.We share these in an effort to help those getting out to be prepared for what might come for them and to help those who have experienced these things or are experiencing them to know that you're not alone.

Studies show veterans with combat experience have a harder time transitioning out of the military than those without combat experience. Why is that? In this episode, I give 3 likely reasons, from my own personal transition struggle.

In this continuation of our military life story before transitioning out of the military, my wife and I share further about some deep, difficult valleys we had to endure in our personal life while staying afloat among the military life.We discuss how the military life almost always compounds the personal struggles you are dealing with and how that eventually led to our exit from the military.

Stay consistent, even when you don't want to. You don't need to demand perfection from yourself everyday. Keep moving forward, even if you're on your face, crawling, only moving a little bit. 1% better, everyday...

All too often, we forget or don't even realize how much the constant-moving military life affects our personal lives. Two completely separate worlds collide, creating a cosmic storm of effects. In this two-part special episode series, my wife and I share the story of our life in the military before transitioning back into the civilian world.Every Tuesday, you can now expect a special episode that my wife and I do together, as we share our own personal pre- and post-military struggles and how we have come through many of those struggles.We hope to bring encouragement and hope to military and veteran families who are struggling as well.

Relationships with those closest to us are the most challenging, yet the most rewarding at the same time. In this episode, I discuss the litany of things I have done wrong, and the few things I have done right while navigating through the storms of my own mental health.

"So, I guess we're all the same!"Exactly! You are not alone in what you are feeling!In lieu of a recent video that went semi-viral on the Veritable Veteran social media pages, I felt the need to break down what seems like mental contradictions:likes being alone but hates being lonelyhas a short fuse but goes silent when hurtbeing out in nature or at night (places that often scare people) brings peaceswings hard from not trusting anyone to trusting too muchgoing on drives makes one feel at ease but can also cause angernot fully yourself with anyonetends to sleep problems awaystruggles to share feelings with othersI go in depth through each one of these and talk about why veterans and many people relate so much to what is said in the opening sound clip.

In life, we experience stress and anxiety all the time, but what specifically is stressing us out? Rather than only saying we are tired or stressed, we need to be more specific about what is causing us to feel this way. Once we are able to identify what is causing our negative feelings, we can begin working to move past them.

Happy Independence Day!

Every machine requires some level of preventative maintenance and the more you use it, the more maintenance it requires. Our minds and bodies are the same. We require periodic maintenance in order to prevent ourselves from breaking down.

Veterans and active duty military members have a difficult time talking about the trauma they have experienced. One big reason is too many people wear their trauma like a badge of honor; they think their trauma is "better" than everyone else's and they don't want to hear about other people's problems. Trauma is not a competition and everyone reacts to traumatic situations differently. We need to do better as a community at supporting those who have been wounded, no matter how we perceive their level of trauma.

This episode is for those in close relationship with veterans. It is intended to put words to the thoughts veterans have and to help the people in their lives gain some insight into the minds of their veterans.

In this first interview episode, I get to interview my best friend of 20+ years, Bryce. He shares his perspective on his military service, leaving the military, and the veteran community as a whole.

Too many veterans see themselves as a victim of their service. As veterans, we need to stop seeing ourselves, and allowing ourselves to be seen as victims and take ownership of our mental health.

Veterans served their country, so why do so many of them feel as if they didn't do enough? Why do some veterans cringe when someone tells them, "thank you for your service?" Most people who join the military have a vision of how their time in the service will go, but few, if any, actually get to see that vision come to reality. When it doesn't, and those people leave the military, they are often left with the sinking feeling of "I didn't do enough..."

Joining the military straight out of high school caused me to cling to the military for my identity. I didn't really know who I was as a man when I enlisted, and when I EAS'd after 11 years, a Marine was all I knew myself as. I sought fulfillment through what I was doing and I was never truly satisfied.

Just the basic premise behind what this show is and why we do it.

SummaryThe Veritable Veteran Podcast aims to address the emotional struggles veterans face when transitioning to civilian life. I share personal experiences of identity loss, isolation, and the challenges of finding purpose after military service. The conversation highlights the pervasive issue of veteran suicide and emphasizes the importance of community support and open dialogue about mental health. I encourage veterans to share their feelings and seek help, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding among those who have served.TakeawaysThe podcast focuses on the emotional struggles veterans face post-military.Veterans often feel isolated and think they are alone in their feelings.Transitioning to civilian life can be a significant culture shock.Many veterans struggle with their identity after leaving the military.Alcohol abuse is a common coping mechanism among veterans.Emphasis on the importance of community support for veterans.Veteran suicide is a pervasive issue that needs to be addressed.Sharing experiences can help veterans feel less alone.The podcast aims to provide a platform for open and honest discussions.Encouragement for veterans to seek help and support each other.Key Points00:00 Introduction to the Veritable Veteran Podcast01:10 Navigating the Transition from Military to Civilian Life05:27 The Struggles of Identity and Purpose09:42 Coping with Isolation and Alcoholism14:00 The Impact of Veteran Suicide16:18 Finding a Voice and Helping Others22:29 Call to Action and Community Support