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Nov
10
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Filed Under Tears | Comments Off on THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
By Janet J. Seahorn, Ph.D
Recently I saw the show Thank You for Your Service. It is the true story of four young men and their experiences while serving in combat in Afghanistan/Iraq. The major narrative of the show focuses on the challenges of trying to reintegrate into civilian life following their military service. It is a realistic account of life after war of both family and veteran struggles. For this reason I don’t encourage most veterans to see the film. They, like Tony, have already lived and continued to live with the aftermath of battle. However, for some family members and the broader community, viewing and listening to these young veterans’ stories will give others an accurate description of the sacrifices some have given for our country to preserve our valued freedoms.
I know that the title, Thank You for Your Service, is genuinely meant to honor our military. Yet, it seems so trivial a gesture to merely say “Thank You”. As a nation, as a community, we must all do whatever we can to make sure those who served, both young and old, are taken care of when they return home. Except for Veteran’s Day, too many times we tend to forget the silent suffering of those living in our world after war.
For most Americans it is business as usual, tending to hectic schedules and personal issues that take up our attention – and most of us are guilty of this lapse.
Therefore, take a moment sometime during your busy days, not just to say “Thank You” but to think about how to contribute to the mental and physical health of our veterans. Perhaps you can volunteer at a local veteran hospital or retirement home. There are numerous organizations that need donations such as homeless veteran groups or organizations that train and deliver service dogs to our veterans – just be prudent about which organizations are authentic and which may be scams. Maybe you live next to a veteran/family and can deliver a hot meal, a sweet pastry, or even a card of appreciation. Be proactive. It is nice to hear the words “Thank You”. It is even better for a veteran or a veteran’s family to actually see and receive the “Thank You” in a specific and thoughtful deed.
If we send them, then we must mend them.
www.tearsofawarrior.com
Nov
7
5 Reason Why Veterans Need To Be Fishing
Filed Under Brain Injury, Combat PTSD, Dogs, Fishing Therapy, Military, Nature, PTSD, Service Dogs, Tears, Tears of a Warrior | Comments Off on 5 Reason Why Veterans Need To Be Fishing
Guest Blog by Jon Sutton
Author: Travis Pike
Veterans are a unique group of people who face a variety of unique challenges in their lives. As unique as veterans maybe they do share the ability to benefit from an activity as old as civilization. We call it fishing. Here are 5 reasons why Veterans need to get out there and fish more.
Getting Outside
Something as simple as getting outside and in nature can be a major benefit to your psyche and even your body. Getting outside doesn’t just mean walking out of your home, it means actually getting out in nature.
First, you get better air in the countryside than the city. There is no smoke, smog, or ground level ozone to worry about. As a veteran, you may have been exposed to harsh chemicals, and of course burn pits. Fresh air can help reduce the symptoms of most chronic respiratory illnesses.
You’ll also get a healthy dose of sunshine. Sunshine provides you with a blast of vitamin D, a vitamin associated with bone health. The average adult is likely vitamin D deficient, something I learned from my VA Doctor. A little sunshine can go a long way to long lasting health. That being said, don’t forget the sunscreen, you know what they say about too much of a good thing.
Getting Physical
PT it’s good for you and good for me. With almost 80% of the veteran population being obese a little PT can likely go a long way. Most people may think of fishing as sitting in a chair and drinking a beer, but they’d be wrong. There is a big difference in fishing and getting buzzed in a boat.
When you’re fishing you can be involved in any number of strenuous activities, including wading through water, paddling a kayak, and or hiking to a premier fishing location. That’s just to get to you to where you start fishing, from there you start working the shoulder and arms by casting over and over.
Plus, once you get a fish the cardiovascular activity starts as you fight that big boy to the boat or the shore. Watch any fishermen catch a keeper, and look how he sweats and struggles. It may not be as bad a Platoon Sergeant Death Run at 5 a.m. but it’ll get you huffing and puffing.
Relax a Little
Ah, greeting the great outdoors with a fishing pole in one hand a tackle box in the other is an amazing way to relax. Veterans on average face the stress of everyday life, and with a high percentage of veterans facing stress, depression, and anxiety the ability to relax is sacred. Heck, just talking on the phone with the VA is enough to drive you mad.
Fishing has shown to reduce cortisol, a hormone associated with stress by over 30% for up to a month. A study by the University of Maine showed fishing reduced anxiety, stress, fear, and guilt by a substantial amount for up to 3 weeks in combat veterans.
On top of everything fishing reduces, time in the sunshine has proven to release a chemical known as serotonin. The theory is that serotonin improves moods and triggers happy thoughts.
Keeps You Sharp
Young veterans face higher rates of TBI than the average population, which can result in reduced levels of cognitive ability. Let’s not forget that the Vietnam generation has reached an advanced age and with age often comes reduced cognitive function.
Fishing provides stimulation to the brain that engages a wide variety of different senses and forces fishers to use reasoning, and make logical assumptions. Fishing also boosts self-esteem and confidence.
Cause Fish are Delicious
Everyone loves good food, that’s true. This may not be specific to veterans because fish is delicious. Fish is also packed with protein and is low in calories and cholesterol. It’s also full of healthy fats, like Omega 3 acids that help with joint health. Any infantry veteran will tell you their joints suck, so they need all the help they can get.
