Kevin Vandeyck Ph.D’s Post

PTSD is a mental health condition that is not well understood, neither its causes nor its symptoms. Help by raising your voice to advocate for mental health services for yourself, your friends, or loved ones who are military personnel or veterans. For those who are struggling with PTSD, there are a variety of mental health services and whole health / wellness resources, whether VA or nonprofit / non-VA supports. Healing is possible

Shell shock. Invisible battle scars. Hidden wounds of war. There have been many attempts to define the mental health challenges that service members struggle with in the wake of their service. But regardless of how you describe it, service members with PTSD and other mental health concerns deserve and need support as they navigate their recovery. PTSD can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Those who struggle with it often experience distressing flashbacks to the traumatic moments of their service, hyper-vigilance and insomnia, as well as feelings of sadness, anger, depression, anxiety or even estrangement from their loved ones. PTSD doesn’t just affect service members but their military family members as well. And while mental health is a complicated issue that is not easily solved, the USO is committed to supporting and uplifting service members and military families through every step of their service – through our USO Centers, through our programs and even through our canine volunteers. Read how a veteran and his service dogs are supporting wounded, ill and injured service members alongside #theUSO. #PTSDAwareness https://lnkd.in/g-pJizWc

Shell shock. Invisible battle scars. Hidden wounds of war. There have been many attempts to define the mental health challenges that service members struggle with in the wake of their service. But regardless of how you describe it, service members with PTSD and other mental health concerns deserve and need support as they navigate their recovery. PTSD can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Those who struggle with it often experience distressing flashbacks to the traumatic moments of their service, hyper-vigilance and insomnia, as well as feelings of sadness, anger, depression, anxiety or even estrangement from their loved ones. PTSD doesn’t just affect service members but their military family members as well. And while mental health is a complicated issue that is not easily solved, the USO is committed to supporting and uplifting service members and military families through every step of their service – through our USO Centers, through our programs and even through our canine volunteers. As PTSD Awareness Month comes to a close, read how a veteran and his service dogs are supporting wounded, ill and injured service members alongside #theUSO. #PTSDAwareness https://lnkd.in/g-pJizWc

WHY IS DEALING WITH VETERANS AND CIVILIANS WITH PTSD SO FRUSTRATING? Tuesday, September 17: 3. Triggers and Increased Vigilance. Sights, sounds and situations can all be triggers. People around may not understand these responses from PTSD. Sufferers are almost always on heightened alert. Their nerves are always on edge. 4. Detachment. Those with PTSD feel numb from it. They feel strain in relationships along with loved ones who feel they can’t reach them. HELP IS AVAILABLE! It’s so important to work through your personal emotional issues to get to the real spiritual ones to get healing. Spouses: YOU ARE NOT YOUR SPOUSE’S COACH! You are their partner. You need help yourself on how to deal with the situation. VETERANS: You can be cured. I know this even from my personal experience. TALK IT OUT. I’m available. I have a network of coaches and therapists available, too. REAL HELP COMES FROM THE GRASSROOTS. We have more resources and empathy that the government can’t reach. Get hold of us. I am, REVIVE YOUR SPIRIT. Direct Message me through LinkedIn. ❤️

Our soldiers fight battles we can't see, and the war often follows them home. In 2024, nearly 30% of armed forces personnel were diagnosed with severe mental health issues—15% suffer from PTSD, and 10% battle depression daily. Their families, too, carry the weight of this silent war, watching loved ones unravel under the burden of haunting memories and deep, unresolved pain. This isn't just a statistic; it's a crisis. Imagine living in a house with invisible cracks—each day, those cracks widen, threatening to collapse everything. That’s what these brave souls face, and it's happening now. Inner Child Healing can be the lifeline they need. By addressing the deep-seated wounds and emotional scars buried within, we can help them find peace, regain control, and rebuild their lives. DM me for further queries or to help someone who needs it. *HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ! JAI HIND 🇮🇳*

PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background, but certain groups are at higher risk. This includes military veterans, first responders, survivors of abuse or assault, and people who have experienced serious accidents or natural disasters. Can you recognize the Signs of PTSD? They generally fall into four categories: 😥 Intrusive Memories 😫 Avoidance 😡 Negative Changes in Mood 🤬 Changes in Physical Reactions Supporting someone with PTSD requires patience, understanding, and practical actions. By raising awareness and understanding of PTSD, we can foster a more supportive and empathetic community. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, remember that help is available and recovery is possible. DM me to partner with your company or organization to help build mental resilience

📌 The return of veterans and combatants to civilian life after their service often poses significant challenges. While communities warmly welcome their returning sons and daughters, there is often debate on the most effective approach for helping them reintegrate into society. This debate has predominantly focused on national perspectives, but the key to empowering veterans and returning combatants lies at the local level. One crucial aspect of supporting veterans and combatants is understanding the impact of mental health issues such as PTSD, anger, nightmares, and panic attacks. Mental health support is interconnected with nearly every other need that veterans face, from employment and housing to relationships and physical health. Therefore, it is imperative to provide comprehensive mental health services, including psychoeducation and strategies for managing emotional distress. Read more and find resources in our March newsletter 👇 💙 MHHRI strives to make information accessible to everyone.

Feeling Sad or Anxious_ Reach Out to Your Support System for Help: Whenever you are feeling sad overwhelmed or anxious reach out to your support system This will remind you that you in fact are not alone Sometimes Just hearing another person's voice allows you to re-center yourself to the present moment You can then walk through your feelings together in a supportive and compassionate setting This can be super helpful in situations where anxiety is through the roof or perhaps when you've experienced a PTSD dream Check out for empowering stories. YT: https://lnkd.in/gzmiaXXd

WHY IS DEALING WITH VETERANS AND CIVILIANS WITH PTSD SO FRUSTRATING? Here is what I am reviewing this week: ➡ Monday: Emotional strain and Increased Stress ➡ Tuesday: Communication barriers and Isolation ➡ Wednesday: Role reversals and Impact on children TODAY: Anger and Compassion Fatigue ➡ Friday: Strain on Finances and Practical Issues ➡ Saturday: Intimacy struggles Anger: Spouses and families get discouraged because the suffering veteran doesn't engage in activities they used to before the trauma. Outbursts of anger from irritability and emotional withdrawal leads to tension within the home. Spouses tend to utilize controlling behaviors or withdraw. The children withdraw, experience grief and loss of vitality. Anger expresses itself in veterans with rage, wrath, controlling behaviors and withdrawal from life. Compassion fatigue: Spouses and close family members often experience compassion fatigue. This is emotional exhaustion from constantly supporting a vet or civilian with PTSD. These caregivers suffer from burnout by feeling drained. The ability to support their suffering spouse lessens. Story: I recently talked with a woman whose veteran husband had PTSD. She said she started losing her temper with him and felt shame over it. I counseled her that this was normal and that she should be easier on herself; that mistakes happen. Her husband reached out to the VA beforehand. The VA told him he would eventually get rid of his problem. The VA rejected him. He gave up seeking help and he shut down emotionally. This situation is all to common with vets. She said I was the first person who understood who understood her situation. This lifted a weight from her. I was go glad. SUMMARY: Good help from some of the VA has physical, emotional and spiritual bad effects. It spreads widely and quickly through many veterans. The VA helps a lot of veterans and turns many vets away. Lasting help comes from the grassroots, people like me. I am Richard Szalecki, pronounced, "Sah-LEH-key" of, REVIVE YOUR SPIIRIT. I help veterans with trauma get too the roots of their trauma and provide action steps toward total healing. I have amazing stories. I overcame severe trauma in my life also! I'm a good listener. Connect with me. Direct Message me through LinkedIn. 💛

Tuesday, September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to unite as a society and reflect on how we can support those struggling with mental health challenges. But what do we do when we, too, are grappling with instability or carrying the profound pain of losing a loved one to suicide? When the weight of grief feels unbearable, and the pain runs deep within our souls, it can feel like we have no choice but to rise -both as individuals and as a community. In these moments, the strength of human connection and the power of compassion are more vital than ever before! How can we stand by one another during times of deep emotional distress? And how do we begin to heal in a world that is in so much need of healing itself?