Waves in War: Why Trauma Comes in Cycles, Not Straight Lines

Waves in War: Why Trauma Comes in Cycles, Not Straight Lines

In trauma recovery, one of the most confusing experiences is this: You can feel okay… and then suddenly you don’t. For veterans and survivors of war-related trauma, this often shows up as “waves.” Periods of stability followed by sudden emotional, physical, or...
The Weight Veterans Were Never Meant to Carry

The Weight Veterans Were Never Meant to Carry

Understanding the Path Toward Suicide After Service In 2023, 6,398 Veterans in the United States died by suicide. That equals 17.5 Veterans every day. One Veteran every 82 minutes. Suicide was also the 4th-leading cause of premature mortality among Veterans in 2023....
The Questions Veterans Carry After War

The Questions Veterans Carry After War

“Eyeball to eyeball… what’s going on that led you to file this claim?” After more than 10,000 VA benefits examinations since 2008, that question has never been casual. It is not paperwork. It is not procedure. It is often the first honest moment a Veteran has had to...
PTSD Is Not a Memory Problem, It’s a Nervous System Injury

PTSD Is Not a Memory Problem, It’s a Nervous System Injury

PTSD Is Not What You Think It Is For decades, PTSD has been misunderstood as a disorder of memory.People assume it’s about “not being able to let go” or “thinking about it too much.” That’s not only incorrect, it’s harmful. PTSD is not a failure of memory.It’s a...