New Pursuits Help Veterans Thrive After Therapy
5-minute read
New Pursuits Help Veterans Thrive After Therapy
5-minute read
After mental health treatment started them on a path to healthier and more fulfilling lives, Veterans Stefan, Jocelyn, and Paul discovered something else: the value of hobbies and recreational pursuits in sustaining and fortifying their improvements. Learn how receiving therapy, riding the wave, throttling up, and taking a swing have made a difference in their lives.
Stefan, U.S. Marine Corps (2010–2015)
Stefan had difficulty dealing with the death of a friend during a deployment to Afghanistan. After transitioning to civilian life, he felt on edge and was prone to angry outbursts.
How mental health treatment helped: Stefan says talk therapy let him share openly without feeling judged. It also gave him tools for managing symptoms from traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, and he’s vigilant about applying what he’s learned. “If I stay on top of it every day, it directly translates into my life being happier,” he says.
Riding the wave: Research has shown that nature-based activities can help Veterans build skills, nurture positive emotions, improve well-being, and adjust to civilian life, so it should not be surprising that Stefan finds the passion he developed for wakesurfing invigorating. “Sun. Nature. It’s resetting,” he explains. “Being outside, one with the water, this benefits me physically and it’s something that I could gear my mind towards in a positive way.”
Jocelyn, U.S. Army (2007–2010)
Jocelyn was sexually assaulted while serving in the Army. The effects of military sexual trauma (MST) contributed to the end of her marriage and led to thoughts of suicide.
How mental health treatment helped: Jocelyn says she learns a lot in group therapy with other women who experienced MST. “It helps me learn different coping mechanisms,” she says. “Group therapy helped as well because getting the pain out is you releasing the negative energy.”
Throttle up, stress down: Jocelyn also joined a women Veterans motorcycle group and found that riding relieves a lot of her stress, anger, and anxiety. She also enjoys painting, photography, and reading. “It’s good to have multiple hobbies because if you get stuck or start to get frustrated with one, you have another one that you can always just kind of go to,” she says.
Paul, U.S. Navy (1969–1978)
Paul was at a low point before he sought help from VA—misusing drugs and alcohol, suffering gambling losses, bouncing checks, and focusing solely on himself.
How mental health treatment helped: The Navy Veteran began his journey to sobriety with 30 days in an outpatient program and then kept learning and applying new mental health tools. “I don’t hold resentments,” he says. “I’ve learned how to speak up. I don’t try to get even. Everything is just about serving rather than taking.”
Back in the swing: Paul joined a recovery golf program and finds the camaraderie and game to be therapeutic. “The thing about golf is that we feel every single aspect,” he says. “There’s success, there’s failure, there’s frustration, there’s anger. I mean, I put everything I have into it. That's what golf has meant to me.”
