As a former captain in the U.S. Air Force supporting troops in combat and a practicing psychiatrist within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Administration system for many years, I have seen first-hand the challenges many veterans experience returning to civilian life. For the men and women who served their country, coming home should be a welcoming new phase of their lives, reunited with their families and communities. I did not to see direct combat and was fortunate to transition back to civilian life with relative ease. Yet, for many of the nation’s 20 million veterans, coming home comes with physical, health and wellness challenges, mental health issues and more.
Of these challenges, many people — veterans and non-veterans alike — are familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder. What may not be as well known, however, is how pervasive it is. In fact, according to the VA, almost 1 in 3 new vets treated at the VA is diagnosed with PTSD. According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, more than 50 percent of IAVA members have a service-connected mental health injury, affecting their physical health, personal relationships and careers.
[See: Apps to Mind Your Mental Health.]
While many resources exist to help vets transition to civilian life, in some cases waiting lists and social barriers — such as feeling embarrassed to seek assistance — prevent vets from getting the help they need. Fortunately, in addition to the VA Medical Center system and its vast resources, many organizations with their own areas of expertise, including Cigna, also support a wide variety of programming to help returning vets. In fact, as a top employer of veterans, Cigna has a long history of supporting veterans through programs open to vets as well as to their caregivers and physicians. These programs not only raise awareness, but raise hope among the veteran community through practical, hands-on assistance and help. And these programs are offered anonymously to lower the barrier for those in need.
From one veteran to another, and as a practicing psychiatrist today, here is some practical advice I’ve shared with other members of the military as they transitioned to civilian life:
Don’t go it alone. Transitioning to civilian life is too important to you and your family to not seek help when you need it. The VA, as well as other organizations, offers a wide array of services that span virtually every conceivable need. Cigna’s own new Veteran Support Line (855-244-6211), available anonymously to all vets, their families and caregivers, helps with services including resources for pain management, substance misuse counseling and treatment and health insurance. Staffed by behavioral health specialists, the support line is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
[See: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Counseling.]
Give yourself time. There is no one way to reenter civilian life. Moving home is about more than changing addresses; it’s an emotional journey, too. Don’t get discouraged, don’t compare your progress to that of your fellow vets. Give yourself a break and do what’s best for you and your family.
Practice mindfulness. A 2016 study in Depression and Anxiety found that practicing mindfulness — a state of focused awareness of our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and surroundings — changed veterans’ brains and “helped [them] develop more capacity to shift their attention and get themselves out of being ‘stuck’ in painful cycles of thoughts.” With that in mind, this year Cigna launched Mindfulness for Vets, a weekly interactive program offered exclusively for vets, providing anonymous training in mindful stress management, acceptance and compassion (every Tuesday, 4 p.m. CT, at 888-244-6260/passcode 536435).
Engage with other vets. No one can relate to what you’re going through better than other veterans. Keep in touch with those with whom you served, and be open to meeting other vets whose own transition to civilian life may provide inspiration to you. Seek out organizations like the IAVA that offer support networks and services. In fact, IAVA’s Rapid Response Referral Program, to which the Cigna Foundation provided a three-year, $300,000 grant earlier this year, helps veterans meet their life goals through connections to educational, medical and legal resources and benefits.
[See: 9 Things to Do or Say When a Loved One Talks About Taking Their Life.]
Ensuring veterans have access to the resources they need to make the most of their lives isn’t for them alone. Just as all Americans benefit from veterans’ service in the U.S. military, we all benefit when those veterans become healthy, productive members of their communities. We’re in this together.
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Returning to Civilian Life Can Be a Collaborative Journey if You Know Where to Look originally appeared on usnews.com
