“Thank you for your service.” Speaking those words to a person who has served in the military is a respectful, patriotic thing to do. Vets who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms are, of course, entitled to our ongoing thanks. Taking the opportunity to express your appreciation is always an appropriate response when you meet a veteran.
But it is important that all of us remember that saying thank you, while kind and fitting, is not necessarily sufficient when it comes to helping veterans who struggle with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and other challenges that may arise in connection with their service to their country.
Our valiant vets deserve the best when it comes to treatment for disorders that may threaten to upend their lives. And at Peak View Behavioral Health, that is exactly what we offer—via a program known as Tactical Recovery.
Tackling a New Mission: Getting Help
Members of the military are often proud of their ability to be self-reliant, and that pride can carry over into civilian life. Being self-reliant is, to be sure, an admirable trait, but it can come at a heavy cost if it prevents a veteran from seeking out treatment for a substance use disorder or a mental health disorder. To make matters worse, that desire to be self-reliant is often accompanied by a strong sense that no one in civilian life can really understand what it is like to be in the military.
The Tactical Recovery program was designed with those potential barriers firmly in mind. Tactical Recovery serves veterans through a trauma-informed model that takes into account the unique aspects of military culture. It is specifically for veterans, so it is specifically tailored to the needs of veterans.
Let’s take a closer look at what those needs might be.
The Military Experience and its Potential Aftermath
Serving in the military can, of course, expose a person to a range of traumatic experiences—and those experiences can lead to the development of mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Many times, veterans are extremely reluctant to admit they are having difficulties. This reluctance can lead to a sense of isolation. Worse, it can lead to attempts to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to try to snuff out the emotions and memories that may be threatening to overwhelm them.
For those who suffer severe injury while serving, another challenge can arise. Some veterans become addicted to prescription painkillers and may turn to street drugs like heroin or fentanyl if they can’t convince a doctor to keep prescribing opioids. The ongoing pain can be terrible; a substance use disorder centered on painkillers only makes things worse.
As we noted at the beginning of this blog entry, challenges like the ones we are describing here require more than words of thanks or the opportunity to be honored in parades and such. They require the specialized approach to treatment provided by Tactical Recovery.
Is There a Veteran in Your Life Who Needs Help?
Veterans do not always make it easy to spot the signs that they are suffering. But if you have a loved one who has served in the military and who does not seem to be readjusting to civilian life successfully, we encourage you to talk to them about Tactical Recovery and the ways in which it helps veterans.
The conversation might not be easy, and your loved one may deny that they have a problem. But letting them know that there is a treatment program designed just for vets might turn out to be the nudge they need to get treatment for a substance use or mental health disorder.
It would be fair to say that broaching this difficult subject with a veteran in your life is a way for you to serve a person who has so honorably served others.
At Peak View Behavioral Health, We are Honored to Help Veterans
If you are a veteran who is struggling with drugs or alcohol or with a mental health disorder—or both—the entire staff of Peak View Behavioral Health in Colorado Springs would consider it an honor to help you reclaim your life. Via Tactical Recovery, we have the experience, expertise, and understanding necessary to personalize treatment plans designed to meet the specific needs of veterans. And of course, we would welcome the opportunity to thank you for your service.
Are you looking for mental health help in Colorado Springs? For more information about Peak View Behavioral Health, or if you have questions, please call us at 719-694-0220 or use our contact form.
