Defining Wellness Key Takeaways The trauma that a person or group of people experience can be passed along to children and grandchildren in the form of transgenerational trauma. Transgenerational trauma leads to inherited trauma patterns such as insecure attachment, living in “survival mode,” anxiety, emotional numbness, and more. Children with inherited trauma can eventually adopt parenting styles … Read more
Key Takeaways: Trauma is a common experience among military veterans and active duty service members, who also face an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though trauma can lead to negative long-term consequences, it can also generate post-traumatic stress growth, or the positive personal transformation that comes as a result of your struggle. Trauma-informed … Read more
Key Takeaways Holistic therapies, which encompass nontraditional therapies that address your mind, body, and spirit, can be especially impactful in helping veterans achieve whole-person healing from mental health and addiction challenges. Entrenched societal stigmas can cause veterans to be skeptical about holistic therapy or prevent them from getting professional help at all. At Defining Wellness … Read more
Key Takeaways Relapse doesn’t mean failure; it’s a normal part of recovery. Neuroscience, behavioral dynamics, and environmental factors can contribute to relapses along your recovery journey. When you experience a relapse, it’s important to take healthy steps to get back on track, such as debriefing what caused your relapse, adjusting your recovery plan, and maintaining … Read more
Key Takeaways More than half of veterans with mental health challenges aren’t getting the help they need (SAMHSA, 2022). Many face stigma, self-reliance pressures, or logistical barriers that make treatment feel out of reach. From stigma to system gaps, veterans face layered obstacles to care. Challenges like provider shortages, long wait times, and rural isolation … Read more
Key Takeaways Military veterans are at a greater risk for mental health issues, facing a suicide rate that is 5 times higher than non-veteran populations (Ruiz et al., 2022). Much of our treatment focus for today’s veterans centers on post-traumatic stress syndrome, but veterans need holistic treatment that addresses the whole person, including their physical, … Read more
When you think about the struggles that military veterans today face, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is usually the first that comes to mind. In some ways, this goes to show how far we’ve come in recognizing the impact of PTSD on our military. However, PTSD is far from the ONLY issue affecting veterans. Many deal … Read more
Military veterans are our nation’s modern-day heroes. Yet many find themselves struggling with their mental health when they come back home. Among the mental health challenges facing our military, PTSD in veterans is one of the most notable. If left untreated, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make a debilitating impact on both veterans and the … Read more
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Remember learning to say that old adage as a kid? Well, as you’ve probably realized by now, that statement is not true at all. Words can hurt, and they can hurt a lot. There may be some painful words that were said … Read more
Thought about boundaries much? It’s a topic that comes up so often in the addiction treatment and recovery process. With that said, boundaries are more than just lines on a map or fence posts on a property. They can also be your safety blanket for keeping relapse at bay and sticking with your sobriety goals … Read more