The Soul Stealer - Part 2

Operation discharge to civilian life. Mission: Adapt and survive in your current environment.

Not every wound is visible. The embers of PTSD lie deep within, burning below the surface. Some days are easier than others. But when the embers rise to the surface, they can become physically and mentally crippling. The mind is like a computer. Its prime directive is to protect the human body by sending command signals. A combat soldier trained to be at the ready, always on alert. The mind is in fight or flight mode. A soldier fights; he does not flee. It takes Courage to be a combat soldier, willing to sacrifice their life for their country—day after day for the price of freedom and justice. Now the war is over, and it is time to come home.

Decompress, and slide back into everyday civilian life. Easier said than done. It is not as simple as opening a door and walking through it. The environment is different, and the rules are different. Many vets find this to be a challenging time. Combat veterans have a significantly higher percentage of readjustment difficulty than those who did not experience combat. Post- 9/11 veterans had struggled more than Pre-9/11 veterans. Civilian life is not as structured as compared to the military. Depression is a common enemy of veterans. Difficulty finding a job and assimilating into society. Difficulty with finances, health, and housing needs pushes these individuals beyond what is tolerable for them. With nowhere to go, many are homeless and turn to alcohol and drug use.

For many of them, this is where they fit in. In the service, there was a brotherhood amongst soldiers. There was a structure in daily routines and a path of daily direction. In civilian life, there is no brotherhood like the military to fall back on. There is assistance, but each person must stand for themselves and navigate the many avenues of life. This can become overwhelming at times, and unbearable. Escapism and numbing of pain and trauma are often the goals of these brave men and women. There are currently over 100,000 veterans in state or federal prisons. 60% of the veterans in prison are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. 69% of those released from prison will return. Recidivism is high for veterans. Prison provides structure, room and board, and health benefits, it is a structured system.

The Biden Administration and the VA reported on July 6, 2022, to commit to housing 38,000 homeless veterans. If you know of a veteran at risk of homelessness or currently homeless, please help them connect with the Veteran’s Administration. If we can help veterans find housing and address their physical and mental health needs, we are doing our part to assist these brave men and women.

Medication can help with the symptoms. It does not stop the pain of moral injury. Medication combined with psychotherapy and other treatments has been shown to work well in reducing symptoms of PTSD. Treatment methods, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, are often prescribed therapy. This treatment focuses on the events of trauma and incorporates eye movement.

Non-Traditional methods include Cannabis, Psilocybin, and psychedelicassisted psychotherapy. Cannabis users with PTSD have reported a significant decrease in the severity of their symptoms. On September 21, 2021, the VFW reported the positive effects of smoking cannabis and the reduction of PTSD symptoms. In addition, they found that cannabis users reported a decrease in symptoms and no longer met the PSTD diagnostic criteria than those who did not. Many veterans have turned to cannabis for relief of chronic pain and to assist with their symptoms related to traumatic events. Education is the key to using cannabis. Each strain has its profile and how it can benefit the human body.

Psilocybin and Psychedelics may help with the treatment of PTSD. In an ongoing study, psychedelic drugs and combined psychotherapy have shown remarkable results in decreasing the symptoms of PTSD. Researchers have been studying MDMA (Ecstasy) for more than thirty years. Researchers have been trying to obtain FDA approval to move this medication into the mainstream. MDMA does not have the same effects as mushrooms or LSD. Instead, MDMA increases dopamine and serotonin levels, creating a sense of calm and understanding minus the hallucinations. The VA is now studying using psychedelic substances combined with psychotherapy to treat PTSD. Today about five trials are being explored throughout the US. The first trial began in 2021 in California, when researchers received approval from the DEA and the FDA. Non-Traditional methods are still controversial, but ongoing studies and results will change the narrative. Please do not try these alternative solutions without guidance and support. There is no magic pill to take away all the symptoms of PTSD; psychotherapy combined with medication should provide good results.

Selena is a Hispanic woman who signed up to serve in the Army. During her time in service, she experienced sexual trauma while serving. She pushed aside her feelings and focused on her job. The nights were the hardest for her. One day while she was with other soldiers, a landmine went off. Dust and metal in a whirling tornado of flying shrapnel, her body was hit by shrapnel. Her face took the worst of it. When she woke up, she was in a hospital. Her life started to spiral at that point. The Military Sexual Trauma alone was enough for her to manage. Now she felt disfigured. Her body had failed to protect her from sexual abuse, and now she looked like someone else. She had several cosmetic surgeries but was never satisfied with her appearance. The VA did what it could to assist her. During her time back in civilian life, she became pregnant and had a son. The nightmares started, and then they got worse. She turned to drugs and alcohol. Her son was taken away from her due to lack of neglect. Depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, and drug abuse took over her life. She started to live on the street. She was vulnerable to anyone who knew she had a penny in her pocket—prostituting herself when the money ran out—not accepting any VA or Mental Health Support or even housing. She was comfortable where she was. One of the many veterans of the IRAQ and Afghanistan Wars who prefer to be homeless. A choice.

Summary: Understanding Post Traumatic Stress and its symptoms are essential. As a society, we have turned a blind eye to those suffering from mental health issues. We must wake up and step up to help these individuals as a nation. We need to assist them in finding the proper help so they can find relief and have the quality of life they deserve.

In part 3 of Soul Stealer, Doc Ray, a former Green Beret from the Vietnam War, will share how he found solace through cannabis and what he is doing today to support US veterans.