907-707-1201

Fax: (907) 707-1202

info@alaskansunrisebehavioralhealth.com

Veterans

Returning to civilian life can be a time of joy, but also a time of emotional upheaval. Your experiences in the service may have changed the way you look at life. You may have new abilities, new friendships, or new concerns.

You may have retired from the Military after serving 20 years, served a short tour and voluntarily separated, or suffered injuries or became ill before you were able to fulfill your 20 years. For many Veterans this can be quite disheartening after pouring all you have into serving your country and fellow Americans. You may struggle with reintegration into civilian life. It may seem chaotic and unorganized compared to the organization and structure of the Military.

You may be a Veteran that served many years ago as far back as the Vietnam war or a Veteran that just recently served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. No matter what your time of service was, you may continue to suffer from the aftermath of war.

If you were in combat or similarly stressful situations, it’s possible some of the habits that helped you stay strong during traumatic events will be less useful in civilian life. Keeping strong in civilian life might require developing new habits. You may also be at increased risk of PTSD and other symptoms as your brain is recovering from trauma.

Some veterans find they miss the structure that the military life provides. Some miss feeling a sense of purpose in their daily work. Others may feel isolated because civilians don’t understand the experience of serving. The memories of your experiences also may take time to deal with.

Remember that readjusting takes time. Give yourself opportunities to maintain your physical and mental health during the transition. Know that as Veteran myself, I understand what it is like to serve and transition into civilian life. Our Military and Veterans are my love and passion and serving you is an honor. If you are struggling, please reach out to me to see how I may help.

nami.org

VA Resources

  • Vet Centers – Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
  • Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
    • For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
  • VA Women Veterans Call Center – Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 6:30PM ET)
  • VA Caregiver Support Line – Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 5PM ET)
  • Download VA’s self-help apps – Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
  • VA Mental Health Services Guide – This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
  • MakeTheConnection.net – information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.

Community Resources

Veteran Service Organizations



634 S. Bailey St. Suite 100
Palmer, Alaska 99645

info@alaskansunrisebehavioralhealth.com
907-707-1201

Do you have questions?
Please send me a message.