Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD affects about one in 14 adults. It’s often caused by traumatic experiences ranging from sexual assault to car wrecks to house fires. There are higher rates among combat veterans. National correspondent Mark Hyman took a look at one organization that engages veterans in a unique program as they transition from military service to civilian life.
“For so many [veterans], they're going to be dealing with the challenges of that service for the rest of their lives.” Brian Gilman“I think it's critical for all Americans to understand that the challenges of service in our military, especially combat service, don't end when the military service members come home,” Brian Gilman told us. “For so many, they're going to be dealing with the challenges of that service for the rest of their lives.”
A retired US Marine Corps Colonel, Gilman is the CEO of the non-profit organization Warriors and Quiet Waters. Gilman shared with us the mission of WQW. “Warriors & Quiet Waters enables post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones to thrive through peak experiences in nature and strong connections and belonging.”
Those peak experiences have aided veterans as they navigate the next chapters in their lives especially if they have physical or invisible wounds. Erin Dixon explained the value of these activities.
“Research shows that recreation therapy and being outdoors can help decrease depression, anxiety, stress, can help increase confidence, self-esteem." Erin DixonDixon, the deputy director of the Veterans Administration’s recreation therapy service, explained, “Research shows that recreation therapy and being outdoors can help decrease depression, anxiety, stress, can help increase confidence, self-esteem. When you go outside after a bad day, you go for a walk. You just take that deep breath and you start feeling a little better.”
At San Antonio’s VA hospital, even the simplest of activities such as board games and crafts stimulate cognitive abilities or help develop manual dexterity in even the oldest of veterans.
At Montana’s Quiet Waters Ranch - which has hosted more than 1600 military, veterans and spouses since 2007 - even the volunteers find the smallest of tasks can be therapeutic. Ken and Jen Ahrens spent the week cooking for everyone. A nutritionist helped develop the menu. Ken was an air force bomb disposal technician with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"[I]t's just a way that we like to give back." Ken AhrensKen told us why he was volunteering. “Myself being a retired military and then coming through here as a Warrior, it's just a way that we like to give back. Gives us a lot of good feeling to come and support other Warriors in the same programs that we went through.”
The Ahrens have volunteered at the Quiet Waters ranch several times since 2017. Jen observed the powerful impact a week at the ranch has on everyone. “You come as a stranger, you leave as family.”
"You're here because you need to be here at this moment." Brian GilmanBut before he was a volunteer, Ken was one of the warriors who went through the program as a guest. He said, “We had this common theme when we talked about it amongst the six of us, is why us? We've seen veterans that had mental health issues bigger than mine, veterans that were missing limbs, why not them?” Ken learned why he was present. He got a little emotional when he recounted the conversation he had with Quiet Waters staff. “And sorry, a little emotional, but the conversation we had that Brian said, ‘You're here because you need to be here at this moment.’”
During our conversations, we found that same opinion he felt undeserving with Navy SEAL Senior Chief Petty Officer Andy Guillory and his wife, Cassie. Andy confessed, “Yeah, I almost felt not worthy. Why me? Why'd I get to come?”
While many of the guests are veterans, Andy is not. He is still serving but he is nearing retirement. The Guillorys are trying to avoid challenges others have faced after transitioning. For Andy, switching off from full-time warrior to full-time family man may be easier said than done.
“You're changing who you are and going to try and fit yourself into another mold almost." Cassie GuilloryCassie explained why the transition can be difficult for a Navy SEAL who has had multiple combat tours. “You're changing who you are and going to try and fit yourself into another mold almost. He is in the Teams, but at that point he will have been a Team guy.”
Andy found the slower pace at Quiet Waters ranch was a gift, “You take a step back a little bit and enjoy life.”
The slower pace included learning to fly-fish. Andy proudly reported, “We each caught about three or four [trout].”
“Spending time in natural environments is inherently calming and enables an opportunity to replenish our directed attention focus.” Dr. Elizabeth VellaThe University of Southern Maine’s Dr. Elizabeth Vella is an experimental health psychologist. She’s been studying health and stress outcomes in veterans since 2010. She reported, “Spending time in natural environments is inherently calming and enables an opportunity to replenish our directed attention focus.” This is a better and healthier approach to dealing with stress, according to Vella, because too many veterans in distress are consuming a cocktail of medications. And they are not making progress in their recovery. “We do have a significant volume of veterans taking multiple drugs simultaneously on a daily basis and still experiencing high levels of PTSD symptomatologies.”
PTSD symptomatologies are not uncommon. Some post-combat veterans who transition to civilian life find the lack of an intense, high-paced, mission-oriented focus can be disorienting. Ken Ahrens explained why. “With most veterans, we lose a sense of purpose, a sense of service. So we're constantly looking for what can we do next to help out? How can we serve? How can we continue to serve in our life?”
One goal at Quiet Waters Ranch is to help veterans rediscover that sense of purpose. Gilman said, “We're trying to provide a path for them to rebuild that here at Warriors & Quiet Waters.”
That path included a week packed with fly-fishing, family-style meals, and intimate group discussions to emphasize the importance of strong mind, body and spirit in overcoming challenges. Tying it all together are healthy relationships.
"It doesn't matter really what comes towards you, you can overcome it.” Andy GuilloryNodding toward his wife, Cassie, Andy Guillory summed up the importance of relationships. “You really look at strong relationship or really good team, they show each other vulnerability, which builds trust. That's the foundation. If you have that, it doesn't matter really what comes towards you, you can overcome it.”
The Warriors and Quiet Waters staff keep in regular contact with alumni after they leave the ranch in order to help strengthen relationships and to monitor their progress.
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