PTSD

In a previous blog post back in April, I speculated on the National Football League’s (NFL) intentions of setting a higher standard for head injuries and how our warriors might learn from their experiences.

Sometime between 563 - 483 BC, a young Hindu prince named Siddhartha Gautama uttered the phrase, "you will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger." We now know him by the name Buddha. Although these words are over 2,000 years old, they are apparently true today.

Before I begin this week's blog post, I would like to let all combat veteran readers know that I will be discussing scenes from a film I recently had the honor of screening.  It is about combat in Afghanistan.  It's entitled: Restrepo.

It is powerful.

It is raw.

It is real.

Knowing that this narrative could cause some of my brothers and sisters in arms to relive some of their own trauma, I wanted to give you a heads up!  

Please think twice before reading. With that said, let's begin:

 If you've been following me over the last few weeks, you know that I introduced the idea of incorporating the Principles of War as a means of dealing with PTSD. In doing this, my hope is to help you achieve a deeper level of thought about how you might go about choosing methods for your healing.

 If you've been following me over the last few weeks, you know that I introduced the idea of incorporating the Principles of War as a means of dealing with PTSD. In doing this, my hope is to help you achieve a deeper level of thought about how you might go about choosing methods for your healing.

 In my last blog , I introduced the idea of incorporating the Principles of War as a means of dealing with PTSD.

I started this blog with the intent of creating dialogue around Warriors and how they might heal themselves.  Having a strong background in military planning, I always took an opportunity to communicate in a manner that my sisters and brothers-in-arms might appreciate.  Well, in this edition of The Warrior Nation: SITREP, I thought I might just take a real big bite out of post-traumatic stress disorder by applying a little "fight fire with fire" methodology.

 I love football!  Plain and simple!  I grew up playing the sport in grade school, high school, and continued playing right into college at Ole Miss.  I played linebacker and I really liked to "hit!"  Not in a mean, sadistic way, but in a manner that I deemed as "doing the very best I could do."  Some of you reading this are probably wondering what that means and I'd have to add that it's kinda like riding a Harley...If I have to explain it, you'll never understand. Just know it's about being good at what you do.

In a previous blog from my website, we focused on the importance of setting an Objective.  An Objective, as you may recall, is a Principle of War that states we should “direct every military operation toward a clearly definable, attainable, and decisive objective."  Setting an Objective in our civilian lives allows us to focus on the end-state, it creates personal ownership of what we seek to accomplish, and

I have been working recently with America Helping Heroes, a non-profit organization aimed at successfully reintegrating our service members back into the civilian ranks.  AHH’s founder and brainchild is author and musician