Most people think the hardest part of war is fought with rifles and radio codes.
But every veteran knows better.
The hardest battles begin when the shooting stops.
According to the U.S. VA, nearly a quarter of returning combat veterans struggle with what they call “post-deployment readjustment challenges.” Sounds tidy and bureaucratic. But strip away the jargon and you’re left with men and women who:
- Can’t sleep
- Can’t connect
- Can’t explain the heaviness they carry
- Can’t outrun memories that don’t fade
I wrote openly about this in Tug’s Trek — not because I enjoy revisiting the past, but because silence kills.
“Normal life” doesn’t feel normal
You come home. The grass is green. The kettle boils. People laugh at the pub.
But inside, you feel like a ghost walking through a world you don’t recognise.
The VA reports that veterans with trauma or moral injury often:
- Drift from routines
- Disconnect from family
- Avoid crowds
- Self-medicate
- Feel constantly on guard
- Suffer from chronic sleep disruption
Spot on.
I lived that script for far too long.
The day everything cracked
For me, the turning point wasn’t dramatic. No Hollywood breakdown.
Just a moment — a quiet, private collapse where I realised I couldn’t live another day pretending the weight wasn’t crushing me.
And that moment, strangely enough, was the beginning of healing.
The D.R.E.A.M.S. framework — built out of necessity
The D.R.E.A.MS. framework wasn’t a marketing idea. It was my survival kit.
Diet — The VA confirms what I learned the hard way: nutrition stabilises mood.
Routine — Veterans thrive on structure; chaotic days breed chaotic minds.
Exercise — Movement softens anxiety and sharpens thinking.
Alcohol Control — Self-medicating creates a downward spiral the VA sees daily.
Meditation/Medication — Sometimes it’s breathwork; sometimes it’s the right prescription.
Sleep — Without it, the mind fractures. With it, the mind repairs.
These aren’t theories; they’re lifelines.
And when veterans use them consistently, VA outcomes improve dramatically.
Therapy: the quiet force multiplier
Look — we didn’t grow up in a generation that “talked about feelings.”
But times change, and thank God for it.
Therapy helps you:
- Rebuild self-worth
- Challenge destructive thinking
- Make sense of guilt
- Identify what’s real danger and what’s memory
- Create routines that support recovery
That’s why I decided to partner with online therapy professionals.
Because their platform makes CBT accessible in a way that fits real life — worksheets, weekly sessions, and day-to-day messaging with a therapist. Practical. Quiet. No long hospital corridors.
A word to the veteran reading this
You’ve come through enough.
There’s no courage in staying broken.
But there’s immense courage in standing up again — even shakily.
Your war ended years ago.
Your healing can start today.
If you want a hand to steady you, I’m here — through Tug’s Trek, the D.R.E.A.M.S. framework, and the therapy resources I wish I’d had earlier.
Your mind is worth fighting for.
And you’re not fighting alone.
Best
Tug
