Kruse Corner Podcast

When are we allowed to finally say that we have healed? Or, are we meant to stay broken? For over 3 years I have talked about struggling, trauma, and failure. Recently I began to talk about the healing that has taken place during that time. What did I find? That people were upset that I would "pretend" or "fake" being okay. When we say we are allowed to reach out, get help, and heal, do we truly mean it?

For this episode I cover multiple books to add to the discussion of women in the military, the differences they face, and how competition seems to hinder our healing in the veteran community more than it helps. Learning different perspectives or discussing the various experiences we can have does not take away from anyone else's story, service, or cause. If we don't know what others face, how can we truly know how to help them heal?

If you would like to explore the titles and topics covered in this episode further, please check out these books:

"The Wounds Within: A Veteran, A PTSD Therapist, and a Nation Unprepared " by Mark Nickerson and Joshua Goldstein

"Fight Like a Girl" by Kate Germano

"Combat Vet Don't Mean Crazy" by Duane France

"Bottled Away" by Lani Hankins

Marine Corps Veteran and co-host of Cancelled for Maintenance Podcast, Six, returns to the show so that we can discuss deployments. Specifically, the transition from being home, to being overseas, and then being home again. We try to cover all angles regarding this topic, offering insight and perspective from the one deployed, as well as the one that stays behind. Deployments are hard on everyone and we hope this conversation will help people to reach out, gain some understanding, and encourage communication.

To hear more from the Cancelled for Maintenance Podcast, visit www.cancelledformaintenance.com or find them on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @canxformaintenancepodcast.

This episode is based off information from Dr. Richard A. Heckler's "Waking Up, Alive." Lani discusses her most recent book recommendation and shares her experience with unhealed trauma and how it led to her descent into suicidal thinking, the suicidal trance, and how she moved on from the belief that life was not worth living. She will also discuss information about rebuilding the self and healing the past. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode covers the second half of the book, "The Wounds Within: A Veteran, A PTSD Therapist, and a Nation Unprepared" by Mark Nickerson and Joshua Goldstein. In this episode, I cover warning signs, risk factors, changes made by the VA and military, and stories about poor leadership and not taking someone's mental health seriously. 

September is Suicide Prevention Month. For this episode I talk about the book "The Wounds Within: A Veteran, A PTSD Therapist, And a Nation Unprepared" by Mark Nickerson and Joshua Goldstein. This episode covers PTSD, suicide, VA and military failures, the stigma held by our society, and why it is important that we police each other up (in person or on social media) when one of our own is attempting to attack or silence a veteran or service member in need.

I had not expected to release an episode this week, but with everything going on I just needed a place to process my thoughts and I chose to do that here. We all had different perspectives, opinions, and experiences involving the war in Afghanistan. It was a 20 year war that some feel should have never started or needed to have ended long ago. Others feel it was another Vietnam, destined to fail and carried out at too high of a price. Regardless of how you feel, chances are you or someone you know gave something or everything to this war. Many are asking themselves, "Was it worth it?" I certainly asked myself that same question 9 years ago while I sat in Afghanistan and another life had been lost. If you are a veteran struggling, please reach out to a local vet center, the veteran crisis line, or to a buddy.

The Valkyrie Veteran Convention "The Unseen Warrior" will be taking place September 25th, from 2 to 7 PM MST, at The Enlisted Association Chapter 1 in Colorado Springs. Event information and ticket links can be found by going to Vigilant Valkyrie's website: http://vigilantvalkyrie.org/

You will also be able to find sections to make donations, as well as a link to the Vigilant Valkyrie store where you can grab some awesome gear! Or, head straight to the store with the following link: https://vigilantvalkyrie.bigcartel.com/

If you need to reach out to Vigilant Valkyrie, contact them either on Facebook, Instagram, or by emailing them at [email protected].

Come out to this event. We would love to see you.

I reached a point after experiencing trauma where I could hardly stand to look at myself in the mirror. Mostly because that reflection forced me to see that I had changed. Dealing with and healing from trauma has been a long, difficult road. The first step towards reclaiming myself was taken when I was willing to acknowledge the post-traumatic stress, along with the impact trauma had taken on me.