OUR BLOG

When I talk about mental health, one of the questions I get asked most often is about the difference between trauma and PTSD. These terms are often used interchangeably, but understanding the difference is really important for anyone who’s experienced a difficult event or wants to support someone who has. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a specific mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic experience. Trauma, on the other hand, is the emotional res

“You look fine.”  That’s what I used to hear when I parked in a handicap space. People couldn’t see the nerve damage, the bone spurs, the sleepless nights. They couldn’t feel the bullet that shattered my femur at 20 years old or the battles I fought in therapy just to stay alive after I got back from Iraq. Mental health for veterans is complicated—and talking about it? Even more so. If you want to support a veteran in your life, especially when it comes to mental health, star

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Veterans deal with a major mental health symptom called PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is a mental health symptom that many survivors of combat live with. As a Purple Heart veteran , I live with PTSD .  On June 17th, 2007 I was shot by a sniper during an ambush outside of Sadr City in Baghdad. The symptoms never go completely away, but they do become manageable over time. Speaking from my lived experience, here are 3 mental he

There are so many “awareness” campaigns in today’s world. Breast cancer awareness, autism awareness, bullying awareness…but what does it all really mean? What should we be looking out for? When should we be looking for it? Who should we be contacting when we find it? All questions that anyone would have when we are told to be aware of something. When it comes to our mental health, awareness is an especially onerous task.  And why? Because it’s something we can see. We can fee

ADA law is something that we all know about, but we really don’t know what it is.

Let me set the scene: you hear the significant introduction of the speaker, you clap when they walk up to the stage, then after two...

A blog dedicated to the hard mental health conversations we can have with the people in our lives.

For years after the War on Terror, veterans live with physical pain. Pain is a contributing factor to suicide and substance abuse for vets.

I know, it sounds like I’m bragging. Allow me to explain first. I don’t think people remember that the War on Terror lasted 20 years....

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…no it’s Superman!!! For a lot of kids and adults, Superman represents everything that they would like to see in...

Do you have a New Years Resolution? Have you set one in the past? Have you ever tried to set one for your mental health?

I deployed to Iraq in 2006 with the 3-61st Cavalry Regiment. I deployment was during what the New York Times called the deadliest year...

“I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure...

This was a live conversation held June 24th 2020 David: I'd like to start by letting Ms. Huff introduce herself and let us know about her...

Once a Cav Scout...always a Cav Scout. My life didn't begin until I became a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army. A decision I made...

How many of your PERSONAL hours have you spent on your spouse (your employer) just to feel like your opinion/hard work was disregarded?

WOW! That is all I can say about that last month. I've been through a lot and I'm sure you have as well. We're still battling COVID,...

I used to despise employers who boast about the number of veterans or people with disabilities they hire.

I can't help but think that there is some guy or gal in Iraq laughing while they think about how they ruined my life.

The month of June is always very emotional for me. I celebrate my “alive day”, which is me celebrating being alive after surviving trauma