Monthly Archives: July 2020

Guitars for Vets: Healing Invisible Wounds of War Through Music & Pet Companions with Dan Van Buskirk

July 4, 2020Podcaststigmafreeptsd

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:48 — 58.8MB)

Dan Van Buskirk is a former Reconnaissance Marine who has served his country during the Vietnam War. For several years, Dan has worked with veteran outreach efforts to help military veterans develop healthy coping skills and heal from post-war trauma, PTSD, and combat-related anxiety. He is the founder of HAVEN – Hounds and Vets Empowered Now – a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing support to veterans in the mutually beneficial relationships forged with dogs. Dan is also an active member of Guitars For Vets, a non-profit organization helping veterans cope with combat-related PTSD through the healing power of music and community.

Dan joins us today to share why he decided to join the military and his experiences while serving in the Vietnam War. He shares his experiences as a child growing up with an abusive mother and how these experiences helped him develop the survival skills he’d need on the battlefield. He shares how his spiritual beliefs and devotion to God helped him cope with trauma. He discusses why it took over two decades to seek help for his post-combat PTSD, why it was challenging to find help sooner, and how reaching out and connecting to other veterans was the turning point in his healing process. He also shares the Guitars for Vets and HAVEN missions and how they help veterans cope with PTSD through the power of music and pet companions.

“If we’re playing a note that’s not harmonious on the guitar, we don’t sit around and act like victims or feel sorry for ourselves. We just simply change the placement of our hand on our chords and we have harmony. It’s the same thing with the work that we do inside of ourselves.” – Dan Van Buskirk

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

Dan’s troubled childhood and how it helped him develop the survival skills he’d need on the battlefield
Why Dan joined the Marines, his connection with religion at an early age, and his experience with serving in the Vietnam War on reconnaissance missions
Why he believes his spiritual connection to God was as equally important to surviving the Vietnam War as the equipment he used overseas
His traumatic experience with being initiated into the reconnaissance team
How his family reacted after Dan returned home from fighting the war
The healing power of reaching into yourself, loving yourself, and connecting with your spirituality
Why he believes it’s impossible for civilians to truly understand the brutality of war
Why it took over 20 years for Dan to finally get help for his combat-related PTSD
How the leadership skills he developed while serving in the military transferred into how he led teams in his civilian career
Working with veteran outreach programs and forming the Guitars for Vets program
How he helps veterans cope with emotional trauma by helping them train service dog companions
The role that women have played in Dan’s life and his healing process
Dan’s advice for active-duty military personal and veterans that are beginning their healing process

Connect with Dan Van Buskirk:

Helping Veterans & Their Families Transition to Civilian Life

Thanks for tuning into this segment of the Stigma Free Vet Zone podcast, the show dedicated to helping veterans and their families make the transition from the military to civilian life and culture. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories, insight, and resources on coping with military-related trauma and PTSD, visit our website and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us raise awareness and help our brothers and sisters and their families transition to civilian life.

DISCLAIMER: The information and content shared in each episode of the Stigma Free Vet Zone are for informational purposes only. The Stigma Free Vet Zone hosts, Mike Orban & Bob Bach, are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice mentioned or shared by Mike Orban, Bob Bach, or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with a medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment discussed or shared on this podcast.

David Carlson on Rising Up After a Lifetime of Trauma

July 4, 2020Podcaststigmafreeptsd

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:31 — 91.4MB)

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David Carlson is a Whole Wellness Coach at Milkweed Connections LLC, a company founded in 2019 to provide consumers with actionable strategies to overcome addictions, emotional turmoil, and mental health disorders so they can regain their independence and create a healthier lifestyle. David is also a CrossFit trainer at Momentum Sport Fitness, a Rights for All Organizer at ACLU, and an Army National Guard veteran, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. While serving his country, David completed two tours in Iraq, where he received several honors and awards.

David joins me today to discuss his troubling childhood upbringing – from being raised in chronic toxic environments, acting out, and getting in trouble with the law to joining the military and rebuilding his life. He shares his battles with substance abuse, why he chose to join the Army National Guard, and how the structure and discipline he received during basic and infantry training improved his perspective about his self-worth and his sense of identity. He shares his experiences while serving two tours in Iraq and the stark differences in structure and discipline between military life and civilian culture. He also shares his experiences with losing sight of his purpose in life, how CrossFit and what inspired him to dedicate his life to serving and helping others.

“It’s not someone just throwing textbook ideas at you. You need someone to walk by you through that.” – David Carlson

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

David’s childhood upbringing, being raised in toxic environments, and why he decided to join the military
David’s struggles with alcoholism and how it affected his life
How serving in the military gave David a sense of pride, respect, self-worth, and sense of identity
Leaving home to serve his first tour in Iraq
Why he struggled with maintaining discipline after returning home
Feeling ‘let down’ by the stark differences between his expectations of serving his country versus the realities of war
Feelings of being responsible for your comrades’ war injuries and fatalities
Staying committed to maintaining discipline and structure after returning to civilian life
David’s experiences during his second tour in Iraq, how it changed his personality and how he dealt with his post-combat-related depression and suicidal thoughts
Why he served time in prison, his experiences while there, and why he finally decided to rebuild his life
What inspired him to devote his life to helping other veterans rebuild their lives after the military
How CrossFit helps David address the emotional turmoil he still experiences after returning home from combat
Why David believes PTSD never truly goes away – you just develop better coping mechanisms
His opinion and perspective of using medications, peer-counseling support, and VA treatment programs to address combat-related mental health disorders
Why it’s critical for veterans to connect with other veterans for support

Helping Veterans & Their Families Transition to Civilian Life

Dr. Michael Dailey on Battling Depression & Expecting the Unexpected

July 4, 2020Podcaststigmafreeptsd

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:17 — 43.0MB)

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Dr. Michael Dailey is the co-founder of the Infectious Disease Society of Georgia and Co-President of the Infectious Disease Society of America, a foundation on a mission to reduce the burdens of infectious diseases worldwide. He is Board Certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and has professional affiliations with multiple organizations, including the American Society of Microbiology. Born and raised in a family of Navy veterans in Oak Harbor, Washington, Dr. Dailey attended Holy Cross College in 1969, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He earned his Master’s degree in Microbiology from Wayne State University in 1971, and later, earned his medical degree. During his residency, he worked as a resident doctor at the VA hospital, helping veterans suffering from advanced cardio-pulmonary disease. During his free time, Dr. Dailey enjoys golfing, traveling to Ireland, and spending quality time with his wife, Maureen, and their four children.

Dr. Michael joins me today to share his experiences as a doctor treating patients during times when professional experiences go beyond medical expectations. He shares his experiences and emotional turmoil of working in the VA ward as a resident doctor while treating military veterans with advanced cardio-pulmonary disease when CPR was still a new concept. He discusses his battle with depression and taking anti-depression medications, such as lithium. He also shares his thoughts on how the medical field can prepare new doctors to expect the unexpected while working with veteran patients and why creating a support team around you is critical to overcoming depression.

“No man is an island. You have to have a team around you to do everything It’s not a solo deal.” – Dr. Michael Dailey

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

What inspired Dr. Michael to become a medical doctor
Michael’s residency experience while working in a VA ward
Michael’s experiences of battling depression and taking anti-depressants such as lithium
Preparing new doctors to expect the unexpected
Bouncing back from depression
Michael’s experience of treating patients through the AIDS pandemic
Meeting Mother Theresa and how her ‘do it anyway’ narrative impacted his life and the lives of thousands of patients
The importance of viewing depression as a medical failure instead of a personal failure

Helping Veterans & Their Families Transition to Civilian Life

Bob Bach on The True Lens of War & Keeping the Will to Survive Part 2

July 4, 2020Podcaststigmafreeptsd

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:27 — 56.9MB)

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After growing up in a military family and being inspired by the 1960’s television shows and movies about life in the military, Bob Bach knew he was destined to serve his country. After graduating high school, Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At the tender age of 17, he began to learn the true colors of war, the emotional impact it would have on his life, and how it differed from what was portrayed in movies. Bob served 10 months in deployed overseas during one of the gruesomest wars our country has faced – the Vietnam War – before returning back to civilian life with an honorable discharge.

Bob joins me again today to share his journey of seeking help and finding resources to address his combat-related PTSD symptoms. He discusses how numbing his emotions after returning home and re-entering civilian life impacted his relationships with his wife, children, and loved ones. He discusses his experience with alcohol abuse, how it added to the distress he was already experiencing after returning home, and how he finally found the help he needed to address his emotions and painful thoughts. Bob also explains why it’s important for veterans and their families to understand that the feelings and emotions they’re experiencing when transitioning from military life to civilian life are normal and why it’s crucial for veterans to ask for help and seeking treatment so they can rebuild a normal, healthy life.

“War, by any number of definitions, is insanity. But where we might trip ourselves up is by thinking that we should apply some notion of normalcy to something that’s insane.” – Bob Bach

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

The challenges Bob experienced with finding resources and services to help with combat-related PTSD
Keeping up the facade that warriors do not have weaknesses
How the coping strategy of numbing his emotions that helped Bob survive the Vietnam War later became detrimental to his relationships with his children and loved ones
Turning to external substances, such as alcohol abuse, to numb the pain
Finding the support he needed to get his life and relationship back on track and reconnect with his family
Understanding your thoughts, feelings, and reactions are normal after experiencing trauma while serving your country
Common reactions and responses to traumatic experiences
The difference between guilt and shame and why Bob believes the feelings of “survivor’s guilt” are really feelings of ‘survivor’s shame’
The role of love, nature, and spirituality in the healing process and transitioning back to civilian life
The importance of reaching out, asking for help, and seeking counseling and/or treatment

Resources Mentioned:

Veterans Affairs Vet Center

Helping Veterans & Their Families Transition to Civilian Life

Bob Bach on The True Lens of War & Keeping the Will to Survive

July 4, 2020Podcaststigmafreeptsd

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:45 — 53.2MB)

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Beyond deep-seated feelings of patriotism and growing up in a military family, Bob Bach’s initial desire to join the military began as a young boy in the mid-1960’s. Moved by the often-glamourized scenes in movies and television shows about wartime heroes, Bob’s desire to serve his country grew more intense as he entered – and graduated – high school. At the age of 17, Bob enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving 18 months – serving 10 months overseas during the Vietnam War era.

Bob joins me today to share his experiences while serving his country through the Vietnam War era. He discusses how television and movies often glamorize the true colors of war, often leading to unrealistic expectations for young military recruits. He shares his experiences of being on patrol while under enemy fire and how coping techniques like controlling fears and anxiety played a role in surviving the Vietnam War. He also shares his experiences of returning home after serving in the military, how his expectations differed from reality, and why he felt disoriented and confused when transitioning back to civilian life.

“In order to survive in Vietnam – I had to learn how to deny reality. I needed to learn how to fool myself.” – Bob Bach

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

How watching episodes of the 1960’s television show, Combat, piqued Bob’s desire to join the military
Bob’s initial expectations prior to entering the military and how they compared to what he experienced once he enlisted
His first experience of being on patrol while under enemy fire
Why Bob felt ill-prepared for the paradoxes of war
Denying reality, learning to numb your emotions, and controlling your fear as a coping mechanism to survive the brutality of war
Why he began feeling betrayed after a few short months of being deployed
What Bob’s initial expectations of returning home after the Vietnam War were like and how it differed from reality
Why Bob felt disoriented and confused while transitioning back to civilian life after serving in Vietnam and how he coped with these feelings
How Bob’s friends and family treated him after coming home from war
His wife’s Bob’s transitioning back to civilian life

Helping Veterans & Their Families Transition to Civilian Life