The Veteran Spouse Perspective with Janet Austin

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Janet Austin understands first-hand the experience and struggles associated with being the spouse and caregiver of a combat veteran. Her husband, Bill, is a medically retired Master Sergeant who has served over 30 years in the Army and Air National Guard before being medically discharged due to his diagnosis of PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) following his last tour in Afghanistan. Since his discharge, Janet has tirelessly advocated for military families and others suffering through combat-related trauma through the Facebook group she created, PTSD The Truth In Numbers. Additionally, Janet is a staunch advocate for service dogs, largely due to the tremendous strides she has seen with Bill’s former service dog, J.P., and regularly speaks at various events to educate others regarding the laws on service dogs for military veterans.

Janet joins us today to share her experience as a military wife while her husband was serving overseas and the emotional turmoil military spouses endure when their husbands or wives are fighting for our country. She explains why military wives often take their spouse’s post-combat PTSD-related outbursts personally and why it’s critical to remember their outbursts have nothing to do with you. She explains why many civilians don’t understand the emotional impact veterans and their families experience and why she felt compelled to avoid discussing these challenges with others. She shares why they chose not to display Bill’s military accomplishments after moving to Montana, the difference between mental health issues and educational issues for military veterans and their spouses, and how post-combat PTSD impacts the children in military families. She also explains how military veterans can benefit from receiving a service dog, the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog, and the legal requirements that must be met to receive one.

“Don’t take it personal – it’s not you.” – Janet Austin

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

  • The challenges Janet faced as a military spouse while her husband served overseas
  • How the effects of combat impacted her husband emotionally and why she initially thought his change in emotional behavior was her fault
  • The lack of resources and support available to military spouses
  • What Janet initially expected Bill’s return home would be like and how it differed from reality
  • Why Janet hid her emotions related to Bill’s post-combat PTSD outbursts from her husband
  • How Bill’s service dog, J.P., helped him cope with the trauma he experienced
  • How BIll’s sleeping habits has changed since returning home from the military
  • Why they chose not to display Bill’s military awards after moving to Montana
  • The difference between mental health issues and educational issues regarding military veterans and their spouses
  • How post-combat PTSD impacts the children in military families
  • The importance of including the entire family in repairing a veteran’s health and wellbeing
  • Why Janet blames a lot of the stigmatic perspectives associated with military veterans and post-combat PTSD  on how the media portrays them
  • The benefits of service dogs for military veterans, the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog, and the legal guidelines required to receive a service dog

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Janet Austin:

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.