She fumbled and stumbled. I watched as the intoxicating liquids took hold, their effects inevitable. I observed the entire process, knowing exactly Continue Reading
Mental Health & Wellness
Misfire Procedures
I was tired. It was mid-morning January 3rd and all I could think about was getting back to bed when the day was over. My fourth or fifth mug of Continue Reading
One Step at a Time: Delayed-Onset PTSD
My terminally ill son brought back memories of the war in Afghanistan. For years, I kept quiet about my deployment and suppressed anything associated Continue Reading
Ways Intensive Outpatient Programs Help With Co-Occurring Disorders
Photo by Judy Beth Morris on Unsplash Managing both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder presents a unique complexity. These Continue Reading
When the Frogs Came Back, So Did I
If you’ve been following my creative ventures for more than a few weeks, you’ll see that I’m a fanatic about frogs. It seems that lately nothing Continue Reading
Combat Stress Reaction Treatment and Why It Works
When we first came home from Iraq, we landed in New Jersey. We remained on base for a couple of weeks to get "acclimated back to the civilian world." Continue Reading
Insomnia: Demon of Destruction and Peace
Night after night I lay awake, long after the light of day has settled beyond the horizon. The struggle that ensues is one all too familiar. It has Continue Reading
Before the Cut
The dream is back. I’m an Operating Room (OR) nurse again. The dreams always return when I get too close to the years I’ve sealed away. I’m in a Continue Reading
You Sent Us to War Now Listen
My war has been over for nearly two decades. I took off the uniform, balled it up, and shoved it deep inside a musty green Army duffel bag. It now Continue Reading
How to Keep Going
By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta Reque-Dragicevic's blog "Life After War" and is republished with the author's Continue Reading
The Stoplight and the Surge
Living with anxiety and depression has often felt like riding on top of a tidal wave. At times, it’s exciting and electric; other moments feel like Continue Reading
When Adults Turn Childhood Into a Culture War
Children are not miniature adults. Their brains are unfinished systems still wiring emotional regulation, threat assessment, and identity formation. Continue Reading