Anxiety is a brain-based function of the fear/flight/fight response. It starts in the primitive part of the human brain located in the back of the skull on top of the spinal column.  This part of the brain is activated when…

Margin is the space between your last nerve and your loss of control.  It varies.  Your margin depends on your state of health, your stress level, whether you’ve eaten well or not, and how much sleep you’ve gotten.  If you…

I was privileged to read the diary of a bombardier who flew over 50 combat missions over Italy during World War II.  I read of his anguish about being sick, and having the rest of his flight crew getting shot…

I have been privileged to travel this summer, and I am writing this blog from the rim of the Grand Canyon.  There are no pictures that can do it justice, and as I have seen so many amazing things I…

I have been spending a significant amount of time with families of soldiers with PTSD, and there are several observations to be made.  The first is that PTSD is real, and those who have it suffer greatly.  It debilitates their…

Do you wish you were back in combat?  Do you long for your buddies, for something that feels important to do?  Do you find yourself looking for places to help, to save, to protect?  You aren’t alone.  On a Facebook…

During your recovery process, it might not be wise to make decisions based on your feelings. Those things that make you feel alive, like anonymous sex, driving fast, living on the edge, and other activities that chase adrenaline, are cheap pretenders. Does…

“Time to move on. I just don’t feel anything for you anymore.” Have you said this to your significant one after deployment? Numbing, one of the primary symptoms of PTSD, causes those who suffer from it to lose connectedness with…

Numbing is like leprosy  – it is not dangerous in itself.  Leprosy numbs your appendages, PTSD numbing  numbs your heart and mind.  The danger comes when a numbed appendage gets injured and doesn’t feel the pain.  Infection sets in, and the person with the injury…