Let friends, family, co-workers and others help: You cannot do this alone. It may seem that there is no one who cares, but they are there; family, friends, co-workers or fellow military colleagues, and others, along with people who have experienced what you are experiencing. These people can be there for you. You also know that some will ignore you or turn their backs. The stigma of mental illness is lessening but it still exists. Even just a few close supports can make all the difference in your recovery. However, it is wise to choose carefully. People who drag you down only add to your burden. Perhaps now is the time to take a stock of your relationships and distance yourself from people who diminish, rather than enhance, your health.

Peer support: Veterans with OSIs have a military community and another community in peers who are also dealing with an OSI. There is no substitute for being among people who’ve “been there.” This may involve a formal peer support group like Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) or connecting with individuals who will meet you for coffee. You will learn from these people and they will learn from you. What peers offer is the knowledge of their experience – practical, every day and common sense. Online peer-to-peer support can also be valuable.

Peer support can also help your family or friends who are going through their own struggles. Coping with an Operational Stress Injury has likely been all-consuming for you but it is also no walk in the park for your support system. They can use a place of their own to turn to so they know that they, too, are not alone.

Strategies for handling stigma: It’s there and it can hurt. Know that you don’t have to tell anyone that you have a mental illness or an Operational Stress Injury unless you want to – and you believe they will help, not hinder, your recovery. Develop ways to assess places and people for whether or not they are safe.

Taking care of your physical health: As you strive for a healthy mind, it is important to remember that your head should be attached to a healthy body. Yes, we all know we should exercise, eat right, get a good night’s sleep, stop smoking and go easy on the alcohol. But knowing and doing are two different things. Now is the time to get serious about your whole body health – if you haven’t before. Commit to yourself. After all, you deserve it.

Inform yourself: Research on the Internet, ask questions, track down information, learn about and bookmark trusted sources. A knowledgeable patient is a medical professional’s best friend. Your questions for them will be more targeted and you will provide them with information that will help them better manage your care.

Alternative and traditional therapies:⁴⁹ Usually, the medical profession takes the view that, if alternative therapies work for you and create no harm, then go ahead. Some people stand by meditation and it has shown itself to enhance calmness, reduce stress and sharpen concentration. It is a central feature of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and can, on its own, become part of your individual support strategy. Taking dietary supplements is also a choice even though scientific research on their effectiveness is not strong. However, there is no question that people value them since they are a billion-dollar industry. The exception to these results is St. John’s Wort which has shown itself to be effective for mild depression. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise like jogging, helps lift mild depression too, sometimes just as well as anti-depressants. Of course, it’s also good for your general physical health. Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder is endorsed by the medical community and widely used. Yoga has shown itself to be helpful for people with mild symptoms, although positive evaluative research results are not strong. Indigenous healing practices, traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurvedic medicine have much longer histories than Western practices. They focus on a balance between the mind, body, and spirit. They also have the advantage of connecting people to their culture.

Having fun: An OSI steals the enjoyment out of life. Having fun may seem only a memory and it just doesn’t seem right that you have to work at something that used to be so simple and so spontaneous. Knowing that fun is not a luxury but an essential part of your health may help you get out and get going. If you’ve been isolating for a long time and if you don’t yet feel particularly well, this is going to be tough. Maybe all you can manage is to put it on the to-do list. But that’s a start.

Giving back: As you progress in your wellness, you may benefit from helping others, noting that you must have a firm grip on your own health before offering support.

Recovery

48 Mood Disorders Society of Canada (2012). What better feels like: Wellness guide. Available at: mdsc.ca/what-better-feels-like/

49 Kennedy, S. et al (2016). Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT). Clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorders in adults. Section 3 Pharmacological treatments. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 61 (9). Full chapter available here: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4994790

50 Mood Disorders Society of Canada (2012). What better feels like: Wellness Guide. Available at: mdsc.ca/what-better-feels-like/