David Carlson joins me today to discuss his troubling childhood upbringing – from being raised in chronic toxic environments, acting out and 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. Working with the Orban Foundation for Veterans to instill hope in those seeking it.

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In part two, Bob Bach joins us to share his journey of seeking help and finding resources to address his combat-related PTSD symptoms and 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.

Read More

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.