PTSD, Withdrawing From Psychiatric Drugs and the Upcoming Release of the Documentary “Medicating Normal”.
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Angela Peacock, MSW served in the U.S. Army for seven years as a communications specialist. She deployed to Iraq in 2003 and was medically evacuated due to a non-combat, life-threatening illness. Angela Shares the years of profound life altering pain, loss of her marriage and other punishing reactions and effects of PTSD and withdrawal from psychiatric drugs. Angela shares how blind belief in medical treatment opened the door for much of what she experienced. She provides educational and valuable insights like informed consent and participating in our individual healthcare. After medical retirement and a long period of recovery, she earned her bachelor’s in science in psychology and master’s in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. Angela discusses her current work to plan and host community screenings of Medicating Normal across the world where members of the audience are invited to critically think about our modern mental health industry, informed consent, and psychiatric drug use and withdrawal. She is a mental health advocate, a writer, and YouTube creator who travels in her campervan across the United States with her service dog Raider, to improve the mental health care system for veterans and civilians alike. She can be found online @BeingHumanRV.
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 and Erin Schraufnagel 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, Erin Schraufnagel 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.
John D Mason was a combat decorated Vietnam Veteran. Back home he was a husband and hero to his children. To his friend Joe Tate John was also a hero and life long friend. John was a marathon runner and in all regards a respected disciplined man. The news of John D Mason “s suicide was devastating and life shattering for those left behind. This episode shares the reactions of John’s son Bill and dear friend Joe Tate. In very moving detail Joe shares a letter left by John to him explaining John’s emotional and mental state near the end. We are also joined by team members of the Medical College of Wisconsin Captain John D. Mason Veteran Peer Outreach Program. The Captain John D Mason Program was started by Joe and Jennifer Tate. This program and these team members describe the very positive and beneficial outreach as John D. Mason had asked of friend Joe Tate in his last letter, “get them to the VA”. We listen to the dedication of family, friends and volunteers to remember the whole person, the strength , caring, hard working
Ben Singleton grew up in a small town in northwest Indiana. He says the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11, which he watched on a television in a high school classroom, ignited a zeal within him to serve his country. He was 18 when he enlisted in the Army after graduation. A year later Ben deployed for the invasion of Iraq as a combat infantryman and paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne division. Three years later he deployed again, this time as a sniper and member of the 4th Infantry division. Singleton re-enlisted twice and left the Army in just under seven years after attaining the rank of Staff Sgt. When he returned to civilian life, Ben encountered a series of struggles, including a troubled marriage. He credits the support of family –mom, dad and younger brother—and friends, with helping him find a healthy way forward. Today, Singleton is the manager of therapeutic riding center called Heaven’s Gait Ranch which is located in a rural community north of Milwaukee. The ranch provides a variety of services to guests of all ages including veterans and individuals with special needs. Ben appreciates the opportunity to make connections with many different people. He calls the work deeply rewarding.
Scott Schultz grew up on a farm in Osseo, WI. Scott is co-founder, president and executive director of The Heartbeat Center for Writing, Literacy and the Arts, Inc. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he’s worked as a reporter and editor in print journalism for more than 45 years He’s also worked in radio and television journalism during the past five years, and has written hundreds of sociology essays about people’s connections with the land. Some of his writing was compiled into a book, Rural Routes and Ruts (The Guest Cottage, 2004), which has been used as required reading in a variety of university courses; his essays also were used in regional and national rural life projects, and he maintains a blog, “Rural Routes.”
Dr. Chia Vang: Professor of History University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Teaching and researching the impact of the Vietnam War especially on refugees.
The Capt. John D. Mason Program aims to save lives by utilizing Veteran peers that go into the community and locate Veterans in need engaging them in VA health services, and other community resources, to live a healthy, productive life.
A native of Grafton, Wisconsin, Joe Pospichal graduated high school in 1984. The events of 9/11 — along with other incentives — made his military enlistment an easy decision. Joe deployed to Iraq leaving behind a pregnant wife. Working the roads outside the wire would profoundly alter Pospichal’s outlook on life with many nights the longing to be home with the love of his wife gave soothing sanity to life.
In this segment of the Stigma Free Vet Zone, Vietnam veteran Joe Campbell reflects on his family’s experience during his active duty and beyond. We hear how Joe’s family grappled with the fear associated with not knowing where he was, what danger he might be facing, and if and when they might receive word that Joe had been killed.
Doug Sandberg and a friend combined their curiosity and creativity with electronic parts they bought at supply stores in New York city and built a small radio station when they were teenagers. Sandberg did not know then of the unique experiences ahead in his life.
With great pride and patriotism Erin Schraufnagel joined the United States Marines Corps after the 9/11 attack in New York City in 2001. Twelve years later, Staff Sergeant Schraufnagel left the military life behind her. She shares her expectations for deployments to Iraq, a marriage strained between deployments, the unexpected enemies in her own ranks, rage, depression, alcohol and the horrifying near-death accident of her two-year-old daughter — which only added to the trauma. The inner strength that made Erin a Marine would now surface again, taking responsibility for life she brought love back to her family.