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As the nation takes time to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans, Americans also remember their fighting spirit and thank them for all they gave in their service to the country. We look at their service and their sacrifice and we recognize them for all they gave in their service to the country. For some veterans, mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder from their service still affect them to this day. With many resources that encourage a healthy work-life balance and resilience in mind, body and soul, there is one treatment out there that is the oldest, and sometimes, the least costly out of all of them. That treatment is getting up and getting out to the great outdoors. According to Science.org’s Gregory Bratman, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Washington, participating in outdoor activities can improve manageability of life tasks, improve various aspects of cognitive function, memory and attention, improve impulse inhibition and provide a sense of meaning and purpose in life. An organization that provides veterans the opportunity to get outside and get connected to nature is Triple B Adventures based in San Diego, a non-profit that reconnects veterans together through free outdoor retreats. “I think Mother Nature offers a challenge that veterans are used to while they’re in the military,” said Brady Pesola, director of Triple B Adventures and a Marine Corps veteran. “We’ve all been trained to shoot and do our jobs in a chaotic type of environment, nature can provide that.” Some examples that Pesola suggested are hiking at a high elevation or stalking an elk for 10 miles. “Those are some of the kind of challenges that I think we, as veterans, crave a lot,” said Pesola. “I think it’s important for veterans to get outside and fulfill that desire of being dare I say…lethal.” Charles Johnson IV served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005-2017. After back-to-back deployments in Ramadi, Iraq and with family challenges, Johnson separated from the military after having a hard time adjusting back to civilian life. He was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He found support from the other veterans, friends and fishing. “It took people being around me to help take that chip off my shoulder,” said Johnson. “A friend of mine introduced me to deep sea fishing. Afterwards I was thinking man that was a lot of fun, I missed doing these things.” Johnson was raised as an outdoorsman. Nature wasn’t only therapeutic for him but it brought back nostalgia. He grew up with loved ones being together eating the food he caught or killed.
“To me, it means more than Oh I caught a fish ” said Johnson. “It’s bringing people together and being able to provide for them.” With so many ways to be outside, some veterans use the beach to take a break from the world. “Surfing is one of the most therapeutic things I’ve ever done,” said Paul Clock, Army veteran. “When I’m out in the ocean, it feels like the world melts away from me.” Clock experienced trauma in his career as an Army Tank Commander. He uses surfing to cope with his trauma and stress. “I believe that as veterans we need to make time to get out and explore this beautiful planet,” said Clock. “Don’t spend precious days you have sitting inside stuck in your own head. Get connected with people who care about you...and adventure...and live.” Whether alone or with a group, getting out in nature can heal. For resources for achieving physical and mental readiness, visit the Fleet and Family Support Program page to get connected
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2021 06:56 |
| Story ID: | 409912 |
| Location: | FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Veterans Connecting To Nature, by PO3 Chanel Turner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
