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many ways unhealthy ways I choose to deal with my pain, and they only contributed to my shame.
After separating from the Marine Corps, I started over like all of us do after our tour of duty. There were ups and downs, successes and failures. I was able to put myself through school and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. I taught fitness classes, held management positions, but continued to struggle internally. Through the struggles I was on a path to getting the help I needed. I became more involved in my local Veteran community and even married a man that continues to serve in the Army Reserve. Bit by bit I was able to share my story but it felt overwhelming emotionally, and even physically. Shame still ruled my life.
I was able to confront the fears, shame, and all the other issues PTSD brought when I had a miscarriage in 2014. The grief of this loss combined with the PTSD and the grieving I needed to do to recover felt overwhelming. Instead of being angry and emotional only sometimes, I spiraled into depression and anxiety. Panic attacks were a common part of my life. I was desperate. I talked to my local County Veteran Service Officer and he encouraged me to, at the very least, contact the counselors at the Vet Center in my area. This is where my counseling, and more importantly, my healing began.
Over the years, the things that helped me to manage my PTSD in the healthiest ways have been counseling (including Cognitive Processing Therapy), and exercise, and especially Pilates. Exercise in general, as I am sure you know, can help with depression and anxiety symptoms. There are many research studies to prove this, along with my own story to apply the benefit to mental health. It is not a magic pill, and I do not claim
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