SALT LAKE CITY — For many veterans, leaving the military doesn’t mean leaving the stress behind.
Bryce Gosney, a former U.S. Marine who served from 2003 to 2012 and completed two combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, knows this challenge firsthand.
“That military mindset is hardwired into people’s brains. … It teaches people to be ready. It teaches people to be alert,” he said. “The problem is that that mindset that’s tuned for experiencing negative things can also be applied to your family, to the way you live your life. And it can, over time, make normal and safe situations into something that isn’t quite so normal for you and doesn’t feel quite so safe.”
Veterans can experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression long after leaving the service — even if those struggles aren’t visible.
Research also shows that veterans are at a 57% higher risk of suicide than those who have not served.
Now a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with Serenity Mental Health, Gosney works to help other veterans adjust to and feel safe in civilian life.
“We have to kind of shift the way that we think, and if you need help doing that, there is no problem with that. There’s no stigma against that,” he said.
Bryce Gosney during his time in the Marines. Gosney was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, and Helmand Province, Afghanistan during his service. (Photo: Bryce Gosney)
Gosney also pointed out that first responders experience trauma, too.
“It’s not just Iraq. It’s not just Afghanistan for them. It is here. It’s in our cities and towns. It’s in Ogden, it’s in Layton. It’s all around us,” he said.
Gosney noted that this time of year can be particularly tough for veterans.
“The holidays are one of the hardest seasons for people, but veterans especially,” he said. “It’s supposed to be a time of happiness, but if we have been stuck too long in this negative headspace … it makes us feel like we don’t belong.”
While there’s no quick fix, Gosney said there are steps veterans can take to improve their mental health.
That includes basic habits like sleep, nutrition and exercise, along with therapies, mindfulness, and staying socially connected.
He also mentioned other useful approaches like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment, to support recovery. “We are physically exercising those positive parts of the brain so that they are more dominant in the brain,” he said.
“If you put in that work over the years, it’s going to have the effect. It’s just going to be one day at a time,” he said. “You are not alone. There are other people and other veterans out there.”
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis hotlines
Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line: 801-587-3000SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine at 988Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
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