{"id":2343729,"date":"2024-09-20T06:10:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/healing-loudly-one-veterans-work-to-curb-the-suicide-epidemic-by-speaking-out-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-20T06:12:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:12:30","slug":"healing-loudly-one-veterans-work-to-curb-the-suicide-epidemic-by-speaking-out-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/healing-loudly-one-veterans-work-to-curb-the-suicide-epidemic-by-speaking-out-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Healing loudly: One veteran\u2019s work to curb the suicide epidemic by speaking out &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhealing-loudly-one-veterans-work-to-curb-the-suicide-epidemic-by-speaking-out-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2343729&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>D that healing is not linear and that \u2064there\u2063 are still days filled \u200cwith challenges. However, he \u200bemphasizes the importance\u200b of connection\u200c and community in the recovery process. Sharing his story and being open about\u2063 his feelings and struggles \u2062has helped him find purpose and reduce the \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-star-qb-aaron-rodgers-tells-joe-rogan-what-big-pharma-companies-are-really-after\/\" title=\"Watch: Aaron Rodgers Exposes Big Pharma&#039;s True Motives to Joe Rogan\">stigma surrounding mental health issues<\/a> among veterans.<\/p>\n<p>In embracing the &#8220;heal\u2064 loudly&#8221; philosophy, Dufresne encourages others to speak out\u200d about their experiences, \u200dto seek help, and to support their peers. His journey illustrates the critical need\u2062 for awareness and open\u2064 conversations about mental health,\u2062 especially within the military community, where seeking help \u2064can often be perceived\u2063 as weakness.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, Dufresne&#8217;s story serves as a reminder that healing is possible, and\u2064 that by speaking \u200bout, veterans can \u2064help themselves and others navigate the\u200c complexities of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-secure-movie-rights-to-romantic-novel-for-netflix\/\" title=\"Prince Harry and Meghan Markle snag movie rights for romantic novel on Netflix.\">mental \u200dhealth challenges<\/a>. His hope is that by sharing his journey, he can inspire others \u2062to prioritize\u2064 their well-being and to recognize \u2063that they are not alone \u200cin\u2063 their struggles. Healing, he believes, is a \u2064collective \u200ceffort, and together, veterans \u200bcan forge a\u2063 path toward \u2063recovery and resilience.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-sacff-txt\">Magazine &#8211; Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Healing loudly: One veteran&rsquo;s work to curb the suicide epidemic by speaking out<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1740870\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>September is Suicide Prevention Month, when advocates publicize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>an epidemic<\/a> that is taking far too many lives. Despite earnest attempts to curb the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3037353\/soldiers-more-likely-die-suicide-than-in-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>staggering rise in suicides<\/a> over the past two decades, the numbers tell a disturbing tale.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Among the entire U.S. population, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/suicide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>age-adjusted suicide rate climbed<\/a> from 10.4 per 100,00 in 2000 to 14 per 100,000 in 2021, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. For veterans, the unadjusted suicide rate increased from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/docs\/data-sheets\/2022\/2022-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf\">23.3 per 100,000<\/a> in 2001 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/docs\/data-sheets\/2023\/2023-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf\">33.9 per 100,000<\/a> in 2021, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs&rsquo;s National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Rob Dufresne on the road north of Kabul, Afghanistan, 2012. Right: Between Kabul and Bagram Airfield, 2013. (All images courtesy of Rob Dufresne)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Suicide has shattered families, erased important <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>history<\/a>, and left behind pain that can never be healed.<\/p>\n<p>But for some, help came at just the right time. Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Rob Dufresne needed assistance to keep him from falling into the depths of a depression that took hold toward the end of his military career and continued for years after his military transition.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was lucky that I survived that period,&rdquo; Dufresne now admits.<\/p>\n<p>Though his mental health journey is far from finished, Dufresne told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> about the difficulties that nearly defeated him and how stories like his could be instrumental in combating the &ldquo;suicide scourge&rdquo; that affects people of all backgrounds and experiences.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Down the slippery slope<\/h2>\n<p>Dufresne says that jumping out of planes as an Army Ranger and later serving over two decades with Special Forces teams as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/national-security\/1839872\/the-green-berets-come-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Green Beret<\/a> was his &ldquo;dream job.&rdquo; But toward the end of his hard-charging 26-year career, a host of injuries &ldquo;kind of caught up&rdquo; with him.<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne described one occasion when he took a sick call in the morning to ask an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/army\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Army <\/a>doctor for a medical remedy for the body pains that were affecting his work. As he listed off the various issues he was facing, Dufresne recalls the doctor asking him to pick a &ldquo;chief complaint&rdquo; that staff could address during his 15-minute healthcare visit.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I never had just a singular chief complaint,&rdquo; Dufresne explained. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t even know it was a 15-minute appointment.&rdquo; But Dufresne complied with the request that he minimize his problems. Deciding that other troops must need assistance more than he did, he figured he would &ldquo;just take a back seat.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>His failures to get adequate care would spawn a dangerous cycle of Dufresne assuming that the phantom needs of others took priority over his own urgent problems.<\/p>\n<p>The Army responded to Dufresne&rsquo;s increasing medical concerns by attempting to force him into medical retirement. Though he chose to remain in the service, physically demanding deployments with Special Forces teams were out of the question. &ldquo;I was happy to be able to contribute in the way that I could,&rdquo; Dufresne reported, but &ldquo;what I wanted to be doing was something very different.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Among his last assignments was a deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2012. Dufresne had the vaunted task of helping stand up the Special Operations Joint Task Force &mdash; Afghanistan, which would unite the various American, NATO-ISAF, and Afghan National Army Special Operations teams in their pursuit of the Taliban enemy. What others might find a welcome and prestigious challenge was less so to Dufresne, who longed to be involved in the more kinetic effort of fighting that insurgency.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For much of his 2012-13 deployment, Dufresne was traveling to special operations camps throughout the country. It &ldquo;was great in a way, but it also fed that feeling of inadequacy and wanting to do more. There were a lot of teams out there that were short &hellip; and everywhere we went, I wanted to stay,&rdquo; Dufresne said.<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne&rsquo;s deployment was extended an extra six months to &ldquo;solidify&rdquo; the combined force he helped establish. His final destination was Camp Integrity, north of Hamid Karzai International Airport, the location of many infamous scenes of chaos and death in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/2759415\/afghanistan-answers-and-questions-take-center-stage-in-kabul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>final days of the U.S. withdrawal<\/a> from Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after his return to the U.S., Dufresne heard that Camp Integrity had been attacked. The news compounded his guilt and frustration. One of the many tasks that fell to Dufresne while part of the skeleton crew establishing Camp Integrity was designing the camp&rsquo;s base defense plan.<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne continued to question the impact of his deployment to Kabul in the following years. &ldquo;I hope we did good. I think that we did,&rdquo; he explained softly. &ldquo;I really wish I could have been there for those guys.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A new question would arise in August 2021, during the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover of Afghanistan. Dufresne began to wonder &ldquo;how things turned out&rdquo; for his Afghan counterparts, which became &ldquo;one of the things that made the manner of the withdrawal pretty <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine-features\/3129402\/calculating-the-human-toll-of-the-us-exit-from-afghanistan-three-years-later\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>personally damaging<\/a> for so many of us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transitioning to civilian life<\/h2>\n<p>Survivor&rsquo;s guilt, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy dogged Dufresne as he prepared for his transition out of the military, which was set for 2015. &ldquo;I probably stayed on active duty for a little bit too long,&rdquo; he admitted. &ldquo;But I just wanted to do more. I wanted to contribute more. My brain wasn&rsquo;t thinking right then.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne began acting out with anger, fueled by depression. &ldquo;I was in crisis in a lot of ways, and I did seek assistance on more than one occasion,&rdquo; Dufresne said. Instead of giving him help, a military healthcare provider gave him a referral for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parents-lawsuit-claims-12-year-olds-suicide-attempts-occurred-after-secret-gender-identity-meetings-with-school-staff\/\" title=\"Parents Lawsuit Claims 12-Year-Old\u2019s Suicide Attempts Occurred After Secret Gender Identity Meetings with School Staff\">mental health assistance<\/a> that never came.<\/p>\n<p>As before, Dufresne said he &ldquo;just assumed that there were people out there who need help more than I need it, so I just sucked it up.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Leaving the military brought different struggles. Though Dufresne had never planned to derive &ldquo;so much of [his] self-worth from a job,&rdquo; he felt &ldquo;almost completely deflated&rdquo; as a veteran. He was no longer &ldquo;in a position to be able to effect change or to be a teammate to people on the ground anymore. There was no longer a possibility for me to be called up because &hellip; &rsquo;the unit needs you.&rsquo; And that was a tough thing for me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Other veterans did not appear to be struggling with transition in Dufresne&rsquo;s eyes, which only increased his feeling of inadequacy. He soon began &ldquo;beating [himself] up&rdquo; as his mind became &ldquo;the perfect storm of just negativity, irrational thoughts, non sequiturs that I was creating to just make myself feel worse and worse.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>When Dufresne again sought out mental health assistance through the VA, &ldquo;it kind of just led nowhere,&rdquo; he said. He decided that it was the &ldquo;last time [he would] look for help of that kind.&rdquo; Once again, he turned inward.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power of healing<\/h2>\n<p>Dark years followed on the heels of Dufresne&rsquo;s military transition. Eventually, the people Dufresne loved helped him &ldquo;kick his own ass&rdquo; until he was ready to try something new.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There wasn&rsquo;t one precipitating event. It was sort of a chipping away,&rdquo; Dufresne said. Some of his fellow Green Berets suggested that Dufresne talk with a professional. He was also motivated by the &ldquo;love and kindness of [his] significant other [and] the support from friends and family who did not always know what was going on but knew that something was going on.&rdquo; Even small interactions such as &ldquo;little supportive comments here and there [and] a hug from a friend&rdquo; had an outsize impact on his desire to get better.<\/p>\n<p>Among those supporting voices was Dufresne&rsquo;s friend Leo, who asked Dufresne to be vocal about his recovery. &ldquo;We all suffered in silence for so long,&rdquo; Leo told Dufresne. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s important that once you do heal, you heal loudly.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Part catchphrase, part lifeline, the &ldquo;heal loudly&rdquo; moniker encouraged Dufresne to morph his quiet, internal processing of anger and pain into something outward-facing.<\/p>\n<p>In order to heal, Dufresne first had to reorient his point of view. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t acknowledging that there was something wrong with my thinking,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;That I needed to get dug out of that rut so I could fix the way I viewed things and the way I viewed myself.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Like many veterans, Dufresne had to cast aside the stigmas from his military career that seeking mental help is a sign of weakness. &ldquo;For some people, it&rsquo;s their command &hellip; gatekeeping [care]. It might just be the culture that has been modeled and then adopted in a unit that says, &lsquo;If you&rsquo;re going to seek assistance, you don&rsquo;t belong here. We don&rsquo;t need you.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Not wanting &ldquo;to be seen as weak,&rdquo; Dufresne says service members and veterans can easily &ldquo;reach that point of hopelessness because they&rsquo;ve had troubles and they&rsquo;ve not talked about them to anyone. They feel that nobody can help them, nobody wants to help them, they&rsquo;re not worth being helped.&rdquo; This destructive cycle &ldquo;ends up being their demise,&rdquo; Dufresne said.<\/p>\n<p>In some promising ways, Dufresne said he sees the culture breaking down. One of &ldquo;the most impactful things&rdquo; he has witnessed among his fellow veterans is the trend toward being &ldquo;honest and raw&rdquo; about internal battles, doubts, and struggles in print media and on a plethora of veteran-run podcasts and documentaries. Recently, Dufresne watched veterans of the Battle of Mogadishu discuss their experiences. &ldquo;These guys were giants, they were legends,&rdquo; Dufresne enthused. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re talking about things that went through their minds and their state of mind. &hellip; It&rsquo;s jaw-dropping for special operations folks to hear about that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by this groundswell of outspokenness, Dufresne said he hopes that being vocal about his recovery will let him &ldquo;reach people like myself, people who are &hellip; hiding it, stepping aside, and saying, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t worry about me. I&rsquo;ve got this. Help those other people.&rsquo; It&rsquo;s an honorable kind of thought, but it&rsquo;s just so self-destructive. Healing loudly is all about telling those people they are worth it. They are absolutely not lesser-than.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Healing loudly also has an &ldquo;active component,&rdquo; Dufresne said. &ldquo;The whole idea of it is directly tied to helping other people in your lowest moment.&rdquo; Even when Dufresne is struggling deeply with his own pain, he explained that having a friend reach out with struggles of their own helps him &ldquo;rise to the occasion. For a fleeting moment, you don&rsquo;t have any problems. You just go into &lsquo;help mode&rsquo; because someone you love needs help.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne admitted his healing journey is not linear and has no definitive end state. Even with his team of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graphic-sexual-content-assigned-to-texas-students-dissenting-parents-harassed-with-anti-christiandks\/\" title=\"Graphic Sexual Content Assigned To Texas Students; Dissenting Parents Harassed With Anti-Christian\u2026\u2018D**ks\u2019\u00a0\">mental health professionals<\/a>, nine years out from his own transition, Dufresne said he is &ldquo;kind of in the middle of some of this.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The middle ground Dufresne worked hard to reach is a place where he longs to lead others. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s sad that with all the attention, we haven&rsquo;t figured out an effective way to fight [the suicide epidemic]. We need a new strategy or we need to include other strategies in our overall campaign to fight the suicide problem in the military and veteran communities,&rdquo; Dufresne explained.<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne said he believes that frankly discussing mental health can be a simple but impactful part of that way forward. Just by &ldquo;healing and talking about it,&rdquo; survivors are &ldquo;helping other people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Beth Bailey (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BWBailey85\"><em>@BWBailey85<\/em><\/a><em>) is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the co-host of <\/em>The Afghanistan Project<em>, which takes a deep dive into the tragedy wrought in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1740870\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1740870\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Magazine Feature: Healing Loudly &#8211; A Veteran&#8217;s Efforts to Address the Suicide Crisis Through Advocacy**<\/p>\n<p>September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a time when advocates raise awareness about an epidemic that claims far too many lives. Despite sincere efforts to address the alarming increase in suicides over the last twenty years, statistics reveal a troubling reality. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the age-adjusted suicide rate in the U.S. rose from 10.4 per 100,000 in 2000 to 14 per 100,000 by 2021. For veterans specifically, data from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows that their unadjusted suicide rate jumped from 23.3 per 100,000 in 2001 to an alarming 33.9 per 100,000 in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Suicide has devastated families and erased significant histories while leaving behind wounds that may never fully heal. However, for some individuals like retired Army Sgt. Rob Dufresne, timely help made all the difference during his struggle with depression that began towards the end of his military service and persisted long after he transitioned back to civilian life.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on his past struggles with mental health during an interview with Washington Examiner, Dufresne shared how he nearly succumbed to despair but believes sharing stories like his can play a crucial role in fighting against this &#8220;suicide scourge&#8221; affecting people across various backgrounds.<\/p>\n<p>Dufresne described his time as an Army Ranger and later as a Green Beret serving on Special Forces teams as fulfilling; however, by the end of his extensive military career spanning over two decades\u2014marked by numerous injuries\u2014he found himself overwhelmed physically and mentally. He recounted one instance where he sought medical help for multiple ailments but was told by a doctor during a brief appointment to focus on just one issue\u2014a request he found difficult given his myriad concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Feeling compelled to prioritize others&#8217; needs over his own led Dufresne into a dangerous cycle where he neglected seeking adequate care for himself despite escalating medical issues prompting attempts at forced retirement from active duty.<\/p>\n<p>His final deployment took him back to Kabul in Afghanistan where he played a key role establishing Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan amidst ongoing conflict against Taliban forces\u2014a task that left him feeling inadequate as he yearned for more direct involvement in combat operations.<\/p>\n<p>Upon returning home after witnessing chaos unfold at Camp Integrity shortly thereafter\u2014and grappling with survivor\u2019s guilt regarding Afghan allies\u2014Dufresne faced challenges transitioning into civilian life marked by self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy exacerbated by comparisons with other veterans who seemed unaffected by similar transitions.<\/p>\n<p>Despite seeking mental health support through military channels which often fell short or led nowhere productive due largely due assumptions about others needing help more than himself\u2014Dufresne eventually found encouragement through loved ones urging him toward professional assistance alongside small gestures of kindness which collectively motivated him toward recovery.<\/p>\n<p>Inspired further still by fellow veterans advocating openly about their struggles through various media platforms\u2014including podcasts discussing past battles\u2014Dufresne embraced what became known as \u201chealing loudly.\u201d This approach encouraged him not only acknowledge personal pain but also share it outwardly while helping others facing similar challenges realize they are worthy of support rather than lesser-than because they seek assistance\u2014a sentiment echoed throughout veteran communities today striving towards breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health discussions within military culture itself.<\/p>\n<p>While acknowledging healing is not linear nor definitive even nine years post-transition\u2014the journey remains ongoing; Dufresne emphasizes importance addressing these issues candidly could serve pivotal roles combating rising suicide rates among both active-duty personnel and veterans alike moving forward into future strategies aimed at fostering healthier environments conducive towards open dialogue around mental wellness overall within these communities impacted most heavily throughout history\u2019s conflicts abroad<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1252,"featured_media":2343730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Feat.Healing1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[8106,35390,41296,4958],"class_list":["post-2343729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-healing","tag-mental-health","tag-suicide-prevention","tag-veteran"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Feat.Healing1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1252"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2343729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343729\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2343730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2343729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2343729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2343729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}