MSI Press Blog

Happy Fourth of July, 2020! In celebration of this day, we present an excerpt from Joanna Romer's popular book, Helping the Disabled Veteran . Excerpt: Holidays The holidays may be a poignant time for your veteran, perhaps more than you realize. If he or she lost a friend in battle, or simply during the course of military service, your veteran may be reminded of that friendship with sadness during the holidays. Even though you’ve never met this friend, you should respect your veteran’s grief—the friendship may have been very close. Your veteran may feel guilty if unable to do Christmas shopping. If they are confined to a wheelchair, for instance. You can offer to help—either by buying the items he/she picks out or by setting your veteran up on the computer to do some online shopping. It goes without saying that lending a little extra cash during this time would be welcome. On the day of the holiday itself, don’t be surprised if your veteran wants to stay in his/he...

  PTSD is often discussed in terms of traumatic memories, flashbacks, or nightmares. While those symptoms are important, they tell only part of the story. One of the most painful and least visible effects of PTSD is the isolation it can create. For many veterans, the struggle is not simply what happened in the past. It is the feeling that no one around them can fully understand what happened or what they continue to experience. That sense of being different, disconnected, or misunderstood can gradually create emotional distance from the very people who care most. PTSD Can Be Isolating PTSD often affects far more than memories. It can influence relationships, emotions, sleep, concentration, and a person's sense of safety in the world. A veteran living with PTSD may remain constantly alert for danger, even in situations that appear completely safe to others. Crowds may feel overwhelming. Unexpected noises may trigger intense reactions. Sleep may become difficult, leaving the person e...

  This excerpt comes from  Helping the Disabled Veteran  (Joanna Romer) Drive down any major thoroughfare in a medium to large-sized city, and you’re bound to see this sign at an intersection: “Homeless Veteran. Please Help.”  The sign is usually being wielded by a man between 20 and 70 years old, bedraggled in appearance and wearing a helpless expression on his face. Sometimes the sign says, “Will work for food,” especially if the Veteran is on the younger side. Sometimes the sign bearer is disabled, with just one leg, standing on crutches or in a wheelchair. What do we do when we see such a person? The light changes and we drive on through the intersection; or, if we’re feeling charitable, we put a dollar in the outstretched cup. Sometimes if we get a look at the veteran’s face, a tear may come to our eye: there’s something very wrong about this situation. The more cynical among us may posit that the whole thing is an act—that the man with the sign is jus...

For many veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), knowing that someone has their back is not merely comforting. It can be profoundly healing. Military service teaches the importance of trust, teamwork, and mutual support. Service members learn that their safety and success often depend upon the people beside them. Those bonds do not disappear when military service ends. In many cases, they become even more important when a veteran is struggling with the invisible wounds of trauma. PTSD Can Be Isolating PTSD often affects far more than memories. It can influence relationships, emotions, sleep, concentration, and a person's sense of safety in the world. Many veterans report feeling misunderstood by those who have not shared similar experiences. Some withdraw from family and friends. Others avoid social situations, believing that no one could truly understand what they are going through. Isolation can become one of PTSD's most painful symptoms. The veteran may f...

  Silence is often mistaken for strength. But for many veterans, silence is not peace — it is survival. They carry memories too vivid, emotions too raw, and truths too heavy for ordinary conversation. Many veterans don’t talk about what they’ve seen. Silence as a Shield It keeps focus sharp and emotion contained. Soldiers learn to compartmentalize — to act first, feel later. That skill saves lives in war. But in peace, it can become a prison. Silence as Isolation It pulls the veteran inward, away from connection. Family members sense the distance but don’t know how to cross it. Friends ask, “How was it?” — and the veteran smiles, says “fine,” and changes the subject. The mind replays what it cannot release. The heart carries what it cannot share. Silence becomes its own wound: invisible, heavy, and slow to heal. Breaking the Quiet Not interrogation, not pity — but presence. When someone listens without flinching, the veteran learns that words can be spoken without harm. That the st...