Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment for Veterans
Those who serve in the armed forces of the United States often have experiences that the rest of us can hardly even imagine. Serving in the military can mean being away from family and friends for extended periods, witnessing and/or experiencing violence (including serious injury), and mourning the loss of fellow service members. These difficult experiences can, understandably, lead to a need for Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment for Veterans. Without resources to handle the range of difficulties including depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the development of a substance use disorder often occurs. While plenty of places offer mental health and substance use disorder recovery services, very few of them have specific expertise in helping veterans. Fortunately, that is beginning to change—and we are proud to be part of that change. The Aviary Recovery Center now offers a new program known as Tactical Recovery.
Real Help for Those Who Serve
Many veterans report reluctance to pursue mental health or substance use disorder treatment because they feel as though providers are unlikely to understand what they have been through. They may believe that if a therapist or other treatment provider does not have a complete understanding of the military experience, that person will be unable to provide them with effective tools and strategies for coming to terms with their experience.
It is an understandable concern, and Tactical Recovery has been painstakingly designed to address it. Working in collaboration with the national non-profit PsychArmor, Summit Behavioral Healthcare (parent company of The Aviary Recovery Center) created Tactical Recovery with great care to ensure that veterans are served in a culturally competent and trauma-informed environment.
Committed to evidence-based approaches—as well as to compassion and understanding—Tactical Recovery practitioners truly listen to each veteran they work with and then create a personalized treatment plan. Practices proven to help veterans recover from mental health or substance use disorders are central to the Tactical Recovery program.
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment for Veterans
We have noted that many times veterans are reluctant to seek out help because they don’t believe anyone will fully understand what they have gone through—and are going through now. But there may be other reasons for reluctance as well.
For example, a veteran may feel that they should have the personal strength to overcome whatever difficulty they are facing. This misconception that mental health disorders and substance use disorders can be overcome by strength of will is actually quite dangerous. It is absolutely essential to remember that these disorders are not signs of weakness but rather disorders of the brain that can be effectively treated. Just as it is seldom a good idea to go it alone in a military environment, it is a decidedly bad idea to try to go it alone when it comes to issues of mental health or substance use.
It is also possible that a veteran may feel guilty or embarrassed about needing help. They may want help and know they need it but worry that they are letting themselves or others down if they get help. Feelings of shame can be quite powerful, but it is essential to set them aside when mental health or substance use issues are in play. Just as fellow service people stand with one another in good times and bad, those engaged in caring for veterans are committed to serving—not judging or shaming—those who need help.
For these and other reasons, a vet may be tempted to put off getting help. But the better move is to get treatment for mental and substance use challenges sooner rather than later.
Tactical Recovery at The Aviary: We Are Ready to Serve
Make no mistake: everyone at The Aviary Recovery Center is grateful for the many sacrifices made by those who serve our country. And we hope to repay that service by providing exceptional, veteran-focused treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
If you have served in the military and find yourself struggling with depression, anxiety, feelings of anger or other mental health concerns, we can help. And if you have turned to drugs or alcohol as a way to manage your difficulties, we can help you reclaim and maintain your sobriety. Tactical Recovery offers a proven path toward better mental health and substance use disorder recovery.
