Veteran Doctor - Episode 2 - Veterans and Holidays

Good Morning Veterans, Family, Friends, and Everyone else who wants to listen in on the SECOND EPISODE of the Veteran Doctor Podcast.

My name is Dr. John Heintzelman and I am your host and the founder of the Veteran Doctor. So first off some of you are probably wondering why is this podcast called Veteran Doctor? Great Question. So, you are probably wondering, is he really a Doctor? Yes, I actually am! Not in the Medical sense, but I have a Ph.D. So, my academic resume includes a Master’s degree in Sports and Performance Psychology and a Doctorate in Psychology where my specialty lies in Research. I also am a retired Army Airborne Infantry Veteran with 22 years of service. So, Veteran Doctor kind of fits, and as you keep listening you will see how it all works out.                            

On this week’s Podcast, we will be discussing the holidays and veterans. During this time of year, it is always a wonderful time for most people, but for many, it can be a stressful and conflicting time due to past events in their lives. Many veterans have deployed multiple times during the holidays, and currently, many soldiers are deployed during this holiday season. Many experience an array of emotions during this time of year from injuries in combat during the holiday period. So, it is good to try to think of the holidays with whimsical feelings of warmth, comfort, and good cheer to help compensate for the negative experiences of the past. How is this done, you ask? It is not very easy, but there are many ways in doing so. Being with family is a great way to help distract these negative feelings. The holidays offer a unique opportunity for families to connect and spend quality time together having fun, both locally and away from home. Another way is to decorate the house for Christmas both inside and outside to spread the good cheer to other neighbors. This can become infectiously in the neighborhood and fun for everyone if you do it in a creative and constructive manner. Another great way is to volunteer or donate to a veteran’s organization. During this time of year, they have Christmas Tree Wish Lists, Christmas Dinners, Shelters, and other events that need help to provide for veterans and their families who are having either tough times or maybe experiencing stress from deployments overseas.

That brings up another subject of the Soldiers who are currently deployed. Do not forget about them. We were those guys too at one time in the past. We know how it feels to be deployed during the holidays. They need words of encouragement from people who have been there and can relate to what they are going through. Here are some helpful tips in letter writing to deployed service members. This is both therapeutic for them and well as it is for you.