Veterans and the Economy

Between the economic slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-increasing cost of living in the United States, and the looming threat of inflation, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been adversely affected by the economic goings-on of the past few years, or who hasn’t reviewed their finances with some degree of worry. 

And although nearly everyone is feeling the pressure, some people are feeling it more than others. One of the groups that has been particularly hard-hit are veterans, many of whom may have already been struggling to make ends meet, and who tend to be at higher risk of homelessness as a group. 

Factors Affecting Veteran Homelessness

Housing insecurity has been connected to a variety of factors, many of which tend to be more pronounced or prevalent among veteran populations. For example, veterans may be more likely to have a disability that prevents them from working than their civilian counterparts. One survey revealed that around 41% of post-9/11 veterans have a disability, compared to the 26% of the general population. And even veterans who don’t live with a disability that prevents them from working may struggle to find stable, high-paying jobs after leaving the military. 

Seen against the backdrop of astronomical home prices and rising rents, these factors and others form a potentially disastrous combination for veteran homelessness. In Florida, which is the 12th most expensive state in the nation, the average worker needs to earn at least $24.82 per hour to afford a modest 2-bedroom apartment. In California (the most expensive state, and also the state with the highest homeless population) that number jumps to $39.03 per hour. 

And for veterans who find themselves in situations like that, there’s little they can do. In 2016, the Washington Post reported that although about half of the problems that lead to veteran homelessness could be solved with legal assistance, most veterans simply can’t afford legal aid. 

Although 2021 saw a broad increase in wages, and fixed incomes such as social security and disability income are (theoretically, at least) adjusted for inflation, many people—including veterans—are still having trouble keeping up with the cost of living. Source

Stand Up For Veterans Dinner And Show

Can't make the Stand Up For Veterans dinner and comedy show, heres your chance to still support... Click here... Silent auction and raffle prize donations are graciously being accepted!

Call Kari at 707-427-1148 ext 132

Trauma During Adulthood

What is a traumatic event?

Traumatic events involve either 1) actual or possible death or serious injury or 2) sexual violence. Most adults have lived through at least one traumatic event and many have experienced more than one event. Trauma can also be chronic, meaning that similar events happen many times over a long period of time.

There any many different types of traumatic events, but here are some examples:

• Sexual or physical abuse or assault
• Serious vehicle accidents
• Combat or war zone exposure
• Serious medical events
• Seeing death or dead bodies, including while at work
• Unexpected death of a loved one
• Natural disasters
• Arson or house fires
• Torture
• Domestic violence
• Witnessing or experiencing violence, such as a homicide or suicide
• Terrorism or mass violence

What are common responses following a traumatic event?

Professionals have found three different paths that adults can follow after trauma:

Some people never experience any major problems. This is known as resistance. Resistance is very common after traumas that do not involve sexual assault or abuse.

Many people have symptoms similar to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the weeks after a trauma. For most of those people, those symptoms will then go away on their own. This is known as natural recovery or resilience. This path is very common among people who experience sexual assault.

Other people experience problems that do not go away on their own. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one potential outcome when this happens. PTSD is described in detail in the next section.

What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is a mental health condition that may be diagnosed by a professional when someone has experienced a traumatic event and is having particular types of problems as a result. The major types of symptoms experienced by people with PTSD include:

• Re-experiencing symptoms, including:
• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event
• Intense physical or emotional reactions to reminders of the event
• Nightmares
• Avoidance symptoms, including:
• Avoiding thinking or talking about the trauma
• Avoiding people, places, activities or sensations that remind you of the trauma
• Negative changes in your thinking and emotions, including:
• Feeling more down, depressed, angry or anxious
• Finding it hard or impossible to feel happy
• Feeling shameful or guilty
• Feeling distant from other people
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• Being unable to remember important parts of the trauma
• Having more negative thoughts about yourself, other people and the world
• Hyperarousal or emotional/physical reactivity, including:
• Being always on guard and/or easily startled
• Having trouble concentrating
• Being quick to anger and aggression
• Doing things that are risky (e.g., impulsive sex, binge drinking)
• Having trouble sleeping 

If you are experiencing and of these symptoms please get professional help.. you are not alone! Source

Veterans on Symptoms of PTSD

 

 

Veterans describe a variety of PTSD symptoms and the steps they took to help manage their mental health challenges.

Stand Up For Veterans

 

 

Join us for a fantastic night out featuring delicious dinner and live stand-up comedy, all while supporting our local Veterans. Check out our website for more information and where to purchase tickets for this show! Get your tickets today before they sell out!

If you would like to donate a Raffle item or Silent Auction item,

please call Kari at 707-427-1148 Ext. 132

How Trauma Changes The Brain

We know that military service can be filled with traumatic events and frequent exposure.

We don’t know what kinds of experiences individuals have dealt with in the past, so we

need to approach everyone in a universally sensitive manner

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a “neuro-developmental insult” that impacts the development of the brain as well as psychological processes.

Examples of military-related trauma include:

• Military sexual trauma

• Exposure to death and dying

• Witnessing suicide

• Making decisions that impact the survival of others

• Exposure to blasts

• Mass casualties and wounding

Everyone’s experience with trauma is unique. Its effects can still be understood regardless of the event.

How Trauma Affects Us

Traumatic exposure disrupts the development of self-regulatory processes.

Trauma exposure can lead to:

• Chronic dysregulation

• Destructive behavior towards self and others

• Learning disabilities

• Dissociative problems

• Somatization

• Distortions in concepts of self

• Physiological Changes, such as trouble sleeping, gut issues

Simply put, it alters the way one thinks and acts.

How You Can Help Someone Experiencing Trauma 

Not everyone who has experienced trauma will struggle with suicidal ideation or behaviors.

If you or your loved one experience consistent symptoms from past trauma that leads to thoughts of self-harm, stay hopeful and connect to a proven resource.

• Learn their triggers

• Provide reassurance of safety if someone shares their experience

• Acknowledge they may be feeling powerless

• Focus on their strengths

• Offer space for them to share their feelings

Source

Quit Beating Yourself Up, And Go Get Help.

 

  

This is Jerry Reed, US Army 1979 - 1984,  he shares his advice for others who may be concerned about PTSD. Learn more about PTSD from Jerry Reed and other Veterans who've been there: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/

Stand Up For Veterans Event

 

We invite you to become a powerful voice in the lives of our military veterans by sponsoring our Stand Up for Vets event on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. Your support will provide Unhoused veterans with the critical housing and services they need to rebuild their lives.

For more information check out our website here...

Why Veterans May Be Resistant To Seeking Help

This information is crucial to both veterans and family members for understanding why many veterans resist help.

Many Veterans can be highly resistant to the admission of war related illness due to the consequences it may bring. These consequences are very real and the impact can be deep and affect the veteran and their family with long lasting and devastating effects.

If a veteran starts to notice his/her OWN behaviors that are worrisome or cause for concern, he/she will most likely choose one of these routes:

To recognize something is wrong but be cautious about who they tell and the amount of detail that they share. Information shared will be on a need-to-know basis, meaning that if the veteran feels that he or his family is threatened in any way, he/she will share only what they believe is safe to share. Many times, important information needed for diagnosis is left out due to this fear.

They “bite the bullet” and/or “suck it up and drive on” which means, that they will ignore all danger signs of the illness. This is especially problematic during the initial stages of illness when, if faced, there could be meaningful intervention and support AND may help the veteran avoid other related problems, like self-medication through alcohol and drug abuse.

The veteran is actually not aware that he/she has changed or is acting any differently. This is sometimes called denial. Due to any number of reasons, sometimes veterans actually believe that nothing is wrong with them. This could be because they have become unable to gauge their own feelings. It could be that they are afraid to face the fact that something is wrong for fear of what may happen to them or to their family. One way or another, a veteran who may be behaving differently than pre-deployment, is simply unable or unwilling to admit a problem.

Veterans may be concerned about being invalidated or minimized if they speak up. Veterans have become experts in “sucking it up” and enduring to stay safe and alert in a war zone. It often takes some time when they return home, to begin to understand that they might need help. They are often concerned that IF and when they do seek help, they may be told that ‘it is all in their head” which further distances them from seeking help and often validates their own self-talk that they are weak, when in fact, it takes the courage of a warrior to ask for help.

Being overwhelmed by not knowing a specific point of contact to seek help. Sometimes, even when a vet is ready and willing to take the risk to seek help, they are often overwhelmed at how difficult it is, and lack of personal contact in seeking help. After mustering up the courage to ask for help, they may not even know where to start and this just makes it easier to do nothing than to try to figure out where to get help without getting overwhelmed even further.

Being a single veteran with custody of children.  Many veterans will not disclose that they are becoming ill for fear of losing their rights and access to their children.  To many of them, admitting that they have a war-related illness may seem like they are jeopardizing the most important thing in their lives; their children.

Each of these issues potentially impacts a veterans financial stability.  Many people believe that there are processes in place that help a veteran to transition if they become sick.  This is not correct.  There are some federal emergency funds and agencies available to help, but not enough and most of the time, any funding is difficult to apply for and receive…especially if you are sick OR you are the family member of an ill veteran. The process for assistance is extremely lengthy, complex and anxiety provoking.

There are no easy answers or solutions to this problem, but it plagues many veterans. Understanding the extreme effects of admitting something is wrong can help family members and healing practitioners to be more sensitive to the veterans’ fears. Understanding the extreme effects of the devastation and impact of war related illness can help our Country to understand the opportunity we have to provide new options to help those who have made a great sacrifice for our freedom. Source

Support Your Local Veterans

Support our local veterans by donating through the link below. Your contribution helps provide safe and stable housing for those who have served our country. Every bit counts—Thank You For Your Support!

Donate Here Today!

416 Union Avenue, Fairfield 94533

707-427-1148

info@canbinc.org