Military

Mental Health

What challenges did you face during the transition from active duty to civilian life?

From military to civilian: Navigating a world without rules.

What challenges did I face during the transition from military to civilian life? Right off the bat, civilians didn't operate by the same rules. This was mind-blowing for me. Military life was so regimented. Everybody kind of knew what was expected, when it was expected, how it was expected. And you hit the civilian world and boom, nobody's playing by the same rules. I thought people were acting selfish. I thought people were self-absorbed or just flat-out rude. And I wanted to snatch them up the same way any NCO is going to snatch up a junior enlisted. Sometimes that worked. I had a lot of military friends, so that worked in their cases. But on the other hand, it didn't work so well with my significant other. Because when my significant other would say, why, it would drive me insane. It would send me straight through the roof. And I had a really hard time understanding that not everybody plays by the same rules. That, I think, was my biggest struggle with transitioning to much more civilian life. But at the end of the day, everybody struggles in their own way. Definitely go seek some mental health help if you need to. Until next time.

One of the biggest challenges I faced in transitioning from military to civilian life was that everyone did not follow the same rules as in the military. It was difficult for me to understand that not everyone followed the same rules and this caused conflict between me and my significant other. If you are struggling with the transition, it is important to seek out mental health help.

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During my transition from military to civilian life, I faced several challenges. One of the biggest shocks was realizing that civilians didn't operate by the same rules as the military. In the military, there was a clear structure and expectations that everyone understood. However, in the civilian world, it felt like people were acting selfishly or rudely, which was difficult for me to comprehend. I had the urge to handle situations the same way a non-commissioned officer would handle a junior enlisted member. This approach worked with my military friends, but it didn't work well with my significant other, who would simply ask why and it would drive me crazy. Understanding that not everyone follows the same rules was a major struggle for me during the transition.

It's important to recognize that everyone faces their own struggles during this transition. Seeking mental health support if needed can be beneficial. Until next time.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Forgiving Stupid Remarks: The Best Advice I Received

What's the best advice I've ever received? In 2021, my youngest daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. Prospects weren't good for outcomes and my father immediately flew out and helped me and my family deal with the emotional and needs of the family. He looked at me on the first night and he said, Matt, people are going to say stupid shit to you. Forgive them now. And I thought I knew what he meant, but I thought also thought like how stupid, what like, what could people possibly say? And I will tell you, and I won't get specific, but I will tell you people said stupid shit. And having my dad's voice in my head saying, forgive them and forgive them now really helped me through handling people on the outside that with the best of intentions said stupid shit. And I was able to, in the moment, forgive and move on and move through. So people are going to say stupid shit. Forgive them now.

The best advice I've ever received is to "forgive them now" when people say something stupid.

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The best advice I've ever received came during a challenging time in 2021 when my youngest daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. My father flew out to support us and offered some valuable words. He looked at me on the first night and said, Matt, people are going to say stupid shit to you. Forgive them now. At that moment, I thought I understood what he meant, but I couldn't anticipate just how true his words would be. People did say thoughtless things, despite their good intentions. However, having my dad's advice in my mind allowed me to forgive them in the moment and move forward without dwelling on their hurtful comments. So, the best advice I've received is this: people are going to say stupid things, but it's important to forgive them right away.

What are some ways to help shut your brain off to help fall asleep quicker?

Mastering the Art of Shutting Off Your Brain for Better Sleep

What's the best way to help shut your brain off in order to help fall asleep? I got two pieces to this. One, a good PM routine, so the routine you have before you go to bed can help your body and mind form a pattern to let your mind and body know that it's time to go to sleep. So for example, brushing your teeth, maybe taking a shower, establishing an effective routine that allows you the ability for your body to understand you're going to bed. Some people like a meditation before bed, that can be very helpful. But if you're looking to shut your brain off, definitely stay away from screen time. So if you're watching this and you're supposed to be in bed, stop watching, shut your phone off and go to bed. That being said, there are many different ways to do it. No one way is better than the other. The only way that matters is the way that works for you. All right, until next time.

The best way to help shut your brain off in order to help you fall asleep is to establish a pre-bedtime routine and avoid screen time. Different people have different effective strategies for helping them fall asleep, so find what works for you.

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To help shut your brain off and fall asleep faster, there are a couple of approaches you can try. First, establish a consistent bedtime routine. This routine can signal to your body and mind that it's time to sleep. Activities like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or engaging in a calming meditation can be helpful in preparing for sleep.

However, if you're aiming to quiet your mind, it's important to avoid screen time before bed. So if you're watching this and it's bedtime, it's time to stop watching, turn off your phone, and go to sleep.

Remember, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. What matters is finding the approach that works best for you. Experiment with different techniques and routines until you discover what helps you relax and quiet your mind before bedtime. Sleep well!

Unlocking Mental Health: The Power of TMS

What is TMS? Now there are lots of acronyms out there but TMS for me means transcranial magnetic stimulation. TMS is a mental health treatment for lots of different conditions but primarily or at least as much as it's been known to me anxiety, depression, bipolar and several other mental health conditions. The point of TMS is to as it states in the name magnetically stimulate a specific piece of the brain so that it has the ability to try and erase maladaptive neural networks and your brain then has the ability to build new ones. I used to work at a TMS clinic and one of the things they used to do is as the therapist I would sit in while the TMS was actually happening and we would do a therapy session while the client was having their brain magnetically stimulated. Outcomes are great if you need a local resource to Northern California the agency I like is TMS Health Solutions their phone number is 707-408-8884. Till next time guys!

TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation, which is a mental health treatment used to stimulate a specific part of the brain in order to erase maladaptive neural networks and create new ones. TMS Health Solutions is a great local resource in Northern California.

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TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is a mental health treatment primarily used for conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. The goal of TMS is to magnetically stimulate a specific area of the brain, helping to rewire maladaptive neural networks and promote the development of new ones.

During my time working at a TMS clinic, I would sit in as a therapist while the client underwent the TMS procedure. We would conduct therapy sessions simultaneously with the magnetic stimulation.

If you're looking for a local resource in Northern California, I recommend TMS Health Solutions. You can reach them at 707-408-8884.

That's all for now!

Is meditation best to be done in the morning or at night?

Timing meditation: Morning or Night? The answer? It's up to you.

When is the best time to engage in meditation practice morning or night? Simple answer it doesn't matter. The first thing you should ask yourself is what are my goals for my meditation? Is it to help me relax as if I want to go to bed or is it something to get my head right first thing in the morning? As far as what practice works best for you guided meditation, focusing on, I'm sorry working on focus out versus focus in, am I trying to quiet my brain? Depends on your goals. So again if the goal is to you want it to relax and quiet your mind so that you can sleep obviously 30 minutes before bed is great. If you want it to get you roused in the morning and get your head right first thing in the morning. Alright till next time.

The best time to engage in meditation is dependent on your goals. If you're looking for something to help you relax, meditating 30 minutes before bed is ideal. If you're trying to get your head right and become aroused in the morning, then first thing in the morning is best. Guided meditation can also be helpful depending on what type of meditation you are doing.

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The best time to engage in meditation practice, whether in the morning or at night, ultimately depends on your goals and preferences. If your aim is to relax and quiet your mind before sleep, practicing meditation 30 minutes before bed can be beneficial. On the other hand, if you want to start your day with a clear and focused mind, practicing meditation in the morning can be helpful.

Consider what you hope to achieve through meditation. If you prefer guided meditation or focusing on external stimuli versus internal thoughts, choose a practice that aligns with your goals. Ultimately, the timing of your meditation practice should be based on what works best for you and supports your desired outcomes.

Remember, there is no right or wrong time to meditate. Experiment with different times of the day and observe how it affects your overall well-being.

Unveiling the Secrets to True Happiness: It's Different for Everyone

What does it take to be happy? I love this question. Today, all it took for me to be happy was putting on this pink shirt, because I love pink shirts. What I wanna inform you on this one is it first takes mindset. You wake up intentionally. You wake up with a mindset of I'm going to tackle today. I'm going to be happy. I think that's foundational. Happiness comes from one of a million places. It could be person, place, thing, or idea. It may or may not be bigger than a bread box, but it is probably uniquely something that you do, that you say, that you feel. What does it take to be happy? It's a great question. It's gonna be different for every single person. Finding what motivates you can sometimes lead you to the right path. Sometimes avoiding what hurts you is the thing that might actually lead you to greater happiness. It depends for everybody. All right, till next time.

To be happy, it takes having a positive mindset and finding what motivates you. Avoiding what hurts you can lead to greater happiness. Everyone's path to happiness is different.

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What does it take to be happy? I love this question. Today, simply putting on my favorite pink shirt made me happy. It's important to have the right mindset and wake up with the intention to tackle the day and be happy. Happiness can come from various sources, whether it's a person, place, thing, or idea. It may be something unique to you, something you do, say, or feel. The path to happiness is different for everyone. Discovering what motivates you or avoiding what hurts you can lead you to greater happiness. It's a personal journey that varies for each individual. Until next time!

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Matthew Decker is the founder of E5 Therapy.  He was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ and immediately after high school graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps.  While deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he realized how much his Marines needed emotional and mental health support.  Returning home, he completed a Bachelor of Sociology degree and a Master of Social Work degree.  He is now a license clinical social worker in Northern California, focused on helping Veterans achieve their mental health goals. 

Neither AnyQuestion nor its Experts provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or otherwise provide professional healthcare services.