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It has been a while since I last posted. Suicide is a topic that no one wants to talk about.
One of the harshest realities of the military, is that 22 veterans are committing suicide every day. That includes women.
The rate of suicides is much higher than the private sector. Before I finish the post another brother or sister in the military will have ended their life.
Those are very stark statistics, but they are real.
How could someone even think of taking their own life?
That is the question everyone keeps asking. Why are there so many veterans ending their lives?
I can’t read into the minds of each of the people who have left us, but I can say that I was there myself at one time.
In 2001 I was at my lowest point in my life. I had retired for teaching in 1995, and I had a job as a clerk at Macy’s. It felt I had hit a wall. Nothing to look forward to. I felt like I was on an island by myself. How could I be feeling that when I had a loving wife, three wonderful children, and seven grandchildren.
On March 31st, 2001, I was driving my old Ford Explorer, and crying my eyes out. I didn’t even know why I was crying. I couldn’t even drive I was sobbing so much, so I turned into a high school parking lot.
The windows all got fogged up from my crying. I was at the end of my rope, and I knew I was going to make a terrible decision soon.
I called my wife and she drove to me quickly and calmed me down. She literally help me through that day. She went back home, and I sat there relieved that I had come to my senses, and not committed suicide, but I was also angry that I was going through this nightmare. I cried out to God, I can’t take this anymore!
Then suddenly the air in the rig was different. The windows cleared up, and the air was fresher. It was if God was saying to me, It’s about time you came back to me, now let me carry you the rest of the way.
My whole life changed that day. I went home and asked God why He saved my life? I suddenly realized that He wanted me to write a book, from my journals I had collected through the years.
So I dug them out of the closet, and opened the oldest one up. Sure enough it talked about my hurts, my good times, and how I made it through the hurts.
Much from those journals are in my first book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.
How about you? Are you struggling. Do your days seems dark and dreary? Do you wish you could stay in bed all day and not face the world? Have you actually thought of suicide?
I hear you! I have been there. Seek help if you are lost and are feeling hopeless. There are resources you can find to help you. Don’t hide your feelings. Tell someone about your struggles and let them show you the way out of the fog of life.
This is our goal here at Victory for Veterans. We find help for anyone who is struggling. We have partners who specialize in any issue you may be facing. They can get you the much needed help you need.
http://vfvf.wpengine.com
There is always help for you 24/7 at: 1-800-273-8255
Remember:
You are never alone.
You are never forsaken.
You are never unloved.
And above all….never, ever, give up!