It is hard to even begin to fathom the things that a veteran experiences and sees when they are in an active duty situation. Oftentimes, it can seem like your family member isn’t even the same person once they return. This means that living a normal life can be difficult. It isn’t uncommon for substance abuse to become an issue. As an immediate family member, you might be looking for ways to help love and support a veteran as they transition into civilian life again. Foxhole Veterans Charity Foundation is here to share some tips that can help you support your veteran and help them live a sober lifestyle.
How We Can Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle for Veterans?
There are many different ways family members can help encourage their veteran to live a healthy lifestyle and stay sober. Here are some key components that can help them achieve this goal:
– Create a Sober Environment: The number one thing that you can do to support your veteran to live a sober lifestyle is to ensure they are living in a sober environment. It can be extremely difficult to stay sober when the people around you are using recreational drugs and alcohol.
– Diet: It is hard to grasp the impact that a healthy diet can have on your overall well-being. However, studies are showing that a healthy and balanced diet is the number one thing that can help promote mental health and combat depression which are two large issues that many veterans struggle with.
– Exercise: Studies also show that exercise can often do more to battle depression and PTSD than many medications. Even low impact exercise has been proven to be therapeutic for those that are struggling with combat-related injuries and struggles. It is at all possible, you should encourage your veteran to participate in 20 minutes of exercise each day.
– Get Enough Sleep: Just like diet and exercise, sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Your mind can’t think clearly and reasonably when you are not getting enough sleep at night. Families can encourage veterans to keep a regular sleeping routine to help them feel their best.
– Support Groups: It can be helpful if your veteran doesn’t feel that they are alone in their struggles. It can be difficult for family members to begin to understand what a veteran has been through. Support groups with fellow veterans is one of the best ways to help them feel heard and work through their feelings.
– Service to Others: Often, when you are struggling with something the best thing to do is to look outside of yourself and address the needs of others. Don’t underestimate the value of participating in some sort of service whether in your community or your family for a veteran.
Training Veterans Out of Victorious Gym in Troy, Michigan
If you are looking for ways to help your veteran stay sober after active duty, Foxhole Veterans Charity Foundation can help. We will help them through physical exercise live their best, sober life. Call us today!
