TITLE: Therapy is Cheaper Than Beer

MEDITATION: They say that "beer is cheaper than therapy." I even got it on a t-shirt. But after I got out of the Army, I lost it all because of beer and the other booze. Plus all the pills for my pain. So I finally surrendered. I'm a soldier and I surrendered.

I surrendered to AA. I gave my life over to my higher power and the rest of the Twelve Steps and I never looked back. One step at a time, one meeting at a time, twenty-four hours a day, a day at a time. It reminds me of the Army. We say things a certain way, a meeting is like a mission, and the others at the meeting are in the trenches with us. I got a sponsor and he's a vet, so he knows what I'm talking about. He gets me. I don't have to explain it all to him, he just understands. He gave me the assignment to talk to my case manager about seeing a therapist through the VA. We'll see. I know I have stuff in my head that I have to make sense of, so that's my next mission.

INTENTION: Today I'll throw out my "Beer is Cheaper Than Therapy" t-shirt.

It might be hard to come up with what you could say to others, so here are some ideas. As we've worked with people who are veteran and active-duty service members, we've seen some common themes. You could start by thinking of these:

Life Before Service: What was life like before you became a service member? Why did you choose to join or enlist—or what were you doing when you were drafted? How did drugs and alcohol figure into your life? What led you to this new path?

Becoming a Service Member: Everyone has a different experience about starting their life as a service member. Some were drafted, some enlisted, some joined, some went through ROTC and JROTC. Some weren't given much of a choice, some wanted to follow in the family footsteps. How did this affect your life? How does it affect your recovery?

A Way of Life: What was it like to be in the military? How did you react to the rules and order in your life? The chain of command? Did you need it? Did you fight it? What thoughts do you have about wearing the uniform, earning the ranks, saluting and being saluted? How did it feel to be a part of something so big and important?

Doing Your Duty: What was it like to do your job? Go on patrols? Do the work? Fly, march, shoot, nurse, transport, communicate, cook, direct, strategize, monitor—there are so many different roles for service members. How did you do your job? How did you let off steam? What can you share with others about your work and how you coped?/

Casualties: Whether veterans or active-duty service members, combatant or non-combatant, casualties are service members who become unavailable for duty due to injury, death, illness, capture, or desertion. What is life like for those who are casualties? Or for those who served with others who were injured, captured, left, or made the ultimate sacrifice for their country? How do you deal with pain, both physical and emotional?

Coming Home: What happens when you come home for visits and stays? How do you handle the changes between life in service and life at home? How are things different? How are you different? What helps?

Family and Friends: How do you talk to your family and friends? What is it like to see them? What do you do when they ask you about your experiences?

Ending Service: They say your service never really ends, but there comes a time when you're no longer in the service. When the time comes, under any circumstances, what happens? How do you handle no longer being with your military family? How do you face what's next? A life without as much order?

Memories and Anniversaries: Some memories of time in the service are good, some are nightmares. Flashbacks take you out of your life and bring you back to where you were. Anniversaries pass, both good and bad. You live with all of them. How do you do it?

Dealing with Stigma and Shame: Veterans and service members face all sorts of stigma when it comes to drugs and alcohol, PTSD, mental health, and readjusting. What happens when service members need help? How have you dealt with that?

Culture What does it mean to you to be a service member? What is it like to be a part of that culture? Each branch and unit and team has its own culture—how did it help? Where did you find strength? How did it hurt? What did you do?

Honor and Integrity: Service members are a part of something special. Something important. Something built on honor, integrity—, and so many other values. How does this work for you? Your recovery? Your legacy?