Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well With Mental Illness

Honoring Veterans This Month: A Veterans Day Feature November is Veterans and Military Families Month, a time to recognize the strength, sacrifice, and ongoing battles our servicemembers face long after the uniform comes off. My academic background includes research on veterans’ mental health from my doctoral program days, and I’ve also known many veterans personally. I’ve seen firsthand how the weight of invisible wounds follows them home. This month, I’m honored to feature their voices on my blog. Today’s story comes from  Damien Celaya , an Army veteran whose honesty about survival, numbness, and recovery cuts through the stereotypes and speaks directly to the heart of what healing really means. Interview with Damien Celaya Q: Can you share how your military experience shaped your understanding of mental health? "I was already familiar with mental health before I ever wore a uniform. Growing up with a mom who fought her own demons taught me early how deep those battles can go. ...