Stories From Veterans

The following are stories submitted by veterans who practice the Recovery International self-help tools.

Army Vet Uses Recovery

I am an Army veteran of the Vietnam war and had a psychotic breakdown while in the service. I was honorably discharged and about eleven years later I had a major psychotic break. I was in the VA lock ward in 1973 for six months.  Since then, I have been mentally hospitalized six times.  My last break down was three years ago.

It was soon after my 1973 break down that I participated in Recovery and have been in Recovery off and on ever since. The reason I am in Recovery is because of debilitating nerves and anxiety after each break down.

It was only because of the VA doctors, my medication and the life saving Recovery Method that I had a chance to live a half way normal life and be happily married to a loving and supportive wife for over 33 years.

I am a member of Recovery and attend a meeting every week.  I am at peace most of the time but experience setbacks from time to time.  I trigger spot with Recovery tools and keep my balance and peace.

I've been a nervous patient but now I am a nervous person, again thanks to Recovery. RECOVERY DOES WORK!

Vet of Two Battles Uses Recovery

My life didn't make one little bit of sense until I got in my Recovery group.  Through Recovery, I had the techniques that helped me to seek the professional help needed.  Consequently, I have always said that Recovery saved my life and then my marriage. I was group leader for 25 years.  Now I attend just to help myself. 

Recovery can help veterans returning from war.  If only I had a Recovery group that I could have attended when I returned from World War II and then the Korea War.  If that had been true, my life would have been so much easier, and I would not have wanted to kill myself I want so much to help those men and women retuning home.  Civilian life is a rough transition from the service.  I had such high expectations which led to high frustration.

Vietnam Vet's Recovery Story

I served in the US Army from May 1968 to May 1971. When I was discharged, I was a mental health patient suffering from major depression. I had to be hospitalized several times for crisis management and was under psychiatric treatment for many years. After being admitted again in the mental hospital for a suicide attempt in 2005, I was referred to Recovery International.

I started to practice the method almost immediately and have stayed away from the hospitals since. I have attended Recovery International meetings for almost three years now and feel that I am under control of my temper and, therefore, all the symptoms that result from it. My life has completely changed and people around me notice that I have become another person that reflects and transmits an inner peace that enables me to help my fellow patients and friends. My family is thankful to Recovery because our quality of life has improved greatly.

Recovery: Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

Air Force Vet Talks About Recovery

I am a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. I served from February 1953 - January 1957, and from May 1957 - May 1961. I am very pleased to report that I use the Recovery Method almost daily. I feel that I am alive today because of Recovery and the wonderful people I meet with each week to discuss our use of the Recovery Method.

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