How you can help alleviate holiday stress for veterans in your life

JACKSON, Tenn. — Celebration activities are being planned to ring in the new year and many people enjoy this time, however, there is a certain group of people in our nation that we may need to remember around the holidays.

Whether it be New Year’s or the Fourth of July, fireworks are a big staple for quite a few of our holidays in the United States. However, the loud noises and flashing lights could alarm some of our veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

We spoke with Matthew Buckley, a retired Navy fighter pilot, about this topic.

“Let me lead with, I know hundreds  — if not thousands — of veterans. There isn’t a single veteran whose going to tell you ‘Please don’t celebrate,’ or ‘Throttle back because of me and what I’m going through.’ I served so you could celebrate and have a good time,” said Buckley.

Buckley gives us some great advice for not only the holidays, but anytime throughout the year when we are thinking of veterans.

“Check in on them. We call it a buddy check. Around this time of the year or holidays when people are supposed to be happy, we check in with our buddies. I love telling people it’s awesome if you look at a veteran and say ‘Thank your for your service.’ I ask them to put a comma after that and say, ‘Are you okay?” said Buckley.

While the fireworks and loud noises can trigger PTSD with veterans during the holidays, Buckley says that the time of the year alone can affect our veterans.

“A lot of veterans, if they saw serious combat and lost some brothers or sisters, can suffer from what’s called ‘survivors guilt.’ Why aren’t they with their families for Christmas? Or why aren’t they celebrating a happy new year? They’re going to be forever young in my mind, the last time I saw him or her,” said Buckley.

Buckley is the founder of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation and spends his time helping veterans heal from post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, depression, anxiety and many other common issues among veterans.

1 in 3 veterans live with PTSD while also feeling they do not get the mental health services they need, also, PTSD is three times more likely among veterans who deployed.

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