By Adrian Ewald As the name suggests, giant sequoia trees are, to put it simply, giant. For example, one of the largest trees on Earth by volume is General Sherman, a 2200-year-old giant sequoia that clocks in around 275 feet tall with a diameter of over 36 feet. That’s almost...

By Rachel Hicks Have you ever been swimming in the ocean, relaxing and enjoying the gentle push and pull ofthe water, when all of the sudden a wave comes up out of nowhere and crashes into you?Think about how that felt for a moment – your feet get swept right...

By Lara Izokaitis Years ago, a dear friend started a fun New Year’s tradition with me that included identifying one or two faith words that would set a tailored hope before me in the 365 days to follow. The word-phrase I chose for 2022 was “FIREWORKS—WORKS OF FIRE,” as it...

By Lara Izokaitis Have you experienced times when you seem to get hit a bit harder with lies in your mind? What impact do the thoughts you believe about yourself have on your mental health? And how do you handle these moments? Recently, I had a dream where I was...

By John Dale Have you been through a really rough time and someone said something to you with good intentions but their words actually made it worse? Or maybe you’re the one attempting to provide comfort to someone who’s hurting and it wasn’t very helpful?  One of the many profound...

Ever since I was about nine years old, people have consistently misjudged my age; always expecting me to be older. This was unsettling when I was younger but nowadays, I accept the assumption because not many girls at twenty-five are married, own a home, and have a child. (Not for...

By: Chris Adsit Click here for audio version Click here for downloadable audio version Let me tell you about the man who tried to kill me. I had just entered my sophomore year at Colorado State University. I was a hurdler on the track team, and had experienced moderate success...

By Elaine Alvarez The year 2020 has been somewhat of a traumatic year for many people. For me, the year only heightened the anxiety levels I already struggled with and I found myself becoming paralyzed with fear of leaving home each passing day. But I know that God said He...

Impacting a world that wants to impact you By Chris Adsit Click here for audio version Click here for downloadable audio version When I was a college student, I spent part of one summer working at Maranatha Bible Camp in the-middle-of-nowhere, Nebraska. Our project was to build a big metal...

The Benefits of Small Group Learning in Trauma Recovery By Rahnella Adsit Life is short. How sad is it when one lives it, feeling isolated and alone? Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives, yet we often forget just how crucial they are. Many of the...

By Chris Adsit Click here for audio version Click here for downloadable audio version See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.–Hebrews 12:15 An Epic Battle I live in the Great Northwest, and...

By John Dale I learned how to build a campfire at a young age when I was in boy scouts. We used it to keep warm, to cook our meals, and as a gathering place to tell crazy stories or sing songs. Later in life, after my last overseas deployment...

By John Dale My favorite author and spiritual guide, Fr. Richard Rohr, came up with this concept of “Order, Disorder, Reorder” a few years ago. It’s been really helpful for me to put into words and normalize the important and difficult path of growth. The reason why his concept of...

Guest Contribution by Silent ProfessionalsOriginal article here If you’re reading this article, you may be working through some degree of PTSD after combat and wondering how to transition back to your civilian life, both personally and professionally.  Some of you may have even abused alcohol and landed yourself in jail for a...

The Day Our House Burned Down By Rahnella Adsit, REBOOT Recovery International Coordinator The Fire I was seated on a plane flying home from a conference in Colorado when I saw black billowing smoke in the vicinity of our home. We live outside of town and the only thought I...

Guest Contribution by Juleigha Blankett Whether it’s explaining current events, dealing with bullies, or even telling them Santa Claus isn’t real, every parent knows that they’re bound to have some tough conversations with their children. However, one subject that’s a little more difficult to prepare for is mental health —...

Stop focusing on “what you do” and instead “whose you are.” That’s something that no one can take from you. by JOHN DALE What if someone were to ask you who you are but you aren’t allowed to answer with your name, job, education or past experiences, what would you...

“He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are we to do with what we have attained when we are done serving? What are we to do with the trauma we’ve experienced in service and the baggage that it drops into our lives?

Your family needs for you to be strong and healthy and you’re the only one that can make that happen.

“All these factors land many of us in the trap of ‘This counselor (therapist, psychologist, etc) wasn’t helpful, so that means all counselor’s suck.'”

“What we do today has lasting effects long after we’re gone so what do you want your legacy to be?” 

“Try is a lie we tell others and ourselves to disguise our cowardice when we have no intention of fulfilling a commitment.” 

“Humans were created to be relational beings, and when we go through a trying ordeal alone, a lack of human connection can actually increase our anxiety and hinder our coping abilities...”

“Working under that “push through it and suck it up” mindset is vital to getting through a tough call or safely out of a firefight and back to base. But its helpfulness ends when we’re off shift or back home from a deployment.”

“…it is possible to have a loving and fulfilling relationship in spite of the PTSD. However, the road is not smooth, and we have to be willing to learn and grow on this journey.”

Evaluating the effectiveness of REBOOT Combat Recovery: A faith-based combat trauma resiliency program

“God allows things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful.”

“…I am the first person that you may speak to on possibly one of the worst days of your life.”

The importance of stopping the bleeding not only applies to physical trauma but also to the spiritual wounds we sustain in life.

When you are a caregiver, burnout happens and compassion fatigue is real. Giving and giving and giving with not much in return leads to frustration and exhaustion. But let this be an encouragement to you: God sees you!

These unheralded heroes are suffering from effects of work-related trauma. 

Involvement in local REBOOT trauma healing course turns tragedy into healing. 

Through anonymously surveying 254 participants, we have found that LOVE actually CAN improve symptoms experienced by military families. 

Veterans in the UK are suffering. With limited options for help, too many are turning to suicide. That is why REBOOT Combat Recovery is launching this week in England– so that these heroes can find hope and healing.

Caring for a loved one can sometimes bring out the worst side of anger in us. Here are 5 practical tips that will help you to deal with your anger in a way that is honoring to God. 

Six practical ways that you can give care to children who are living with someone suffering from PTSD.

New Law Will Help First Responders with PTSD by Lauren Orr (Original article by Sarah Danik for Fox 9) A new Minnesota law that will help first responders get workers compensation for PTSD will go into effect in 2019. Previously, workers compensation was denied for a PTSD diagnosis, because there was...

How to build bridges to both the law enforcement community and to those who have unjustly suffered.

Learn about derivative stress, its dangerous effects and how to begin healing from it. 

We equip ordinary people to bring extraordinary change to their communities. Are you our next course leader? by JASON HORN   Our vision was simple: to empower everyday people to offer hope and healing to struggling military and first responder families. Easier said than done. Anytime you’re dealing with the subject...

Is your anger out of control? Read on to better understand what sets you off and take back the reins from your emotions.  by CHRIS ADSIT   For many military service members and first responders, employing the “violence of action” tactic whenever you sense conflict or threat can be the difference...

Follow these three steps to offer immediate, practical help to a loved one who may be considering suicide.

Discover the six underlying reasons why trauma sufferers often reject the help of others. by CHRIS ADSIT and EVAN OWENS   Service members and first responders know a thing or two about making choices. Their careers epitomize that concept. They are men and women of action. When confronted by trouble or...

Therapy. Counseling. Prescriptions. Where do you turn when you’ve done it all and you’re still no better than when you started? by EVAN OWENS   Talk of mental health surrounds us. We see it on TV, in the newspaper, and on social media. By 2018, the mental health care industry will...

Sometimes the most profound truths can be learned from something as ordinary as a pencil.

When reaching out to veterans in need, don’t let your good intentions be sidelined by one of these common mistakes. by EVAN OWENS   In a 2004 study of approximately 1,400 Vietnam Veterans, almost 90 percent Christian, researchers at Yale found that nearly one-third said the war had shaken their faith...

“REBOOT didn’t just save our lives and our marriage. REBOOT helped us build a new life and new marriage that is better than we ever thought possible.”

Do you cram your life’s garbage can until it overflows into a real mess? It’s time to take out the trash!

“Through REBOOT, I learned that others felt the way I had felt and that I wasn’t alone in my fight.”

It’s time to cut through the uncertainty and fear that surround PTSD so that the Church can respond with help and hope.

It’s easy for our careers to take control of our lives. Do you serve your career or does it serve you?

When healing from trauma, it’s important to utilize not just the most common solution, but the right solution.

“I began to see that I was in a battle that wasn’t against flesh and blood…”

If He walked the earth today, how would Jesus reach out and respond to those who suffer from the aftereffects of trauma?

“I felt my group leader couldn’t possibly know what I was going through… Boy, was I wrong.”