Mental Health: How Veterans Can Protect Themselves

Many people think that transitioning into the military is difficult - and it is. But what’s just as difficult, if not more so, is transitioning out of the military. 

Transitioning veterans may feel overwhelmed by the changes to their everyday life, even simple things like interacting with family or going to the grocery store, simply because these are not the types of activities that they’re used to. Coming home means assimilating to an entirely new (even though it’s not actually new) way of life. 

Transitioning Out of the Military 

The military transition is a big step in many veterans’ lives because they’re assuming a role that’s worlds apart from the one that they held while overseas. 

Nick Norris, co-founder of Protekt and former Navy SEAL, understands this switch from having gone through it himself. In his opinion, humility is key to staying grounded and finding your footing in a civilian’s world. 

“One of the biggest things for me was realizing that I was stepping into something totally new, and stepping back into that ‘new guy’ role during my transition,” he said. “I have always said that humility is something that I value deeply. I really had to lean on humility when I transitioned off active duty.” 

But coming from one environment that’s so demanding into one that’s more mundane isn’t simple. It’s why some veterans think that they can’t adjust to civilian life. 

“I'd spent almost 11 years in the Navy as a SEAL and as an officer that's deployed. I’d been overseas, served in combat, and been in charge of large groups of people. I knew that, out the gate, I probably wasn't going to be given the same type of responsibility and accountability that I saw as a Lieutenant Commander in the SEAL teams. Because of that, I had to really lean on humility and put myself back in the ‘new guy’ mindset, which is something that I've tried to keep consistent. Regardless of where I am, being in the ‘new guy’ mindset is helpful - meaning that I'm checking my ego, I’m remaining humble, I’m open to other opinions, I’m comfortable admitting where I may have weaknesses or shortfalls, and I'm okay asking for help.” 

But while embracing the ‘new guy’ mindset, Nick also reminded himself that the skills that he honed while overseas shouldn’t be forgotten. They played a big role while he served in active duty, and they could still serve him at home as well. 

“At the same time, I understand that I did have a lot of experience with being a leader, and I did have a lot of experience dealing with stress and uncertainty,” Nick said. “There's a lot of very relevant skill sets that I knew I could bring to the table. So, in embracing humility and keeping myself in that ‘new guy’ mindset, I didn't just look past all the skills that I had acquired over my time in school and in the military. That’s something that veterans sometimes overlook. I have a lot of friends that had tremendous careers in the SEAL teams, then they transition out and they're at a loss. They feel like they don't bring anything to the table anymore. And while I think it’s good to carry that ‘new guy’ mindset, it’s also important to remember that your prior experience includes important skills that can still serve you, your career, and the people around you.”

At the end of the day, you were worth something before you were deployed, you were worth something while overseas, and you’re worth something now. Even if those times in your life included different versions of you, they all still have/had something to offer. 

Performance Supplements

When you’re in the middle of the military transition, it can sometimes be hard to keep your thoughts straight and your mind clear. That’s where our performance supplements can help. 

Protekt offers something called Clarity - which is a natural blend of lion’s mane, cordyceps, red reishi, and turkey tail mushroom extract. Clarity keeps your mind razor sharp during the toughest of times, improving cognitive function while protecting your nervous system and immune system all at once. It reduces stress within the mind and the body, making for a calmer, healthier you. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Protekt products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.