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Author:
Bill Kelly Loan Officer
Life experience and 24 years active duty in the Coast Guard, have taught me that personal connections, finding the right person, and getting the best information are keys to success.
I provide Practical Mortgage Options for All Home Buyers. As a career Coast Guard Officer (retired) and prior college professor, I have spent decades helping people achieve their goals, and I can help you. Are you are looking for a mortgage professional in Massachusetts or New Hampshire? Are you a Veteran in need of assistance accessing your VA Home Loan benefit? Are you trying to decide whether to rent or buy? Do you want to upgrade your existing home with a renovation or addition? Let’s talk about your mortgage options, and let me help you find the right fit for your unique situation.
Comments:
Veterans Tip of the Week
Fear and Self-loathing, You are Not Alone!
I just helped an elderly woman step down the curb. She was standing at
the curb, cane in hand, hesitating, clearly concerned and distressed.
People walked by without noticing her situation. But I know, instantly.
After speaking with her, I offered my arm for support. She stepped down
without incident, and declined my offer to help her get into her car.
This anecdote is not about me, or the woman, but about fear. The kind of
insidious fear that creeps into your soul when you have infirmity and
stability issues. Am I going to fall, is that puddle going to make me
slip, can I support my weight on my good leg while I step down this 4
inch curb?
When we talk about how a veteran’s struggle might be internal; having
been there, I can tell you it is just like the obvious struggle this
woman was having negotiating the slightest of curbs. The barriers, both
mental and physical, become larger and larger, and the veteran impacted
more and more below the surface.
Imagine once being a fit, engaged, warrior (which is how we think of
ourselves), who can now barely cross the street. How does one unpack
that, especially if you’re a younger veteran? Fear creeps in,
self-loathing for being afraid leads to depression, and add in maybe a
dash of PTSD so you are always on edge anyway, and that curb becomes the
reason you are having a bad day. So there you are, having that inner
planning session on how you are going to walk back to the car, knowing
that it is going to hurt physically and crack the door for the fear to
creep in ever so slightly more. All this while just trying to get
through your day, smiling and hiding the pain, afraid to step off the
curb unsupported.
I have been that person at the curb, at the top of the stairs,
desperately looking for the handrail to take the steps one at a time, or
sitting in one place all night long at the party because it hurt to
even stand for a few minutes.
If you are the one struggling, you are not alone. There are resources
out there to help you. There is another veteran out there, willing to
stop and lend an arm to lean on. You just have to reach out. I pursued
the medical path, with a total knee replacement, PT and a lot of nights
just waiting for the pain to subside long enough to fall asleep. I am
still not where I want to be physically, but making improvements, and
the fear is gone. I also sought refuge in service to others as a VFW
Post Service Officer, and I sought comfort among my fellow veterans at
the coffee socials that have popped up. The point is, there are many
paths away from the fear, you just have to have the courage to take one
step, because there will be a lot of others on that path with you. You
are not alone.
Here are a bunch of general resources to help you get started.
MyHealtheVet:
https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-porta… – a general VA healthcare portal
Veterans Health Administration:
https://www.va.gov/health/ – overview of VA medical
Veterans Crisis Line:
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ – 1-800-273-8255 (Press1) – 24/7 people who will listen – you can call on behalf of a veteran
VA mental Health:
https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/
– I hear so many stories about how VA mental health services really
help people at the deckplate level, but you have to want to be helped
VA Compensation:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensat… – there is much more than just VA disability available
VA Disability:
https://www.va.gov/disability/ – VA disability portal
Military Disability Made Easy:
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy… – a great overall resource for understanding the VA disability rating system
Veterans Northeast Outreach Center:
https://www.vneoc.org/
– don’t forget to research local resources and non-profits – this one
in Haverhill covers MA and NH and provides a whole suite of support
As always, please feel free to PM me if you have questions regarding
your VA Benefits. If I don’t know the answer, we will find it together.
#gogetrated
This, and all of my videos are hung on my veterans support YouTube Channel: Veterans Advice Hub (https://www.youtube.com/c/veteransadv… Please Like and Subscribe – 40+ Videos posted and more to come!
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8/1/2019