Social Skills Class Helps Nathan Feel More Like Himself Again

 Nathan vividly remembers the roadside IED explosions that hit his vehicle and knocked him out while travelling with members of his platoon in Iraq. After the attack, he went back to his work as an Army medic, but he began noticing that he wasn't his usual self anymore. "I was really irritable and would get angry for no reason," Nathan recalled, "and I was having memory problems that were affecting my work. I was forgetting steps in routine medical procedures." Nathan was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and referred to Operation TBI Freedom after returning home from his second tour of duty.

Nathan's care coordinator enrolled him in a social skills class specifically designed for veterans to help him deal with his mood swings and anxiety. Being with other veterans with TBI, Nathan felt he could relate to his classmates on similar issues they were all experiencing. "You can talk to your family, but they don't really know what you're talking about," he explained. "When I talk to the other guys in the class, they get it." Through the class, Nathan has learned how to be more assertive and how to handle social situations so he feels less anxious. "My wife says that out of all the services I've received, this is the one that has made the biggest difference," he shared.

Nathan also participated in a therapeutic riding program to help him relieve stress and increase his ability to focus. For the future he's exploring martial arts classes he can take to further increase his confidence. "I always think about the worst-case scenario happening," he said. "I think martial arts will help me feel more prepared and confident, so I can protect myself and won't have to be on high-alert all the time."

Nathan is taking all the changes in stride, and he credits much of his progress to the support he's been receiving. "Everyone with a TBI is depressed because they can't do the things they normally do, but the more support you have with you, the better you end up feeling. If you're surrounded by people who actually care, it makes a huge difference," he expressed. "I'm becoming more relaxed and more like myself again. I've improved dramatically."