SPIRITUALITY 1
Finding a new connection through spirituality
Veterans describe the impact that difficult experiences had on their spiritual and religious lives. Each person’s journey is unique, but there is a shared sense of hope in these Veterans’ true stories. Whether renewing their faith or finding a new spiritual path, Veterans are discovering ways to overcome challenges.
What is spirituality?
Spirituality can be described as your personal connection with meaning and purpose in life through something greater than yourself. This may include belief in some sort of higher power, or devotion to a set of deeply held personal values. People often express their spirituality through a particular religion or faith — although many people consider themselves spiritual without a formal religious affiliation.
Some Veterans may find that their life experiences strengthen their spirituality or faith. Others may find that their experiences in the military cause them to rethink or question spirituality or religion. If you practice a religion, you may be concerned about losing faith in what you believe. If you don’t, you may struggle with questions about what is significant and worthwhile in life.
“I was asking, ‘Why me? Why did you let me live? Is this the plan, because I don’t like it.’”
You may wonder:
- What death and suffering mean in the broader scheme of things
- If there is any meaning or purpose to the things you saw or experienced
- If you are a bad person because of your actions
- Why bad things happened to you or people you care about
- Why you survived when other people didn’t
These kinds of questions are common after a difficult or traumatic experience, such as military combat, natural disasters, or accidents. For many people, thinking about what they believe, and why they believe it, is part of making sense of difficult experiences.
What spirituality-related issues should I keep an eye out for?
While wrestling with these sorts of questions can be difficult, many people find that the process eventually leads to a sense of growth or resolution. For some, though, their experiences leave them with an ongoing sense of unaddressed spiritual injury or suffering.
In recent years, it has become clearer how spiritual issues relate to health. Individuals and care providers should keep an eye out for spiritual struggles such as:
- Loss of faith
- Difficulty forgiving others or oneself
- Feeling abandoned or punished by God
- Anger toward God
- Guilt or shame
- Grief and loss
- Difficulty merging deeply held values with life experiences
If you are experiencing these kinds of spiritual problems, you may not feel like your old self. You might find that you have stopped doing things you used to enjoy, or perhaps you have isolated yourself from others, including members of your faith or spiritual community. If you have struggled with these kinds of spiritual issues or a crisis of faith over a long period of time, you may also be dealing with relationship problems, feelings of depression or anxiety, or other issues that you may want to address.
What can I do about spirituality issues?
Learning to make sense of what happened can rebuild your sense of purpose and meaning. Try to take the time to:
- Talk about your questions and beliefs with someone you trust.
- Spend time thinking, expressing, and making sense of the experience, whether through talking, writing, painting, music, or other means.
- Practice your spirituality or meaningful religious traditions to feel more connected and focused on what is important to you.
- Share your thoughts, feelings, and questions with counselors or chaplains; they can help you examine your beliefs and find meaning in your life.
Talking to close friends and loved ones about what you are thinking and feeling may help you, and it allows your friends and family to provide support. In other cases, you may want to speak to someone else who you feel will understand your concerns, such as a spiritual or religious adviser, an educator, or a professional counselor.
NEED HELP NOW?
Call The Veterans Crisis Line at (800) 273-8255 And Press 1. Or Send A Text Message To The Veterans Crisis Line At 838255.
Free, confidential support 24 / 7 / 365.
In Addition to the VA, here are some Community Spiritual Resources
TAKE ACTION!
Give the San Jose Vet Center a call, at (408) 993-0729 to get back to your best life.
CALL – EVEN ANONYMOUSLY
San Jose Vet Center is open:
7 AM to Midnight on weekdays
8 AM to 4:30 PM on weekends (including holidays)
(408) 993-0729.
