Relationship Health

The Creek, The Father, and The Legacy: A Journey Back to Panama, Illinois

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Father and young son holding their first fish together at Shoal Creek in Panama, Illinois, creating generational legacy

There’s something sacred about going back to where it all began. This past weekend, I returned to Panama, Illinois—my old stomping grounds as a boy.Shoal Creek was where I’d ride my bike and dream of the life I wanted, often wondering what it would be like to have a father. I didn’t know him growing … Read more

Complex Relationship Between Childhood Adversity and PTSD

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A child in a dark, troubled environment transitions to an adult soldier in combat, culminating in a veteran struggling with PTSD, illustrating the link between childhood adversity and PTSD.

When we think about the experiences that shape a veteran’s life, our minds often go straight to the battlefield. We picture the harrowing scenes of combat, the split-second decisions between life and death, and the immense psychological toll that war can take. But what if the seeds of a veteran’s struggles were sown long before … Read more