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The Science and History Behind Meditation and Mindfulness, Especially as It Relates to Mental Health

Silhouette of someone meditating over a Positron Emission Topography (PET) scan of a brain in bright

While in the throes of dealing with symptoms from PTSD, my counselor suggested mindfulness and meditation, which I initially thought was a bunch of snake oil … something for hippies, monks, and weirdos. But then I started to learn about the science — and even a little history — and everything began to change; I literally started to breathe again.

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You have likely heard of the brain's gray matter – here is why the white matter is important too

A graphic representation of the brain's neural network

The human brain is a three-pound organ that remains largely an enigma. But most people have heard of the brain’s gray matter, which is needed for cognitive functions such as learning, remembering and reasoning.

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U.S. Army Veteran Bill Jones Healing from PTSD Through WWP's Project Odyssey

U.S. Army Veteran Bill Jones stands by a brick wall wearing a black Wounded Warrior Project hoodie

William "Bill" Jones joined the United States Army in response to the attacks on 9/11. After several deployments anger, anxiety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were taking over and he retired from active duty.

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Leaning into Loss After Brain Injury

David and his wife smiling seated at a restaurant

Three of my four sons abruptly walked out of my life with no explanation and no communication. I was being ghosted long before that term even existed. It was, by far, the most painful part of my journey.

Reading Triggering Traumatic Material Does Not Increase Distress Over Time

Man sitting at a table, reading on a tablet with a concerned look on his face

Ideally, trigger warnings allow individuals who have experienced trauma to be forewarned about material that may elicit unwanted memories of past traumatic events. However, some have hypothesized that trigger warnings have more costs than benefits, even for those with relevant traumas.

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Naked mole rats, frogs and other animals may hold the secrets to preventing brain injury

The head of a naked mole rat peeking out of a hole

The brain is the organ that orchestrates all the diverse functions and complex decisions that take place in biological systems. Despite its critical nature, it is equally as fragile: the neurons that make up the brain do not regenerate like many other cell types.

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The Emotional Rollercoaster of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Medication

Two prescription pill bottles ride a downward slope of a rollercoaster

I enjoy watching my husband cry. That sounds so much worse than what I really mean. He’s been on various medications for his PTSD some of which cause emotional blunting — not being able to laugh or cry when appropriate.

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From PSTD and Road Rage to Forgiveness and Compassion

A rider driving a motorcycle with the road stretching in front of them

Maybe forgiving others — but more importantly ourselves — is a way to break what has tethered us from being our best selves.

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Learn How the National Military Family Association (NMFA) Helps Military Families Stand Strong and Thrive

The National Military Family Association understands deeply that “military families serve, too,” alongside their service member or veteran parent or spouse.

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Our Military Kids Supports Children of Deployed and Severely Wounded Veterans with Fun

Our Miiltary Kids recognizes children for being brave despite their parent’s deployment and all the challenges — large and small — that can come with a parent’s recovery from combat injuries.

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Ambiguous Grief After Brain Injury

David and his wife smiling in front of pine trees on a sunny day

To be human is to grieve, and everyone grieves differently and in their own time. But there is a type of grief that many people experience that is less common, less talked about, but none the less real and painful. It’s called ambiguous grief or ambiguous loss.

Military Child Education Coalition Helps Military-Connected Children Thrive in and Beyond the Classroom

The Military Child Education Coalition was founded on the belief that every military-connected child should be college-, work-, and life-ready.

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Post-Traumatic Pain Expressed Physically from Generation to Generation

Mother, with head in her hands, sits in a darkened hallway with her baby, holding a toy

Adults who have suffered childhood trauma exhibit a higher degree of somatization (i.e., mental suffering expressed through physical complaints that may lead them to consulting a physician). A mother's trauma impacts the mother-child relationship.

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Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Angela Peacock's Journey from Treatment to Healing

A black and white portrait of Angela Peacock looking to the left

Retired United States Army Sergeant Angela Peacock shares how a service dog, an RV, and Wounded Warrior Project helped heal her post-traumatic stress (PTSD).

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Do state supports for persons with brain injury affect outcomes in the 5 Years following acute rehabilitation?

Silhouette of a head with the United States in the center of a target inside

State-level resources and supports have a small but significant impact on outcomes following serious TBI. Better Long-Term Services and Supports increase community participation and life satisfaction.

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March Is Brain Injury Awareness Month, But What Does That Mean?

If you are anything like me, when you or your loved one are first given a diagnosis, you research. There is so much information available online, it can be overwhelming or frustrating to know which is accurate, but I find research helpful in being able to report or advocate to doctors for both myself and my loved ones.

Even a Mild Concussion Could Cause Long-Term Problems

Female doctor holds a tablet with an image of a brain speaking with a seated male patient

A new study published in Neurology dispels the notion that "mild" concussions have no lasting impact on mental skills like thinking, remembering, and learning. Poor cognitive outcomes are common 1 year after injury.

Healing from PTSD – Enter: Vulnerability and Courage

Soldier at sunset with text: Vulnerability is our greatest measure of courage — Brené Brown

One lesson I have learned since I started meditating is the connection between courage and vulnerability. Yes, vulnerability. I know, it sounds like the antithesis of everything related to being a SEAL, but I have come to understand that while vulnerability and courage aren’t necessarily the same thing, it takes courage to show vulnerability and, in turn, as you show more vulnerability, you actually become more courageous.

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Brain Injury Recovery Realities and Reasons for Hope

David and his wife smiling in a wintery forest

Amazingly, this is my 100^th article for Brainline, and I want to share some of the things I’ve learned along the way — things I wish someone had told me early on. Some are painful truths that took me time to accept, others unexpected joys and blessings that have come with the journey.

Army Veteran Tom Voss Gives an Example of How Moral Injury Can Occur

Army Veteran Tom Voss shares a painful example of how moral injury can happen.

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Army Veteran Tom Voss on Facing His Pain from PTSD and Moral Injury with a 2,7000-Mile Trek

Tom and another veteran friend embarked on a 2,700-mile trek to process their experiences in combat and start healing from PTSD and moral injury.

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Army Veteran Tom Voss on Meditation as a "Deep Form of Self-Respect"

Army Veteran Tom Voss learned that meditation is a meaningful and effective way to take time to be with yourself while also recognizing and honoring what's going on in your spirit, brain, and body.

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Army Veteran Tom Voss on Transforming His Suicidal Ideation to Healing Through a 2,700-Mile Trek

Army Veteran Tom Voss knew he had to do something big and bold or he would die by his own hand.

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Army Veteran Tom Voss Talks About the Many Healing Aspects of His 2,7000 Trek

Meeting many others along the 2,700-mile trek was a trust-building exercise and a way to offer people an opportunity to help and support veterans once home from combat.

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Army Veteran Tom Voss on His Healing Work from PTSD and Moral Injury After His 2,700-Mile Trek

"The trek helped me go through this big, heavy basket of rocks I had been carrying around, understand why it was weighing me down, and how to deal with each rock — each experience, each loss — one at a time.," he says.

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