The holidays can feel anything but joyful when you’re living with combat trauma. Crowds, noise, and expectations can trigger old stress or deepen numbness. This season, you don’t have to fake happiness or go through the motions. Healing begins when you give yourself permission to move through the holidays at your own pace — grounded, honest, and supported.

After months or years in survival mode, it’s common to feel like life’s gone quiet. You might laugh, work, and show up — but still feel distant inside. This emotional numbing isn’t weakness; it’s your body’s way of protecting you. Healing means teaching your system that it’s finally safe to feel again — not all at once, but one grounded breath, one small connection at a time.

When a loved one returns from combat changed, invisible wounds can strain relationships. This blog explores how trauma affects veterans and families—and how specialized therapy can help couples rebuild trust, intimacy, and connection.

Combat PTSD has its own language, symptoms, and recovery needs. In this blog, Dr. Bartel—trauma psychologist and military spouse—breaks down how it differs from civilian trauma and why tailored therapy matters.