Beyond Pain: A Veteran’s Journey to Whole-Person Care Through Acupuncture

Veterans go through a lot while serving: physical injuries, emotional and mental stress, and the challenge of maintaining spiritual health. Serving in the military takes its toll in a very unique way.

Once discharge happens, more challenges arise. Adjusting and transitioning back to civilian life can involve moving, looking for work, and, one of the most important challenges, learning about and accessing the benefits you’ve earned.

As a veteran, one of the hardest parts for me after being discharged was establishing care and navigating the VA healthcare system. To make a long story short, I eventually was able to establish care.

Over the years, I’ve moved between different states and navigated different VA healthcare systems before finally getting settled. I ended up with a great and thorough healthcare team of doctors, and by 2021, I had received a diagnosis that helped explain my pain. For me, this was a starting point in better understanding my health and advocating for the care I needed.

Although I didn’t realize it back then, changes within the VA healthcare system in recent years have created opportunities for me to advocate for care that could improve my quality of life.

After reaching dead ends with things like insomnia, chronic headaches, mental health struggles, and chronic stress, I was approved to receive acupuncture treatment through the VA’s Community Care program.

At first, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about acupuncture, but my husband truly believed I could benefit from treatment. So the search for a provider began. We looked for an acupuncturist in our area and double-checked with Community Care that the provider we found was in-network. My first appointment was then scheduled.

After my first few acupuncture treatments, my body felt calm and safe. I’ve since come to understand that this feeling can be associated with the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps support rest and relaxation.

As treatment progressed, things began improving in my body and in my day-to-day life. The number of headaches I experienced lessened. I felt more rested after sleeping. The calm in my body manifested as less stress in my daily life. Things that would usually leave me discombobulated impacted me differently. I was able to think more clearly and calmly in these situations.

While acupuncture has not magically eliminated my health challenges or undone the chronic autoimmune issues I have, it has improved my quality of life. Acupuncture has helped lower my stress levels, improve my mental health, and improve my ability to cope with stress physically and mentally.

So many times in life, we search for answers and understanding, especially when navigating ongoing health challenges. Holistic care has become an important part of my approach to well-being.

For me, as a veteran, acupuncture has become a staple in my holistic care regimen.

Additional Resources:

For veterans interested in learning more about acupuncture, the following resources may be helpful:

https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/CIH/Acupuncture.asp

https://hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/esp/acupuncture-evidence-map.cfm

https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/professional-resources/clinician-tools/Evidence-Based-Research.asp

https://www.va.gov/resources/how-to-get-community-care-referrals-and-schedule-appointments/