Combat veteran, clinical mental health counselor, and endurance athlete Mike Ergo joins the show to talk about his transition from warrior to veteran to therapist, and how he found new purpose in supporting Gold Star Families with the Ironman Foundation
Show Notes
Are you looking for more ways to learn about military and veteran mental health and wellness? Check out Duane's books by going to www.veteranmentalhealth.com/books
Summary:
Mike Ergo served as a Marine rifleman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marinesfrom 2001-2005 and deployed to Iraq twice. Coming home from combat was rough. He has said that his body returned, but his mind and spirit were still in Fallujah for many years.
His blog and podcast is for all who have answered our nation’s call to service and returned home looking to transition from the battlefield. In triathlon, one must be able to quickly change from swimming to cycling and again from cycling to running. The successful athlete can make this change in a fluid manner and be ready for the next challenge. His blog aims to inspire all of us to dare to dream big and crush the limits we have set for ourselves.
Triathlons, trail running, and endurance challenges like GORUCK have help him to overcome the sadness, anger, fear, and anxiety that are a part of PTSD and moral injury.
During the week, he works as a readjustment counselor and helps fellow combat veterans make positive changes in their own lives. But his blog is not about therapy or any “one-size-fits-all” prescription for others to copy. It is simply his own experience and the wisdom he's gained from running into the same brick wall over and over again.
He says that he is not a professional athlete. He is not the fastest competitor out there. He is a combat veteran balancing a job and a family, striving for excellence and pushing himself to the next level.
In this Episode, you will learn:
Mike's background and experience
Life for him after the military and before recovery
Leaving the military and the pace of life slowing down
Filling space after the military
Everything that is a medicine is also a poison if taken in the wrong dose
Going from client to therapist
Giving others permission to seek help
Turning the corner to health (literally and figuratively)
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Are you looking for more ways to learn about military and veteran mental health and wellness? Check out Duane's books by going to www.veteranmentalhealth.com/books
The psychological impact of military service is well known but less understood. Every Tuesday and Thursday, join combat veteran and clinical mental health counselor Duane France as he interviews mental health professionals, veterans, and those who support them about mental health and wellness. If you want to understand more about service member and veteran mental health, then this podcast is for you.