Whole Health helps Marine Veteran find tools to heal
By Jesus Flores, VISN 19 writer & editor
Marine Veteran Elias M. relied on intense training to cope. When health problems took that away, Whole Health gave him tools to heal and reconnect with life.
Losing his way
Elias served in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry from 1989 to 1995. After leaving the Corps, he built a career in law enforcement, serving more than 20 years as a supervisory probation officer.
About 15 years ago, he gave VA a chance. He signed up for care, showed up to his initial appointment, opened up about the trauma he’d been carrying, received a diagnosis, but never heard back. There was no treatment plan, no follow-up.
“I didn’t push it either because I wasn’t ready to accept help,” said Elias. “At the time, I wasn’t ready for formal therapy.”
So, he turned to the thing that always helped, physical training. CrossFit, rucking and long-distance running became his outlet. They gave him clarity and routine.
Struggling in silence
An asthma diagnosis in 2023 and other chronic issues suddenly made intense workouts dangerous.
Without that release, the stress began to surface.
“Getting this taken away was like removing a huge part of my persona,” Elias said. “I went through anger, frustration, depression and anxiety. In hindsight, I think loneliness was the hardest part. You suffer in silence, wanting to scream at everyone but can’t.”
Elias’s wife and coworkers noticed.
“I thought I was just feeling burnout,” said Elias.
However, it wasn’t until everything he tried stopped working that he sought help.
Turning point
He gave VA a second chance after learning that acupuncture was available at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.
He learned about My HealtheVet and sent a Secure Message to his primary care provider for a referral. At the appointment, the acupuncturist asked about his stress and how he was managing it.
That conversation led him to Amanda Grantham and Heather Skinner, both Air Force Veterans and Whole Health Coaches at VA Eastern Colorado, and to the Mind-Body Skills Group.
In this group, Veterans learn evidence-based techniques to regulate stress and reconnect with themselves.
At first, Elias didn’t let his guard down, but something about being in a room full of Veterans, led by Veterans, changed that.
“I didn’t grasp the depth of what I was going through until after the first few weeks,” he said. “Amanda has a unique way of pointing out what behaviors were healthy, and which weren’t. She used compassion and gentleness. That made me feel safe.”
Building new strength
He began using skills like breathwork, thought reframing, gratitude journaling and VA mindfulness apps, including PTSD Coach, which helps Veterans manage PTSD symptoms and AIMS for Anger Management, which offers practical tools and exercises. When stressed at work, he uses these tools to reset.
“I used to think strength was just endurance,” Elias said. “But when you’re drowning, that doesn’t matter.”
Grantham saw the change, too.
“Toward the end, Elias looked for what was going well,” she said. “He allowed himself to slow down and enjoy life. He’s empowered to live the life he chooses, not the one his diagnosis tried to define.”
A message for other Veterans
Elias still experiences tough days, but now he approaches them differently.
He stays present with his family, manages his workload gradually, and allows himself to feel and reset. As a supervisor, he’s more conscious of burnout and its impact on the Veterans he works with, and how many carry the weight of what they’ve never said out loud.
He encourages them to use their VA health care benefits and reminds them it doesn’t have to be formal therapy to help.
“Real strength is asking for help and using it,” he said. “If VA calls, don’t ignore it. Press the green button. Your life doesn’t have to stay the way it is.”
Ask your provider about Whole Health services available to you. Learn more about Whole Health and how it can support your well-being