Making Peace with Trauma
U.S. Navy Veteran Bradley Stenstrom’s journey of healing began when his life took an unexpected turn after serving in the military for 22 years.
Like many Veterans, he carried with him the emotional scars of war, trauma that surfaced during his work in the security field. While stationed in the Caribbean following the devastating hurricanes in 2017, Bradley began experiencing vivid flashbacks and unsettling memories from his deployments to Beirut, Lebanon, during the early 1980s.
In his role as a Captain for G4S, Bradley was assigned to oversee security operations in St. Croix, a place he described as the "Wild, Wild West." The violence, looting, and lawlessness triggered old wounds, and Bradley found himself grappling with unexplainable changes in his behavior.
Losing control, he says, “I would catch my self-speaking to the wind.” This made him realize something was wrong, and upon returning to West Palm Beach, he sought support with VA.
Different from prescriptions and medical advice, the REBOOT Combat Recovery program was where he gained back control.
The faith-based initiative designed to help Veterans address the spiritual and moral wounds of war. The program fosters a sense of unity among the core group, who come from all walks of life but share the common bond of military trauma.
Through REBOOT, Bradley found a safe space to confront his thoughts among Veterans just like him. One of the most significant moments in his recovery came when he was asked to share his personal story with the core group.
As he unravels this memory, he shares, “This was no easy task, because it involved revisiting a disturbing event from my time in Grenada in 1983, when three helicopters were shot down.”
Recounting this story took him sleepless nights of soul-searching. The process of sharing brought back vivid crashing sounds, the rush of rescue and unsettling sense of the unknown, however, it did bring something overpowering to all the bad -it left a sense of release and connected him more deeply than ever before with Veterans.
The breakthrough not only did the unthinkable for Bradley by confronting his past, but also helping him reconcile with himself.
REBOOT saves lives, by dropping divorce rates, medication abuse, and suicide numbers. Bradley is one of many who proves this. For him, it was the lesson of forgiveness, both forgiving himself and allowing oneself to be forgiven.
He says, “Without forgiveness, it is impossible to move forward. My wife, Cheryl “Sherry” Stenstrom, has stood by me for 42 years, with her patience and forgiveness, qualities that have and continue to be integral to my healing journey.”
Since discovering forgiveness, Bradley returns to the program, no longer as a participant but now as an example and advocate.
The once battle missions have now become Veteran navigation missions, where he supports Veterans navigating their healing journey.
For Bradley, REBOOT wasn’t a one-time solution but a continuous journey of growth and service. In his words, “REBOOT is about making peace with your demons. The program doesn’t promise overnight solutions, but it offers Veterans a path to understanding themselves and finding the answers that are already within them.”
His journey through REBOOT is a testament to the power of faith, forgiveness, and community. It’s a story of resilience and the determination to not only heal but to help others heal as well. Through REBOOT, Bradley has found his calling, and he continues to dedicate his life to supporting his fellow Veterans on their path to recovery.
His message to Veterans is simple: "There is an answer. There is a way. You’re not alone."
To get started on your healing journey, visit: https://www.va.gov/west-palm-beach-health-care/chaplain-services/.