Veterans Mental Health Council

Veterans Mental Health Council Veterans and families empowering each other through advocacy, education, and support. We're here to advocate and improve services for all.

Meetings are held virtually via Zoom on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm. To participate, contact us at info@veteransmentalheathcouncil.org, and we will send you the link. We welcome Veterans and family members utilizing VA behavioral health services to join our council. For inquiries or to share your concerns, please email us at info@veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org.

Note to self… and maybe to you too.Some days we need reminders that feel simple — but land deep.You are doing the best y...
02/01/2026

Note to self… and maybe to you too.

Some days we need reminders that feel simple — but land deep.

You are doing the best you can.
You are enough.
Your feelings are valid.
You are allowed to say no.
It’s okay to set boundaries.
It’s okay to ask for help.
You are worthy and loved.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to be strong, productive, and “fine” all the time — especially veterans, caregivers, and people others rely on. But strength also looks like:

• Being kind to yourself on hard days
• Celebrating small wins
• Practicing gratitude, even in little ways
• Starting over when things don’t go as planned

Growth isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about showing up again and again with honesty and self-compassion.

If you’re working on your mental health and want to connect with people who understand, the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC) is here for you:
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that rest is lazy, slowing down is weakness, and taking care of ourselve...
02/01/2026

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that rest is lazy, slowing down is weakness, and taking care of ourselves is selfish.

But the truth is…

Your mental health is not optional.
Your inner peace is not a luxury.
Your self-care is not extra.

They are foundations.

When you take care of your mind and heart, you show up better for your family, your friends, your work, and your community. Especially for veterans, caregivers, and people carrying a lot for others — you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Self-care doesn’t have to be big or expensive. It can look like:

• Taking a walk to clear your head
• Turning your phone off for a bit
• Saying “no” when your plate is already full
• Talking to someone you trust
• Giving yourself permission to rest without guilt

You are allowed to protect your peace.
You are allowed to slow down.
You are allowed to take care of you.

If you want support prioritizing your mental health with people who understand, connect with the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC):
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

02/01/2026

Just in case you forgot.

02/01/2026

Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. When you make yourself a priority, you’re better able to show up for the people and things you love. Start today and let every day be a reminder that your well-being matters. 💙

Negative self-talk can feel automatic… like your brain is trying to protect you but just ends up being your harshest cri...
02/01/2026

Negative self-talk can feel automatic… like your brain is trying to protect you but just ends up being your harshest critic.

The good news? Thoughts are not facts.
And you can gently question them instead of believing every single one.

When that inner voice gets loud, try asking:

🧠 “Where is the proof this thought is true?”
🧠 “Would I say this to someone I care about?”
🧠 “Am I expecting myself to be perfect?”
🧠 “Is this really always or never… or am I just overwhelmed right now?”
🧠 “What would my best friend say to me?”
🧠 “How can I reframe this?”
🧠 “What have I learned from this?”

This isn’t about pretending everything is fine.
It’s about creating a little space between you and the thought — so the thought doesn’t get to run the whole show.

For veterans and others living with anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief, this skill can be a game changer. It helps calm the nervous system, reduce shame, and build self-compassion over time.

You don’t have to fight your mind.
You can learn to talk to yourself with the same respect you give everyone else.

If you want support practicing skills like this in a community that understands, connect with the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC):
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Protecting your mental health is not selfish — it’s necessary.So many of us were taught to endure.To keep going.To say y...
02/01/2026

Protecting your mental health is not selfish — it’s necessary.

So many of us were taught to endure.
To keep going.
To say yes.
To carry more than we should.

But here’s the truth: if something consistently costs you your peace, your sleep, your stability, or your sense of self… it’s too expensive.

That can mean:
🚫 Staying in environments that constantly trigger you
🚫 Saying yes when your body and mind are screaming no
🚫 Carrying guilt that isn’t yours
🚫 Keeping relationships that drain you dry

For veterans living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or grief, your nervous system is already working overtime. You don’t have unlimited emotional energy — and you don’t have to pretend you do.

💡 Boundaries are not walls.
They are doors with locks.
And you get to decide who and what has access.

Choosing your mental health might feel uncomfortable at first. But burnout, resentment, and breakdowns are far more costly.

You are allowed to protect your peace.
You are allowed to step back.
You are allowed to choose you.

👉 If you need support learning how to set boundaries and care for your mental health, you don’t have to do it alone. Connect with the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC) for community and resources:
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Self-Love Isn’t Selfish. It’s Survival. It’s Healing. It’s Strength.We often talk about loving others…but many veterans ...
01/31/2026

Self-Love Isn’t Selfish. It’s Survival. It’s Healing. It’s Strength.

We often talk about loving others…
but many veterans were never taught how to show that same care to themselves.

Self-love doesn’t have to look like bubble baths or big purchases. It can look practical. Quiet. Simple. Necessary.

There are different “self-love languages,” and you might need more than one — especially if you’re navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, or the stress of transition.

💛 Physical care – moving your body, resting, easing tension
💚 Acts of service to yourself – organizing, planning, asking for help
💙 Giving yourself joy – hobbies, small treats, time away
💜 Words of affirmation – challenging negative self-talk, speaking kindly to yourself
🩷 Quality time with yourself – quiet moments, reflection, doing what fills your cup

Self-love might be going to therapy.
It might be setting a boundary.
It might be canceling plans so you can breathe.

💡 You don’t have to earn rest.
You don’t have to justify taking care of yourself.
You don’t have to run on empty anymore.

Taking care of you is not weakness — it’s maintenance for a mind and body that have carried a lot.

👉 If you’re learning how to care for yourself again, you don’t have to do it alone. Support, understanding, and community are available through the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC)
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Life doesn’t follow a straight line — and it definitely doesn’t follow a schedule.You can be• lost at 22• broke at 28• u...
01/31/2026

Life doesn’t follow a straight line — and it definitely doesn’t follow a schedule.

You can be
• lost at 22
• broke at 28
• unsure at 31
• starting over at 35
• rising at 38
• finding your purpose at 42
• unstoppable at 47

And none of it means you failed. It means you’re human. It means you’re growing.

For veterans carrying PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, or the weight of transition, it can feel like everyone else is moving forward while you’re just trying to get through the day. But healing, rebuilding, and rediscovering yourself is not falling behind — it’s doing deep, important work.

💡 Remember:
• Your timeline is yours
• Growth often happens quietly
• Setbacks don’t cancel your future
• Starting over is strength, not weakness

Greatness isn’t rushed. Neither is healing. Trust the process. You’re still becoming who you’re meant to be.

👉 You don’t have to walk this path alone. Support, understanding, and community are available through the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC)
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Wouldn’t it be easier if you left some of that behind?So many of us are still carrying things that were never meant to b...
01/31/2026

Wouldn’t it be easier if you left some of that behind?

So many of us are still carrying things that were never meant to be lifelong burdens — old guilt, old pain, old mistakes, old trauma. We get used to the weight, even when it’s exhausting us.

But healing often begins with one brave decision:
You don’t have to carry all of your past into your future.

For veterans living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or grief, “letting go” doesn’t mean pretending it never happened. It means learning how to carry it differently. Lighter. With support. With compassion for yourself.

💡 You are allowed to:
• Outgrow old versions of yourself
• Release blame you’ve been holding onto
• Set down stories that no longer serve your healing
• Move forward without dragging everything behind you

Your past is part of your story — but it is not the whole book.

If you’re ready to start setting some of that weight down, you don’t have to do it alone.

👉 Support, understanding, and community are available through the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC)
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Most of us know how to show up for someone else.We offer patience. Understanding. Encouragement. Grace.But when it’s us?...
01/30/2026

Most of us know how to show up for someone else.
We offer patience. Understanding. Encouragement. Grace.

But when it’s us?
We criticize. Rush. Judge. Replay mistakes. Demand perfection.

Self-compassion isn’t letting yourself “off the hook.”
It’s treating yourself like a human who’s carrying real weight.

If you’re a veteran living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or grief—self-compassion can feel unfamiliar. But it’s one of the most powerful tools for healing. It helps calm the nervous system, reduces shame, and makes change sustainable.

💡 Try this today:
Ask yourself, “If a buddy told me they were struggling, what would I say?”
Then say that to yourself.

You deserve the kindness you give away so freely.

👉 Need support and community? The Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC) is here:
https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Not with grand gestures.Not with perfect words.Just with presence. With kindness. With intention.Hold the door.Send the ...
01/30/2026

Not with grand gestures.
Not with perfect words.
Just with presence. With kindness. With intention.

Hold the door.
Send the text.
Make the call.
Offer the hug.
Listen without trying to fix.

You never really know what someone is carrying behind their smile. A small moment of compassion from you could be the bright spot in a day that feels impossibly heavy to them.

Love shows up in simple ways:
✨ Patience when someone is struggling
✨ Encouragement when someone doubts themselves
✨ Understanding instead of judgment
✨ Checking in just because

You don’t have to change the world today.
But you might change someone’s world by reminding them they matter.

And the beautiful part? The love you give has a way of coming back around when you need it most.

Go be someone’s safe moment today. 💫

If you want support building these skills with people who get it, connect with the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC): https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

Stepping away isn’t quitting.It’s choosing clarity over chaos.Calm over constant reaction.Healing over proving a point.S...
01/29/2026

Stepping away isn’t quitting.
It’s choosing clarity over chaos.
Calm over constant reaction.
Healing over proving a point.

Sometimes the strongest move you can make is to pause the argument, close the app, leave the room, or take a walk. Distance gives your nervous system time to settle, your thoughts time to organize, and your heart time to lead instead of your stress.

Stepping away can mean:
🔹 Protecting your peace
🔹 Breaking an unhealthy pattern
🔹 Refusing to escalate
🔹 Giving yourself space to breathe and reset

You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.
You don’t have to solve everything right now.
And you don’t have to stay in spaces that drain you.

Sometimes power looks quiet. Sometimes strength looks like space.

If you want support building these skills with people who get it, connect with the Veterans Mental Health Council (VMHC): https://veteransmentalhealthcouncil.org/

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Columbia, MO
65201

Telephone

+15734186658

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