A Totally Warranted Podcast

A Totally Warranted Podcast is a podcast about Warrant Officer Life. It contains information about everything from how to become an Army Warrant Officer to when to retire. In this podcast we’ll discuss topics surrounding your board packet, attending school, your first duty station and beyond. This podcast isn't just for aspiring Warrant Officers, it's also for current Warrant Officers. As we progress we will discuss how to manage stress, mentorship, retirement and beyond.

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A Totally Warranted Podcast

Where Chiefs go for Help

August 07, 2023 • Chief D • Season 1 • Episode 6

Join Chief D on "Totally Warranted Podcast" as she delves into the vital topic of mental health support for Army Warrant Officers. In this episode, Chief D emphasizes the significance of mental well-being in the high-pressure military environment, especially for those serving as Army Warrant Officers. Addressing common challenges like anxiety, depression, and burnout, Chief D highlights a range of available mental health resources, from Army Wellness Centers to individual counseling and group therapy options.

Through insightful discussions on self-care practices, stress management techniques, and mindfulness, Chief D advocates for a strong support network and overcoming the stigma associated with seeking help. Tune in for a powerful episode aimed at inspiring Army Warrant Officers to prioritize their mental health, enhance their resilience, and thrive in their roles as leaders and mentors.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and Chief D's personal journey to Behavioral Health serves as a testament to the importance of addressing mental health concerns early on. Join Chief D in prioritizing your well-being and living your best life as an Army Warrant Officer and beyond. Stay motivated, keep pushing forward, and remember that your dedication as a warrant officer is totally warranted!

Don't forget to share this invaluable episode with fellow service members who can also benefit from the resources and insights shared. Subscribe to "Totally Warranted Podcast" and leave a review to support Chief D's mission to be a guiding force for all aspiring and current Army Warrant Officers. Together, we can foster an open dialogue about mental health and create a supportive community that prioritizes the well-being of our military leaders.

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Title: Mental Health Support for Army Warrant Officers: Where Chief’s Go for Help

Show Intro:

Hi, I’m Chief D, and you’re listening to a Totally Warranted Podcast. A Podcast where we discuss all things Chief. From how to become one, to when to retire and everything in between. In this podcast we’ll discuss topics surrounding your board packet, attending school, life as a warrant officer and beyond. So grab your favorite beverage, and sit back as I take you on the journey of life as a Chief.

Introduction

Hello Hello Hello, and welcome back to another episode of a Totally Warranted Podcast, I’m your host Chief D!

In case you missed it, I’m going to share this week’s affirmation of the week with you. If you’d like to catch these live on Monday’s you need to follow us on Facebook or Instagram so you receive these notifications. Links in the show notes.

This week's affirmation is “I am an exceptional Army Warrant Officer, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experience to lead with confidence and precision.” This week's affirmation is focused on building up the group of Warrant Officer Candidates about to start their Journey at First WOCC, but applies to the whole cohort.

Sometimes you need a reminder of just how great and capable you are and guess what… I’m here to give it to you!

This month on Socials we are also running a 30 day reflective journaling story. Each day we publish a journal prompt in our stories on Facebook and Instagram that you can review and reflect on your life as a Warrant Officer and your career. These stories are an excellent way to look into your career and realize you are doing an amazing job and are fully capable!

If you miss a day, all of the stories are being saved in our IG Highlight Tab marked Reflection. I hope you check them out!

Last week we discussed, Mindset for the Army Warrant Officer. It was a short episode about 12 minutes, if you didn’t get the opportunity to listen to that, make sure you do. It’s an amazing beginning look, at mindset and how it affects your ability to reach your goals.

This week we are going to be discussing something near and dear to my heart…. Your mental health! In the demanding and high-pressure environment of the military, mental health is of utmost importance.

It affects not only the well-being of individual service members but also the overall effectiveness and readiness of the force. As Army Warrant Officers, we are entrusted with significant responsibilities and face unique challenges.

The weight of leadership, operational demands, and the constant need for decision-making and lets face it, problem solving can take a toll on your mental well-being. Especially when you mix it in with the varied and sometimes strained parameters of one's home life.

This podcast episode aims to shed light on the mental health resources and support systems available specifically for you the Army Warrant Officer. (yes other Service Members can use these resources, but today I’m speaking directly to you Chief!). Because you know like I know, you aren’t the first one to raise your hand to go get help. But we can change that.

By understanding and utilizing these opportunities, you can prioritize your mental health and enhance your overall performance, as well as your relationships with and performance of those around you.

Understanding Mental Health for Army Warrant Officers

As Army Warrant Officers, we shoulder immense responsibility, serving as the bridge between officers and enlisted personnel, usually serving as the voice of reason. The pressure to make critical decisions, manage complex situations, and maintain operational readiness can lead to increased stress and potential mental health challenges especially when you don’t feel supported in your work or by your leadership.

Some of the common mental health issues faced by Army Warrant Officers include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and burnout. These challenges can impact your personal life, job performance, and overall well-being if left unaddressed.

Addressing mental health concerns early on is crucial for your overall well-being and effectiveness as a leader. By seeking help and support, you can mitigate the impact of stress and mental health issues, leading to improved resilience and performance. Remember the old saying that you can’t help anyone if you don’t help yourself first? This is a prime example of the concept in action!

Available Mental Health Resources

So today we will talk about some available resources to help you address, decompress and ultimately get back to you. We will start with our Military Support systems. The first one up is the Army wellness Center.

A. Military support systems

Army Wellness Centers provide a range of services, including stress management, nutrition counseling, and resilience training. These centers offer personalized support to enhance your physical and mental well-being.

The Army Wellness Center is an amazing resource. The training they provide as well as the support for tough challenges like weight control and stress management are amazing building blocks into your self-care routine. The AWC is like having a team built in and ready to cheer you on for all of your successes.

Military Family Life Counselors: Military Family Life Counselors are available to provide confidential counseling services to you and your family. They can assist in managing stress, relationship issues, and other challenges that can impact your mental health.

Many people don’t realize this but MFLCs don’t keep notes. So anything you say to them (short of a mandatory reporting situation) goes nowhere but from your mouth to their ears.

Chaplains and religious support: Chaplains and religious support personnel offer spiritual guidance and counseling. They provide a safe space for you to discuss any concerns or challenges you may be facing, fostering emotional well-being.

Now we’ll go into a few counseling and therapy options. Some of which I’ve done myself. The first up individual counseling.

B. Counseling and therapy options

Individual counseling: Individual counseling sessions with mental health professionals can help you address specific concerns and develop coping strategies. These sessions provide a confidential environment to discuss personal challenges and develop a plan for improvement. Now the Professionals at EBH will take notes and those notes will be in your medical record.
Group therapy: Participating in group therapy sessions allows you to connect with peers who may be experiencing similar challenges. Sharing experiences and insights in a supportive group setting can be beneficial for personal growth and building resilience.
Online resources and telehealth options: Online resources, such as virtual therapy platforms and telehealth services, provide convenient access to mental health support. These options can be especially useful for those in remote locations or with limited availability for in-person sessions. Military One Source hosts a few of these services.

Now before we move on I want to double back on individual counseling sessions for a moment. And I want to tell you this from the bottom of my heart, if you don’t get the right person the first time. GO Back and try again.

There are so man of us who are 100% against trying again, especially when an experience didn’t go the way we thought it should. Sometimes we don’t get to the right person in the first encounter, but refusing to try again is not proving anything to the wrong person. It’s only preventing you from getting the help you are seeking.

So advocate for yourself, tell the counselor this isn’t working for me and I’d like to speak to someone else. Do not let someone diminish your feelings, or your thoughts with their words or actions. All mental health professionals aren’t created equally, just like all warrant officers aren’t created equally.

Don’t let the one who isn’t for you, prevent you from finding the one who is! Ok, I’m going to step down off my soap box but hopefully I got my point across. Let’s get into some self care practices that can prompt Mental Health and Well being. First up, Physical fitness and nutrition.

Promoting Mental Health

A. Self-care practices for Army Warrant Officers

Physical exercise and nutrition: Engaging in regular physical exercise and maintaining a balanced diet can positively impact your mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, reduces stress, and improves overall well-being. This should be easy because we do PT just not with them…. (T-shirt now available in our shop. Link in the show notes)
Stress management techniques: Learning and implementing stress management techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, time management strategies, and prioritization, can help you better cope with the demands of your role.
Mindfulness and meditation: Practicing mindfulness and meditation can enhance self-awareness, reduce anxiety, and improve focus. These techniques can help you stay present, manage stress, and improve overall mental well-being.

Now for some people meditation sounds a little “ “ and maybe I was like that in the first half of my life. Now-a-days your girl is all about her meditation and staying grounded. There are a number of ways that I practice mindfulness and that includes journaling, meditating, and visualization.

They have certainly changed the way I deal with stress, and have provided me with a way to reground myself when I feel myself becoming off balance. Next up we have a great one, Building a support network. Now what I’m going to suggest is the formal version, but I will break it down less formally once I go through the whole list.

B. Building a support network

Peer support groups: Engaging with fellow Army Warrant Officers through peer support groups can provide a valuable network for sharing experiences, seeking advice, and fostering understanding within your professional community.
Mentorship programs: Participating in mentorship programs connects you with experienced leaders who can provide guidance, support, and perspective. Mentors can offer valuable insights on navigating challenges and prioritizing mental health.
Engaging with family and friends: Maintaining strong connections with loved ones outside of the military can provide a crucial support system. Regularly engaging with family and friends promotes a healthy work-life balance and strengthens your overall well-being.

So realistically for me these things look like “Warrant Officer lunches” chats with my Brigade Senior Tech and weekends with my family and friends. Warrant Officer networking events are amazing because they always, without fail show you that either someone else is going through what you are, or two someone else can offer guidance on what you’re going through from their own experiences. The benefits of doing these with your senior warrant is that they include the mentorship piece at no additional cost.

Overcoming Stigma and Seeking Help

Recognizing and addressing the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health concerns is essential. Mental health should be viewed as an important part of overall wellness, and seeking support is a sign of strength and resilience.

Just as you are expected to PMCS vehicles and weapons for serviceability, we should be expected and encouraged to PMCS our minds the same way. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness rather the greatest show of strength.

Fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue about mental health is crucial. By sharing experiences, challenges, and resources, we can create a supportive community that promotes the well-being of Army Warrant Officers.

Highlighting the stories of Army Warrant Officers who sought help for mental health challenges and thrived can inspire others to take action. Sharing the fact that I myself go to Behavioral Health is part of the strategy I use to encourage others to do the same. All too often we revert back to the phase of the Army we grew up in where people didn’t seek help for fear of being looked at as less than, but gone are the days! The stories of people seeking help demonstrate that seeking support can lead to personal growth, improved performance, and a healthier mindset. They should be highlighted and encouraged fiercely! I personally go to Behavioral Health and encourage anyone who is not feeling like themselves, to go as well. The worst thing we can do as leaders is ignore the feeling that something isn’t right within ourselves while masking to the people around us. It’s all too often we hear that we’ve lost one of our Brother or Sisters in Arms due to self-inflicted harm. That stops with us taking a stand and getting help, even if you don’t think it’s that serious, sometimes you don't see the spiral coming, get someone from the outside to help you look within.

Conclusion

Thankfully as Warrant Officers and Service Members we have access to a range of mental health resources to assist us in troubled times, recapping these resources include Army Wellness Centers, military family life counselors, chaplains, individual counseling, group therapy, and online support options.

Remember prioritizing your mental health is crucial for your personal well-being and effectiveness as an Army Warrant Officer. By seeking help, practicing self-care, and building a support network, you can enhance your overall resilience and performance.

At the end of the day seeking help is a sign of strength. If you're facing mental health challenges of any degree, don't hesitate to reach out to the available resources and support systems. Your well-being matters, and by taking care of yourself, you're better equipped to fulfill your duties as an Army Warrant Officer, a parent, a friend, an advisor, and any other roll you play in life. Because your mental health isn’t just important for your Military Service, it’s important for your life! You deserve to live your best life everyday, and you can't start today!

Well that’s it, That's today's episode of a Totally Warranted Podcast. I’m glad you stuck with me throughout this journey and I hope you really took this information to heart. I will add links in the show notes to any of the resources we talked about in this episode as well as some we didn’t.

If there is a resource you think I need to add don’t hesitate to let me know! If you enjoyed today's episode please share it with someone in service who could use it. This information though directed at Warrant Officers can be directed at anyone in service. Also, make sure you follow the podcast so you can get notifications and stay up to date on new episodes. If you’d like to show your support we are selling our Acrylic Eagle Rising Keychains at $5 ea with the proceeds going to support podcasting expenses.

We are hoping to continue making the podcast an amazing resource for you! We are planning interviews with different Warrant Officers across the field including a Proponent, Career Manager, WOBC Instructor, and more. If you or someone you know would like to interview or have information you’d like to share with the masses let me know! You can reach me at ChiefD@totallywarranted.com or totally warranted on Facebook or Instagram, I look forward to hearing from you! Stay motivated, keep pushing forward, and remember that your dedication as a warrant officer is totally warranted!

Outro:

You’re listening to a totally warranted podcast. A podcast by chief for chief. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard, would you mind leaving a review. A review lets others know that this podcast is worth their time and will help them on their journey to embodying Chief. We’ll see you next time.

Links:

Emails: ChiefD@totallywarranted.com

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