"There is Light on the other side"
Captain Maurica Nelsen of the Idaho Army National Guard and her family, back from deployment.
"Helpers need help, too," shared Captain Maurica Nelsen, Behavioral Health Officer for the Idaho Army National Guard.
As a mother of three, a military spouse, and a career Army veteran with 22 years of service and counting, Maurica has experienced the full spectrum of military life. "It has brought me to my knees and lifted me higher than I ever thought possible," she reflected.
While her service in the Guard didn't involve frequent relocations, it did necessitate significant time away from her family and community. Three deployments and 11 activations, during which she was absent for extended periods, left a lasting impact.
Reflecting on her experiences, Maurica shared, "My daughter, now older, can appreciate what the Army has provided for us but still talks about all the things I've missed. It's tough on everyone when the family is separated."
Captain Nelsen and her daughter.
Despite her pride in her service and the personal and professional growth she's gained from the Army, Maurica acknowledges having faced "extremely heavy challenges." She's confronted the loss of dear friends, as well as experienced sexual assault and harassment, which led to struggles with PTSD, addiction, and self-destructive behavior. Yet, she emphasizes, “These same things also paved the way for my career as a social worker, my marriage to my husband, and the resilience that has guided me through many hardships."
Recognizing that she couldn't overcome her invisible wounds alone and motivated by a desire to be healthy for her family, Maurica sought professional help, where she discovered the power of communication.
"It's crucial to discuss challenges openly. If we had been more open about our struggles, much of what occurred during our last deployment could have been prevented," Maurica shared.
She likens the experience to overstuffing a box: eventually, things will spill out.
Maurica firmly believes in therapy, having benefited from individual and couples counseling. She credits therapy with saving her life and marriage and has also enrolled her children.
Today, residing in Post Falls, Idaho, Maurica continues to see a therapist and encourages others in her unit and the veterans she interacts with to seek help, repeatedly stating, "It's okay not to be okay."
According to recent statistics, approximately 70,000 veterans reside in Ada, Canyon, Elmore, and Kootenai Counties, with 47% reporting unmet mental health needs. Maurica, as a behavioral health officer for Idaho, attributes this to the "thousands of people living in very rural areas where resources are scarce."
Maurica and her team regularly share support services such as The Headstrong Project, Idaho Vet Centers, J9, MilitaryOne Source, and VFWs/American Legions to address this.
In addition to therapy, these resources provide a sense of connection, alleviating the feeling of isolation.
Maurica recounted how, upon retiring from service, her husband felt somewhat lost until he started running a North Idaho Retiree and Veteran Social, which provided him with a community of individuals who could relate to his experiences.
Similarly, finding a counselor with military competency and therapeutic modalities to treat trauma can be a game-changer, according to Maurica.
Thus, when her friend Brandi, North Idaho's Military Family Support Coordinator, shared a flyer from The Headstrong Project, Maurica was impressed. The organization offered a viable option for those seeking mental health support in North Idaho, providing evidence-based therapies in person and via telehealth.
The Headstrong Project, a trusted non-profit operating in 15 states, including Idaho, provides 30 no-cost PTSD-focused mental health care sessions to service members, veterans, and their families. They understand the profound impact of war trauma and offer tailored support through collaborative therapies.
Since receiving Brandi's flyer, Maurica has been distributing copies and keeping them on her desk, eager to share the free service with anyone in need.
Maurica wants her fellow Idahoans to know that if they feel broken, "There is light on the other side." She emphasizes, "I'm proud of what I've been through and wouldn't change a thing, but I needed help."
If you feel the same, help is just a click away. Connect with Care Today.