Alcohol abuse. Depression. Survivor’s guilt. Homelessness. Suicidal thoughts. Feeling useless.

Chase Arden experienced all of this and still did not realize he had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Twelve years of serving as a cavalry scout with the 82nd Airborne in the U.S. Army included two deployments to Afghanistan. While there, he lost close friends and notes “the only reason I am here today is because I traded seats.” He was traveling with three others who were all killed when their vehicle hit an IED (improvised explosive device). Had Chase sat in the seat he was originally assigned to, he would have lost his life. Instead, he survived, but a difficult road lay ahead.

Once he returned to the United States and concluded his Army career, he felt lost. Several fellow soldiers he had served with died by suicide, some soon after returning and others more recently. The transition period was rough, with inadequate support and guidance that made him feel “useless and like a broken toy.”

With the support of his wife, he finally reached out to the VA for help. “I was ashamed to ask for benefits and did not know I had PTSD,” Chase recalls. Slowly, his mental health began to improve and he enrolled in college. There he met the college’s Veterans Services representative who was very helpful, encouraging Chase to share his story by speaking to a faculty group.

That was the beginning of a new era of helping others by speaking to groups. “I make myself intentionally uncomfortable” by sharing his experiences, Chase says. He also prioritizes his health by taking medications to regulate his symptoms and regularly seeing a mental health provider.

Now serving as a Veterans Community Health Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), Chase’s work is helping others, both Veterans and non-Veterans alike. People often talk to Chase after his presentations and share their own struggles. “Don’t compare traumas,” he says. “They are all valid regardless of where they occurred or the cause. Both losing your pet dog or being blown up while at war are traumatic.”

According to Chase, you can regain control of your life. “PTSD controlled me. I want to share my story so others know they are not the only ones.”

Help is available. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1 for Veteran-specific support, contact your County Veterans Service Officer at macvso.org or connect with MDVA via LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.