The VA gets a bad reputation in the media. That’s not Devin Woods’ experience. According to him, the VA saved his life. Devin shares how he came around to processing his PTSD diagnosis healthily and how he became more versatile, inspiring, and capable because of it. He also discusses many ways the VA can help you achieve your goals whether they’re health, community, or career-related.
On Today’s Show
- Learning to pivot after getting diagnosed with PTSD
- A veteran’s experience in a leadership role at the VA
- What the VA can do for you
Episode Timeline
(00:41) Who is Devin Woods?
(01:24) ROTC, and graduating 2 months before 9/11
(04:51) Military career and everything coming full circle
(07:04) Being in Hawaii as a veteran
(07:53) Transitioning out of the military: why was I unhappy?
(10:43) Working at the VA: “I think it saved my life”
(13:20) Accepting the PTSD diagnosis
(16:37) The relief of sharing your emotions
(17:55) Why you should join the VA (and VA benefits)
(21:47) What to do when you’re at your lowest
Key Takeaways
- Accepting yourself as you are is the first step to pivoting and starting a brighter chapter of your life. It’s ok not to be ok, accept that it’s ok not to be ok.
- It is normal to talk about your mental health. You choose who to talk to about mental health.
- Having PTSD doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. You can live with it. You can cope with it. Strength and vitality are within you.
Guest
Devin Woods
Associate Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care SystemDevin served 15 years in the Army, with multiple rotations leading Soldiers during Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom-Philippines. His responsibilities at the VA include executive oversight of operations and direction of resources, facilities management and engineering, health administration, prosthetics, fiscal and supply chain management.