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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2012)
Pa£c2 ________________ __ ____________________i l îe ^ o r t l a n b © b s e ru e r November 14, 2012 Coping at War and Peace continued from front doesn’t like to show emotion. She also gets emotional about things that would have never bothered her before. Only recently has she begun to recognize her symptoms and trig gers, and to reach out for help, “I’m trying to break it down and under stand it. I was oblivious.” Vietnam veterans have dealt with PTSD for4 0 years without knowing, she said. “They open the door for everybody, for us.” Rivera says she knows there are a lot of vets still stuck in denial, and the number of suicides from active and retired military has taken a heavy toll. She hopes to see the stigma of PTSD abolished. Rivera is happy with the quality of care Portland’s Veterans Affairs has provided, but says the VA is “overwhelmed.” Some services are not up to date. From the war, Rivera suffers severe back pain and mi graines. Not wanting to take the pain kill ers the V A offers, Rivera paid out of pocket for holistic treatments like acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage therapy. She was referred to the Returning Veterans Project, a southeast Port- up to 12 months to receive services from the VA, the returning vets group has 142 volunteer care pro viders throughout Oregon that are ready to help current war vets and family members get healthy without cost. Thanks to the group, Rivera is closer towards being pain-free. “To finally have one day o f re lief... I c an ’t even describe the feeling,” she said. “It makes me very happy.” While surrounded by male ma rines in the military, Rivera said she let go of her bonds with women. “I lost touch with women and my femi ninity,” she said. When she and her husband, who also suffers from PTSD, but is not Veteran and U.S. Marine Corps diagnosed, moved to Portland, the helicopter mechanic Marissa couple was looking to start life fresh Rivera. and find new hobbies. land non-profit started in 2005 by He found fishing. She found an social worker Carol Levine, which all-women’s fitness facility that of offers free and confidential mental fers dancing. The activity has helped health and somatic services to vet her come out of her bubble and re erans and families of vets. integrate into society, “Only about 40 percent of all vets “Dancing is my therapy,” she go to the VA (Veterans Affairs), 60 said. “Women helped me there. I percent do not,” says Belle Landau, love those women.” executive director of the Returning Currently unemployed, Rivera is Veterans Project, “We help to fill waiting to be hired back by the VA that gap.” Medical Center. Working there has While returning soldiers may wait inspired her to go back to school and become a counselor. blood kin. “Working with veterans, that’s She believes it’s time for them to my passion,” she said. come home. “I think we need to get Rivera says she loved her time in out of there, enough have died.” the military. “I don’t regret it,” she And when they come home, said. “It was definitely a life-altering Rivera says we should welcome experience. There were hard times. them back. It’s not easy for females.” But she “People should take a look at was able to grow from her experi themselves and veterans, and ap People should take a look at themselves and veterans, and appreciate what they ’ve done. Because they will never fully understand the sacrifices that are made by vets. — Marissa Rivera, Veteran and U.S. Marine Corps helicopter mechanic ence. Though her view on war has changed, calling it “a horrible thing that does horrible things to people,” Rivera has made many long-lasting friendships. She says her military brothers and sisters are closer than preciate what they’ve done,” said Rivera, “Because they will never fully understand the sacrifices that are made by vets.” Thank veterans for their services, she said, “We need support from the community.” BROOKS STAFFING A Division of S. Brooks & Associates, Inc. Saving people money so they can live better. We are hiring Drivers for our Transportation Office! Your Full Service Staffing Company Local & Federal Staffing Temporary Staffing Services Employee Recruitment & Executive Searches Hermiston, OR MEDWeek Brooks Staffing has been a long-term partner of the Minority Business Opportunity Committee to aid their mission: "To lead public and private organizations in achieving a regionally diverse and sustainable business community." 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