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." We do it
because we care about our community and its
people Think Jobs, Think B rooks
Consulting
BROOKS
A pply & Test Online
R E S P O N S IV E , IN N O V A T IV E , DIVERSE
1130 NE Alberta Street
Portland, Oregon 97211
sbrooks.com
jobs@sbrooks.com
MEMBER:
A
ALLIANCE
S T A F F IN G
A m m an Staffing A«ax.iat*jn
SERVING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR 30 YEARS
800.540.7930
503.284.7930 [o
503.284.7977 ( f
A driving job with Walmart Transportation gives you
the chance to continue your driving career with
competitive pay and enjoy health benefits for you
and your family.
Walmart sets the standard for distribution and
transportation and is an ideal place to work.
Professional Truck Drivers can learn about
opportunities, view the minimum job qualifications
and apply online at www.drive4walmart.com.
Walmart 5,C. Transportation
Walmart will not tolerate discrimination in em ploym ent on th e basis o f race, color, age, sex, sexual
orientation, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, or other legally
protected status.