Mike Orban is an army veteran who served in the Vietnam War in 1971. After returning home to civilian life, Mike struggled to cope with the experiences he had during combat, which led him into decades of darkness and isolation. In his book Souled Out: A Memoir of War and Inner Peace, Mike discusses his story of fighting in the war and dealing with combat's traumatic impact. Today, Mike dedicates himself to outreach, connecting with numerous veterans and their families through his organization, the Orban Foundation for Veterans. He is also the co-founder of the Warrior Partnership, an initiative through the Medical College of Wisconsin that connects medical students with veterans with war-related trauma.

Mike joins me today to dive deeper into discussing his return to civilian life after serving in Vietnam, and the measures he took to maintain a facade of normalcy while fighting his distressing inner battles. Mike discusses his decision to join the Peace Corps, how this experience served as a spiritual awakening for him, and what it was like when he returned home to the United States once more. Mike also highlights his experiences with mental health care and how becoming more educated on his traumatic responses empowered him to move forward.

“The fear that I had of losing my mind exceeds any fear I’ve ever had in my life.” - Mike Orban

This week on the Stigma Free Vet Zone Podcast:

Whether other people noticed Mike’s mental health struggles when he returned to civilian lifeHow Mike’s post-traumatic stress impacted his ability to pursue his education upon his returnThe anger, guilt, and shame Mike felt towards himself because of his experiences in VietnamWhy Mike decided to go into the Peace Corps and his family’s reaction to this decisionWhere Mike traveled to with the Peace Corps, the people he interacted with along the way, and the life lessons he learnedWhen Mike started experiencing suicidal ideationHow the support of Mike’s family members helped him manage his symptomsMike’s experience with mental health professionals, what his early therapy focused on, and the help he believes saved his lifeHow being in a group with other veterans gave Mike a new perspective on his war traumaThe list Mike received in therapy that changed his life and allowed him to address his traumatic reactionsWhy we should focus on mental health education rather than mental illness and the insights Mike has gained through his trauma recovery journeyWhy it is crucial to consider the impact of war on veterans’ families

Resources Mentioned:

Book: Souled Out: A Memoir of War and Inner Peace by Mike OrbanOrban Foundation for VeteransUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID)Tomah VA Medical Center“Common Responses to Trauma and Coping Strategies” by Dr. Patti Levin, LICSW, PsyDHôpital Albert Schweitzer

This episode is brought to you by…

The Orban Foundation for Veterans is dedicated to bringing greater hope, understanding, resolution, and togetherness on issues of civilian readjustment for all military veterans and their families. Orban Foundation for Veterans promotes the importance of education, identification, understanding, acceptance, and resolution of many of the complex and severe responses to war and military life.

Visit our website to learn more about the Orban Foundation for Veterans and to support our mission.

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