Brave Beyond Service: Part 2 | Strong Outside. Struggling Inside.

You’re doing all the things. Showing up. Keeping it together.
But inside? You’re barely hanging on.

In this episode of Brave Beyond Service, we’re naming what so many female veterans carry silently—PTS, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion—and the shame or stigma that tells you to keep quiet about it.

You’ll hear real stories from women who look strong on the outside but are unraveling inside. We’ll talk about the invisible pressure to smile through it, the fear of asking for help, and why healing doesn’t require you to tell your whole story—just to be honest about where you’re at.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why emotional and spiritual pain still gets minimized
• How trauma and transition show up long after service ends
• What it means to stop pretending and start healing
• Gentle, doable steps to begin releasing what you’ve been holding
• How horses, faith, and honesty can create space to exhale

Guided Reflection:

Grab a notebook or even the back of a receipt.
You don’t have to write it all—just start with one question that speaks to you:
• What have I been carrying that I haven’t named?
• What emotion have I been pushing down?
• What would it sound like if I gave myself permission to be honest—just for five minutes?

You’re not here to perform.
You’re here to heal. In your time, in your way.

This episode is raw, real, and full of permission:
To stop pretending.
To start telling the truth.
To finally breathe.

Because you are brave beyond your service—and brave enough to heal.

Resources for the Road: Episode 2

If you’re ready to take a next step—here are a few places to begin:

• VA Women’s Mental Health Services – Specific programs created just for women
• Vet Centers – Confidential, community-based support
• Wounded Warrior Project – Warrior Care Network – Trauma-informed care for PTS
• National Center for PTS – Women Veterans Section
• Trinity Equestrian Center – If horses are your way in, we’re here. You’re always welcome.

Or reach out to me directly at tonimattson.com or by email at [email protected]