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A Veteran.
A Naples Resident.
Alex Kane
was plagued by PTSD years
before he even served
in the military.

by Jessica Liria, M.S., Prevention & Education Manager
David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC)

ost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Florida’s Resilient Warrior program, a six session educational mind-
is a mental health condition triggered body course that helps veterans and service members manage stress
P by a terrifying event and causes more effectively.
symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and Today, Alex is finishing a master’s program in counseling so he can
severe anxiety. help others experiencing similar challenges. He says the combination of
When most people hear about PTSD, services he received at DLC made a big impact. “Being around people
they think of a veteran experiencing it after who give you hope, that’s big. They put me in a place where I was able
returning home from the military. to get my life back together to where I am now.”
In the case of 44 year old Veteran and Naples resident Alex Kane, Veterans Centered Care
however, PTSD first affected him when he was just a child and he Alex is just one of many who have been helped by DLC’s Veterans
continued to suffer from it through his teenage years and military Services Program. During the last fiscal year, DLC provided 9,177
service. services to veterans.
At 10 years old, Alex’s family was living in Lima, Peru, where The program serves those suffering from behavioral health issues,
his father was working as a DEA agent. Members of a drug cartel including post traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and co occurring
bombed a car in front of their home. No one was killed, but the blast substance use challenges. DLC also partners with local organizations
rocked the house and blew out all the windows. like WHC and Home Base Florida that specialize in outreach. The
The frightening incident prompted the rest of Alex’s family to mission of WHC is to assist with the needs of veterans and their
move back to the U.S. for safety, while his father stayed in Peru. families, focusing on housing, mental health, and education. Home
Over the next two years, Alex was separated from his father and Base Florida partners with DLC to offer outpatient care for veterans,
missed him terribly. Plus, the trauma of the bombing in Lima service members, and their families. Several DLC clinicians have also
lingered on in his mind. received extensive training in evidence based treatment for PTSD from
“I was dealing with anxiety,” says Alex, “and I had a lot of Home Base’s clinical experts from Massachusetts General Hospital, the
nightmares.” nation’s leading Psychiatry Department.
At age 13, Alex drank beer for the first time, and he liked how Healing an invisible war within
it “numbed things.” By the time he was in college, he was drinking On average, an alarming 17.5 veterans die by suicide per day in the
heavily. Still, he earned a degree. nation, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2023
Alex spent five years in the Navy as an officer and received an National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. A few signs a
honorable discharge. Yet, during this time, his drinking continued to veteran is suffering from mental health issues include trouble sleeping,
spin out of control. Over the next decade, he fell into a cycle of rehab difficulty maintaining relationships or a job, challenges with emotional
and relapse, and he violated the law several times. Eventually, his regulation, or losing a sense of purpose.
probation officer urged him to seek care at David Lawrence Centers However, it may not always be evident that a veteran is struggling.
for Behavioral Health (DLC). Externally, for example, they could appear successful in taking care of
A Diagnosis, and Clarity their family, their business, or focusing on education—when internally,
Once in treatment at DLC, Alex was diagnosed with PTSD. they are in distress.
Suddenly, the cause of his many years of suffering became clear. That’s why it’s critical to check in on the veterans in your life, and
The DLC staff’s care and compassion impressed Alex as he went their family members. Ask how they are. Ask about the resources they
through the Crossroads residential rehabilitation program and then are engaging in, and whether they have heard of DLC. You may just
moved into sober living. help heal an invisible war within.
But it wasn’t long before old patterns reemerged. Remembering If you are interested in DLC’s Veterans Services Program,
his positive experience at DLC, he returned, this time with a renewed visit DLCenters.org or call (239) 455-8500 for further assessment.
commitment. Alex’s counselor recommended a sober living home with
Warrior Homes of Collier (WHC). He also completed Home Base

58 Life in Naples | April 2024