After a short break, Borne the Battle is back. This week we bring on Marine Veteran Elliott McKenzie.
After returning home from a deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, Elliott started showing signs of having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By 2008, his symptoms were spiraling out of control. He had severe anger, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hyper awareness. It was severely affecting his life and the lives of those around him. By 2009, his PTSD was so bad that he ended up homeless. After sleeping in his car for a period of time, he applied to a veteran’s homeless facility in Long Beach, CA.
Elliott soon after got connected with VA and began his long road to recovery. That road to recovery included creating music, which he used as a coping mechanism and as a way to express himself.
He joins us on this week’s podcast to discuss his time in the Marines, the difficulties of his transition, and how his music career has been so powerful in his recovery.
You can read the entire transcript of this episode here.
The #VApodcast is now available in iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, and Spotify. Search “Borne the Battle” in your podcast app of choice to subscribe.
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