JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Stepping out of the cold winter wind, though sliding double doors, into the warm, still air of a hospital, the white walls bathed in faint blue light from bulbs in covered fixtures. The white floors shine matte, worn with the footsteps of staff and patients. Radios and public announcement, laughter and whispers, echo down the sterile hallway.
Attendants and doctors pass by, navigating the ocean of life, clipboard in hand.
At each landing of the ascending, reverberating stairwell, doors stand open to reveal more white hallways and staff milling by on their daily routines.
The fourth floor is different. The walls are an earthy light tan, floor tiles to match, soft, yellow light pervades. Mental health is around the corner, full of people waiting to listen to you, about you.
"We can usually deal with problems though talk therapy," said Maj. Judy Cole, 779th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health element leader. "We discuss coping and relaxation strategies to help deal with the anxiety and stress service members deal with every day."
Cole, sits in her office. A large window paints the room with sunlight, tan walls from a Caribbean beach and the carpet a cool blue. The "good brand" of tissues, children's toys and personal photos sit on a table positioned between two large, comfortable chairs. She explains the patient's role in treatment is simple.
"Being open and honest is all we ask of our patients," Cole said. "The key to effective treatment is a willingness to take the discussions to heart and put them into action outside of treatment."
She says coming into this environment once the potential patient realizes there might be a need is important.
"I would definitely recommend coming in sooner, rather than later," Cole said. "People will be more on-track if they come in soon after the symptoms began presenting themselves."
Symptoms of problems that Cole says are common for military personnel dealing with the stress of work and home life.
"Most people come in have issues adjusting to a new job or place or rank," Cole said. "These issues manifest as being anxious, feeling down or overwhelmed, being irritable or difficulty sleeping."
Despite service members' tendency to need someone to talk to, command, for the most part, stays out of it.
"You cannot be forced to come without a Command Directed Evaluation, even then, treatment cannot be mandate," Cole said. "A CDE is part of a legal process, not treatment."
Cole says these situations are rare, and do not speak for most service members' experiences at Mental Health. For the bulk of cases, service members are coming in with some anxiety or issues sleeping - things treated with a couple appointments of talk therapy or exercises mindful relaxation, not the kinds of problems that would require command involvement.
"In the vast majority of cases, command is not going to be informed a member is receiving services," Cole said. "Everybody has stressors, everybody needs some help sometimes to make it through the difficult situations that life puts us in. It does not mean command needs to be involved or your duties altered, it just means life is happening. As long as service members are learning and using healthy, effective ways of coping, command is not informed."
Despite this confidentiality, military members can still be resistant, not wanting to risk their careers and livelihood.
"People can be reluctant to come," Cole said. "There's always a rumor about some Airman being kicked out after coming to talk with us, but people never mention the context of the visit. We aren't arbitrary; we're on your side."
It's this stigma that can cause trouble for prospective patients, leading to them bottling up their problems or not coming in for discussions at all.
"Waiting to come in can make issues worse," Cole said. "The stigma can keep people from getting minor treatment now, and can lead to the escalation of symptoms and the emergence of destructive ways of coping."
If still concerned about seeking advice, there are other routes of treatment outside of the more traditional setting.
"The SMART, stress management and relaxation training, class is offered at the HAWC on Thursdays from 1500-1600," Cole said. "Our goal is to teach attendees evidence-based ways to better cope with stress."
Cole has simple advice for Airmen riding life's choppy seas.
"Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet to stave off lethargy," Cole said. "Be sure to take some time out of your day to do the things you enjoy."