{"id":7190,"date":"2025-06-04T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7190"},"modified":"2025-06-04T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T14:30:00","slug":"telemental-health-helps-veteran-rediscover-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7190","title":{"rendered":"TeleMental Health\u00a0helps Veteran rediscover joy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-06-04T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

For 83-year old Air Force Veteran Alfred Izzarone, having a VA care team diagnose his PTSD was the first of many steps in taking care of his mental health. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he didn\u2019t know if he would be able to get care.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, VA\u2019s TeleMental Health<\/a> services allowed Izzarone to continue his treatments without interruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey saved my life,\u201d Izzarone said. \u201cBefore I started treatment, I was a mess.\u201d<\/p>\n

The road to healing<\/h2>\n

After he moved to Maryland in 2015, Izzarone began working with a new VA care team, which led to a diagnosis of PTSD. The process was eye-opening for him after he had spent years wondering why he felt the way he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would wake up in the middle of the night screaming,\u201d he said. He had intense nightmares and began losing hope after his wife passed away. \u201cI was close to suicidal. I was at the end of my rope, but they saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a treatment plan in place, Izzarone began therapy sessions, at first in-person and then virtually. Being able to use VA\u2019s TeleMental Health services was a game-changer for him. He could receive care from the comfort of his home when in-person visits became more challenging.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey kept the same thing going that they had done in person,\u201d Izzarone said of the VA staff in Cambridge, Maryland. \u201cThe clinic here is amazing\u2014the doctors, the nurses, the front staff\u2014they care about you. They look out for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through therapy via TeleMental Health, Izzarone was able to continue his progress, learning coping mechanisms to manage his PTSD symptoms effectively.<\/p>\n

Embracing life again<\/h2>\n

Thanks to the care he has received, Izzarone has rediscovered the joy of life. He spends his days gardening, fishing and visiting with friends and family. He also loves attending concerts and baseball games. His mental health journey is ongoing, but he now faces each day with confidence and resilience.<\/p>\n

Izzarone hopes that his story will encourage other Veterans to reach out for support from a VA mental health provider. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what they\u2019re there for,\u201d Izzarone said. \u201cThey will speak to you and help you get through whatever you\u2019re going through.\u201d<\/p>\n

VA TeleMental Health: Help is just a click away<\/h2>\n

VA TeleMental Health services are available to Veterans across the country, with a range of mental health care options, including:<\/p>\n