McCoy letter: Support Boise VA

Several years ago I started therapy at the Boise VA. I was in two eight-week workshops titled “Basic Pain Management” and “Advanced Pain Management.” They were designed to help deal with pain without drugs. Both of these helped, but I would still wake up with pain in the night and not be able to go back to sleep. I was then referred to a workshop called “Mindfulness.” I can’t begin to state how much this one worked. It took me about two months to get the procedure to become a regular part of my life. Now when I experience the pain, day or night, I start the technique we were taught. You focus on your breath and bring it to where the pain is located. I hold the breath for a few seconds and then let the breath go back toward my feet. It is very easy for the mind to wander, so that is why it took me awhile to master the technique. Now I am able to go back to sleep within a few minutes and not wake up again. This is just one example of our Boise VA helping veterans. Please support the VA.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 4:23 PM with the headline "McCoy letter: Support Boise VA."