Meaning is not philosophy—it’s physiology. In this reflection, Dr. Howard Friedman, M.D., reveals how the “will to meaning” steadies both body and mind. When life feels aimless, rediscovering purpose becomes the most powerful prescription.

Our stories live in the body. Unhealed narratives fuel stress, pain, and illness. When truth replaces fear, the body listens — and begins to heal.

Time does not move in a straight line — neither does healing. Veterans live across three timelines at once: the past that lingers, the present that demands, and the future that still holds promise. Time is not only medicine; it is the ground we walk as we heal.

Pain keeps the body awake. Lack of sleep magnifies pain. This two-way struggle between chronic pain and sleep can feel endless—but balance can be restored.

PTSD is not just in the mind — it is written into the body through stress hormones, disrupted sleep, and inflammation. For veterans, these changes leave lasting scars on health and memory. This blog explores the biology of PTSD and how true healing comes from integration, not suppression.

Hypertension doesn’t roar onto the battlefield—it creeps in silently. For veterans, stress, exposures, and secondary conditions make this “silent wound” a service legacy that must be recognized and treated.

The immune system is not just a system but a lifelong network shaped by stress, worry, and experiences. This blog explores how inflammation becomes both shield and saboteur — and why acceptance and balance are key to finding serenity.