Meet Lakeydra Houston, an Air Force veteran who shares her powerful journey from trauma to resilience. Lakeydra discusses her decision to join the military as a means of starting over, her experiences in basic training, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. She opens up about the harassment and assault she encountered, her struggles with mental health, and the coping mechanisms she adopted, including alcohol. Throughout the conversation, Lakeydra emphasizes the importance of support and resilience in overcoming adversity, ultimately inspiring listeners to seek help and connect with others.
For a full episode summary, visit The Silenced Voices of MST blog | How to Destroy An Airman in 60 Days We highly recommend visiting the blog if you find it difficult to hear stories of trauma and mental health struggles. The post gives an extensive trauma-informed overview of the episode's content, as well as a list of potentially triggering content timestamps (also listed below).
Takeaways
- Lakeydra joined the Air Force to start over after trauma that occurred in childhood..
- Basic training was a significant challenge for her, but ultimately led to a newfound sense of accomplishment and confidence in herself..
- She faced harassment and assault during her service immediately.
- Coping with alcohol, and hiding in partying with everyone else became a way to numb her pain.
- Mental health was not openly discussed in the military when she served.
- Deployment brought new gender-based challenges and experiences.
- Support from leadership made a difference in her journey.
- Seeking help and connecting with others is instrumental in traumatic situations.
- Lakeydra's story highlights the need for mental health awareness in the military.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Lakeydra's Journey
03:01 Joining the Air Force: A New Beginning
05:46 Basic Training: Overcoming Challenges
12:09 Transitioning to Security Forces
16:19 Facing Sexual Assault in the Military
21:37 Coping Mechanisms: Alcohol and Trauma
27:13 Mental Health Struggles and Deployment
28:24 Navigating Mental Health Challenges in the Military
30:29 Experiences of Deployment and Sexual Assault
32:35 The Impact of Trauma on Relationships
34:21 Returning Home to Uncertainty
36:27 Struggles with Addiction and Domestic Issues
38:17 Support Systems and Command Response
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