Ukrainian soldier
Hi, I’m a foreign volunteer serving as a soldier in Ukraine, and I’m currently the only foreigner in my unit. I chose to be here deliberately, and I’m not questioning that decision. I want to become the best soldier I can be and contribute as much as possible.
At the same time, I’ve realized that I need psychological support while I’m here. Being the only foreigner in my unit can be quite lonely. I’m living in an environment where almost everything is unfamiliar to me. The language, culture, people, and daily life, while also being in a city very close to the front line, where attacks are a normal part of life.
I don’t feel that I’m necessarily falling apart, but I do feel increasingly out of touch with myself and with what I’m doing. There are moments where I struggle to maintain the sense of purpose, motivation, and direction that brought me here in the first place. I still want the same things, but I don’t always feel connected to them anymore.
Any advice on how to navigate this? Unfortunately I can’t afford online therapy right now.
@azureLand2710
Welcome to 7 Cups Azure. We are glad to have you with us and although we are NOT trained professional mental health providers we can be a strong community shoulder to lean on and share your troubles with.
I served in the reserve forces in my former homeland so I can understand both the military side of your situation and, being a sufferer of Bi Polar Disorder Type II with attendant Generalised Anxiety, I can relate some of the more intense pressures and anxieties you must be experiencing.
Your struggle, I would suggest, is not so very different from many in your position BUT, and here's the "but", your feelings, emotions and thoughts are unique to you, they are valid and you have the right to experience them. As to what might help you allay the pressures and negative feelings you may be having I have a little ritual that I use and can be done anywhere, at any time and requires no special tools or things.
I undertook a form of "meditation", if you like.
I simply sat, in a quiet room, that was comfortable in climate. I sat on a comfortable seat and I made a conscious effort to relax my body,
my physical shell. When I had relaxed the physical I went into my mind, I imagined actually looking into my mind as though it were a storeroom (which, in essence, is what the brain is) I "accepted" that I had been
labeled by the doctors and acknowledged that it was part of me now. I "walked" past it and went further in. I imagined my way back to a time before I was diagnosed, labeled, before I became the "now" me.
I saw, in my mind, the me I had been and I watched the "past" me. I watched the events I had experienced and watched how I had reacted, dealt with and succeeded at things. I saw my "courage", my "strength",
my "intelligence" at work, my "kindness", my "compassion" and my "sense of humour".
I saw what was STILL in me but buried.
It wasn't all said and done in one go. I had to keep doing it a number of times before it finally became clear but when it did the sense of empowerment and relief were overwhelming. I realised I could cope
with anything.
Maybe this is something that will help you rediscover your motivations and purpose, I hope so. Feel free to come back here anytime. "We got your six soldier!"
Namaste,
Wolf
@azureLand2710
Hello dear volunteer,
" but I do feel increasingly out of touch with myself and with what I’m doing. There are moments where I struggle to maintain the sense of purpose, motivation, and direction that brought me here"
-Something here sounds like the actual questioning your decision is not a bad idea at all. In case I'm not hearing you well, I ll agree that trying out meditation is a good recommendation. Listen or read Eckhart Tolle, he has some great yet simple meditations as well, that might help you get in touch with yourself.
Take care
