Being a military veteran and transitioning back into civilian life is no easy feat, and Annette Whittenberger is no exception.
As an Army Disabled Combat Veteran, Whittenberger faced an uphill battle while transitioning back to normal life after 17 years of service.
She suffered through abuse, rape, trauma and mental illness, and began to feel lost and disconnected. It wasn’t until she started writing that she started to find some peace.
Putting her words onto paper helped her realize that she should no longer be afraid or ashamed to admit that she lives with a mental illness and PTSD, and from that moment on, she decided to be fully transparent and vulnerable.
She started her own podcast called “The Truths We Hide,” where she shared her own story of living with PTSD, anxiety and depression. It has since turned into so much more than that.
Now she has turned it into a platform and safe space for others struggling, and shares other people’s stories of triumph and how they’re overcoming them.
“My mission is to help you know that ‘it is ok to not be ok’ and that ‘your mess is your message,’” she wrote on her website. “You are not alone and I am here to help you live through your mental illness instead of suffer from it.”
You can listen to the podcast on her website, or any major podcast platform such as Spotify, Apple and Google.
Learn more about her story in the video below: