The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan occurred after the September 11th attacks in 2001.  The goal was to remove the Taliban from power, and our troops were successful in their mission.  Twenty years later, U.S. troops are finally withdrawn from Afghanistan.  Taliban forces enter the capital city nearly overnight, meeting limited resistance, regaining power, and raising their flag.  Twenty years of blood, sweat, and tears undone overnight.  These events have left many military men and women wondering if their sacrifices meant nothing and if the lives of those lost meant nothing.  The week after the fall of Afghanistan, calls to the Veteran Crisis Line are up. Those who served in Afghanistan are dealing with flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and depressive shutdowns.  Sal is a Veteran who helped train Afghan soldiers. He knows what other service members are feeling—reminding all who served that it’s normal to feel distressed and question the sacrifice but remember that they were successful in their mission.

If you feel distressed from these events, please reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line at http://www.veteranscrisisline.net, call 1-800-273-8255, or text 838255.  There is power in sharing your story.