While the U.S. withdrawl from Afghanistan is now several months behind, its affects are still lingering in the minds of those closest to the conflict. The men and women of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum come to mind, as one of the largest battilions involved in the Middle East conflict over the past two decades.
Mike Raith served in the 132nd Infantry within the 10th Mountain Division, serving the Army from 2004 to 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007, before he was discharged due to his anxiety.
Over the years, he tried to find different mechanisms to help cope with his anxiety. For 44-year-old Raith, a peaceful day is what he lives for, playing with his chickens and spending time with daughter, but life has not always been this simple.
“9/11 happened and I wasn’t really doing anything with my life at the time,” said Raith.
He decided to enlist in the Army, to protect his family and friends.
“After I started settling in, a few months later, I started experiencing nightmares and talking in my sleep. A lot of anger issues and having anxiety attacks in formation, which is ultimately what led to me being medically retired from the army,” said Raith.
Retuning home from war, Raith was not the same person.
“It definitely took a lot of time to become positive and start living my life, instead of letting my anxiety and my anger and my depression get the best of me,” said Raith.
He says the best medicine is spending time with his daughter and doing a sport they both love, Muay Thai, a martial art and combat sport. It focuses on a combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.
“We do everything together. We go to the skate park, we have fun training together. She understands that I have my issues from time to time. She’s there for me when I need her,” said Raith.
“Somehow we always have something to do. Even if it’s training, even if it’s hanging out with our dog, we always have something to do that we both like,” said Chloe Raith, Mike’s daughter.
Everyday is a battle, but Raith says having the person he loves most beside him makes it easier.
