The Day My Wife Died, I Died Too — Finding Healing Through KAP Therapy for Veterans
Artem SmirnovErasmo is an Army veteran who served two traumatic deployments in Iraq in the 2000s. He and his wife, also in the Army, eventually retired from military service to build a new life together. Both carried the weight of PTSD, but over time they found moments of healing and growth. About ten years ago, Erasmo’s wife was diagnosed with cancer and passed away tragically, leaving him to raise their children while grieving the love of his life.
Last year, Erasmo took part in KAP therapy for veterans, a group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy series that became a turning point in his healing journey. His experience brought immediate relief, clarity, and renewed purpose — and the benefits continue to unfold in his life today.
Thank You Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to revolutionize mental healthcare and help the world heal by eliminating the financial barriers to psychedelic therapy. To learn more, visit www.thankyoulife.org.
Watch: Erasmos’s Story, Army Veteran
“After my wife died, I had to re-learn how to live. I had to re-learn how to be a person. If it wasn’t for my kids, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going. I wished I had died instead of her.”
-Erasmo
Read: The Day My Wife Died, I Died Too — Finding Healing Through KAP Therapy for Veterans
Erasmo discusses some of the trauma he experienced during his military service, as well as the struggle of trying to reintegrate back into civilian life with PTSD after retirement. He then shares about the unimaginable heartbreak of watching the love of his life slowly die from cancer, and the impact that her death had on him. Erasmo then begins to describe how he was serendipitously led to be able to participate in this Group KAP series with other veterans, and he goes into detail about what his experiences were like during those treatments and group therapy sessions.
“Being in a group of veterans, we shared an understanding of the struggles of each person. The camaraderie developed with the group of us. That was a big part of the healing. It was a shared experience, a co-creation of a circle of healing.”
What improvements have you experienced in your PTSD symptoms through KAP?
Erasmo: Most of the time us humans are operating from a base level of fear. Mostly all of humans’ actions and ways of interacting are through a veil of fear. The KAP has dramatically improved the symptoms associated with PTSD in my life by helping me to be less fearful of everyday life situations. It has helped me to regain the desire for communal interactions.
How has KAP affected your social life and connections with others?
Erasmo: The KAP also connected me with like-minded individuals who are wanting to heal and live better lives, just as I am. Through this group format, the healing is amplified, and we are able to assist each other in observing emotional pain that needs attention and integration.
What role did financial assistance from Thank You Life play in your ability to access KAP treatment?
The financial assistance from Thank You Life was imperatively necessary for the facilitation of this KAP experience. Without the financial assistance from Thank You Life, I absolutely would not have been able to participate in this beautiful, life changing experience. Thank you, Thank You Life!!
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