A Raw and Honest Look at the Hidden Battles of Veterans
Self-Destruct: The Silent Battle of Combat Veterans and the Destruction of Personal Relationships by Shawn Hibbard is a powerful exploration of the struggles that many veterans face after returning from combat. Combat changes a person in ways that aren't always visible from the outside. The skills that keep soldiers alive on the battlefield-control, emotional detachment, and hyper-vigilance-often become barriers to connection and intimacy once they return home.
Shawn Hibbard, a veteran himself, offers a raw and compassionate look at why veterans struggle to adjust to civilian life and how those struggles impact their relationships. This book dives deep into the emotional fallout of combat and shows why even the strongest relationships often collapse under the weight of unspoken pain and emotional walls.
Understanding the Damage
Hibbard explains why veterans often struggle to open up emotionally, why they push loved ones away, and why control and dominance become survival mechanisms even when the threat is gone. He explores the emotional toll of combat, including the guilt, regret, and deep sense of isolation that many veterans carry long after their service ends.
The patterns of self-destruction are often subtle at first-a short temper, emotional withdrawal, mistrust-but over time, they create distance and resentment in relationships. Marriages fall apart, friendships fade, and children feel disconnected from the parent they once knew. Hibbard helps veterans recognize these patterns and understand the damage they cause.
Breaking the Cycle
This book is not just about understanding the problem-it's about finding a solution. Hibbard provides veterans with practical steps to break the cycle of self-destruction. He guides readers through the process of rebuilding trust, learning to communicate openly, and reconnecting emotionally with the people who matter most.
Veterans will learn how to face vulnerability without fear, let go of the need for control, and repair the emotional bonds that have been damaged. Hibbard shows that healing is possible, but it requires courage and commitment.
The Power of Choice
The conclusion challenges veterans to make a choice: continue down the path of self-destruction or begin the journey toward healing and connection. Choosing growth over destruction isn't easy-but it's necessary. Hibbard encourages veterans to reach out for help, lean on the people who care about them, and find purpose beyond their military identity.
A Roadmap for Healing
Self-Destruct is more than a book-it's a guide for veterans who are ready to stop hurting the people they love and start building the life they deserve. Hibbard's insights and advice are grounded in real experience and deep understanding. This book will give veterans the tools they need to rebuild relationships, find peace, and create a future where love and connection replace isolation and conflict.
Added Value in the Appendices
The appendices in Self-Destruct provide practical tools to help veterans break the cycle of self-destruction and rebuild relationships. Appendix A includes 100 affirmations that reinforce positive thinking, self-acceptance, and emotional healing. Appendix B features a 25-question self-assessment to identify destructive patterns and track progress over time. Appendix C offers five example apology letters to help veterans reconnect with loved ones and repair trust. These resources empower veterans to take actionable steps toward healing and growth.
