Veterans of the Storm: Unified Written Response Prompts

These 10 prompts are designed to help veterans describe emotional experiences that may relate to undiagnosed or mischaracterized conditions such as ADHD, RSD, BPD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, or Trauma-related collapse. Each question targets a different emotional pattern and invites the veteran to speak freely, without clinical language or pressure to sound 'correct.'

1. What’s the emotional pattern you keep repeating in relationships — even when you try not to?

2. When you feel ignored or misunderstood, what thoughts or actions come up for you?

3. Describe what it feels like inside your body or brain when someone suddenly pulls away from you — emotionally or physically.

4. Have you ever reacted so strongly to something that even you didn’t understand why? What triggered it? What happened next?

5. What’s a moment you felt completely disconnected from yourself or others — like you weren’t 'there'? What caused it?

6. How do you usually feel after you get emotionally vulnerable with someone — especially if they don’t respond how you needed them to?

7. What do you believe people think of you when you’re upset or emotional? How does that belief affect what you say or do next?

8. Have you ever hurt yourself, sabotaged something important, or made a drastic decision during a moment of emotional pain? What do you remember about the moment after?

9. Do you ever feel like your personality changes depending on who you're around or what you’re going through? If yes, describe what that feels like.

10. What kind of emotional pain do you carry that doesn’t have a name — the thing you’ve never really been able to explain to anyone? Try explaining it here.