Wounded Warrior Project Help That Works

Sleep breaks down, pain turns constant, and the mind keeps running like it never got the memo that the mission is over. This conversation follows what it looks like to claw your way back when the body is hurting, the nights are loud, and isolation starts to feel normal. Rowdie McMahon shares her experience as an Air Force nurse deployed to Afghanistan, including the relentless pace and mass casualty reality, and how that pressure followed her home. She opens up about chronic pain, years on heavy medications, and the slow work of tapering off while staying engaged with mental health support. From there, the story shifts to what finally helped: Wounded Warrior Project programs, small steps back into community, and a surprising turning point through racing, building cars with other veterans, and putting 988 and the Veterans Crisis Line on the car as part of the mission. Timestamps: 00:02:15: Mass casualty chaos and zero time to process it all 00:09:00: Nightmares, sleep fights, and realizing it is time to get help 00:19:08: Not all wounds are visible, the call that opened the door to support 00:26:09: Pickleball, sunlight, and the first step back into community 00:53:03: Putting 988 on a race car and why racing saved her life Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Follow Rowdie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rowdie988/ Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Transcript View the transcript for this episode.