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The power of laughter as medicine comes alive in this raw, heartfelt conversation with Vernard Hines, aka "The Laugh Therapist." A 20-year military veteran who served in Iraq, Bernard takes us on his remarkable journey from the edge of suicide to finding purpose through comedy.

Vernard reveals how humor initially masked his trauma before becoming his healing pathway. "All my life I've been funny," he shares, explaining how he was the "barbecue comedian" who made everyone laugh at cookouts. Yet beneath the laughter lay unprocessed war trauma and childhood wounds that eventually brought him to a breaking point. With disarming honesty, Vernard recounts the day he contemplated taking his life—and how an attentive church bishop recognized his pain and mobilized support that saved him.

What makes this conversation truly transformative is Vernard's practical wisdom about daily life with PTSD. He introduces powerful concepts like "closing your tabs"—a metaphor comparing an overwhelmed mind to a computer with too many browser windows open—and explains how reframing his marriage from having a "caregiver" to a "partner in recovery" revolutionized his healing journey. His wife, who knew nothing about the military or PTSD when they met at a comedy club, became his strongest ally by learning about his triggers while he committed to therapy and medication.

Vernard's evolution into The Laugh Therapist happened organically when a friend asked what got him through trauma. Now serving as a veteran spokesperson for suicide awareness, he combines speaking with humor to make difficult conversations about mental health accessible. "God gives us two things: chance and choice," Vernard reflects. "He gives us a chance when we open our eyes in the morning. The choice is what we're going to do with it."

Whether you're battling PTSD, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in the healing power of humor, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical tools. Subscribe now to hear more powerful stories of resilience and transformation.

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