Embrace the Suck: Why Facing the Storm Is the Path to Healing
What Does “Embrace the Suck” Really Mean?
If you’ve ever served in the military, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Embrace the Suck.” It’s a term that carries grit, humor, and a deep truth: sometimes, life’s hardest moments can’t be avoided — they have to be faced head-on.
In the field, it means pushing forward when things get tough: when you’re cold, tired, wet, or scared. It’s about accepting the hardship as part of the mission.
At The Well Counseling & Consultation, I’ve taken that same mindset and applied it to mental health and trauma recovery. Because the truth is, the emotional battles we fight after service — anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief — require the same courage it takes to march into a storm.
The Buffalo: A Symbol of Strength and Healing
The buffalo has become a powerful symbol in my practice. When a storm rolls across the plains, cows try to run away from it — but the storm catches up, and they stay in it longer.
Buffalo, on the other hand, turn toward the storm and walk straight through it. They don’t avoid the pain — they confront it — and reach clear skies faster.
That’s what it means to Embrace the Suck.
To stop running from discomfort.
To face your storm — whether it’s trauma, loss, anxiety, or guilt — and move through it with courage and purpose.
How This Mindset Helps in Therapy
In trauma-informed therapy, avoidance is one of the biggest barriers to healing. We avoid memories, feelings, or situations that remind us of pain. But avoidance keeps the storm right over our heads.
By learning to embrace the uncomfortable emotions — with guidance, grounding, and safe tools — clients begin to regain control over their story.
At The Well, I use evidence-based approaches like:
Brainspotting to access and release trauma stored in the body
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to build psychological flexibility and help clients live by their values
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reframe negative thought patterns
Sandtray Therapy to express the unspeakable through creative play and symbolism
Each of these methods helps clients take small, intentional steps through the storm — not around it.
From the Battlefield to Everyday Life
“Embrace the Suck” isn’t just a military mantra. It’s a mindset that applies to anyone going through hard times.
Maybe your storm looks like anxiety that won’t quiet down, grief that still catches you off guard, or a relationship that feels broken beyond repair.
Healing doesn’t mean pretending the storm isn’t there. It means acknowledging it, grounding yourself, and taking the next brave step forward.
Why This Approach Works
When you choose to face your struggles instead of running from them, you give yourself permission to heal.
Courage replaces avoidance.
Growth replaces fear.
And you begin to rebuild your sense of peace and identity — one decision at a time.
That’s the essence of Embrace the Suck:
The only way past the storm is through it.
Final Thoughts: Healing Starts Here
At The Well Counseling & Consultation PLLC, I help veterans, first responders, and their families learn how to walk through life’s hardest storms — together.
You don’t have to face it alone. Healing begins when you take the first step.
🦬 Embrace the Suck. Heal through the storm.
👉 Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today at Jasonmw@thewellcounselingtx.com or call us at (210)830-1173 today.
