I have done all the mindfulness and meditation in the world while in therapy, and they were a bit helpful, not impossible to maintain. TM has been a revelation. It's the only thing that quiets my mind down and it's easy and easy to stick with. The DLF program was fantastic and the instructors were really great too. I am very appreciative the program exists and at no cost for vets. Highly recommended.

I really appreciate TM and what this organization has done. I was skeptical at first, being what I consider a non-meditative person. I have trouble getting into yoga and other stuff like that, and so went into this really concerned that it wouldn't be my thing and I couldn't "clear my head." But it turned out you don't have to clear your head, it's just about taking the time to let thoughts do their thing. Totally not what I thought about when I thought "meditation." So I found I could actually stick to it, because it was legitimately effortless and helped to give me a little more clarity and a little more focus. I think the results have been pretty good, having started TM about a year or two ago and practicing ALMOST consistently. I think more before I react, at least for a second, which is saying something, and when I don't practice at least once a day for awhile it gets pretty noticeable with my irritability level. The organization is great for teaching this for free to veterans, since it's usually very expensive, and I appreciate they still consistently reach out to make sure you are still practicing and offer call-in sessions for little boosters if you need it, or you can contact them with questions or concerns. They are really dedicated to using TM as a resilience method, which looks like a good step for the military in terms of preventing mental health issues. Overall, highly recommended. The hardest part is getting off the wait list and getting time to get into the four day (in a row, hour plus each time) sessions.

Transcendental meditation is amazing for managing stress (when I stick to the schedule, which I don't always), and I owe it to David Lynch Foundation and their Veteran initiative for teaching me how to do this properly and for their monthly follow-up. They have been great. The hardest part is getting in there initially. Finding out about the program, getting a spot in the class, getting to the four classes in a row... once you make the initial contact, they are amazing, but it can be tough to get that first bit going. Worth the effort in the end, I just hope people aren't frustrated with the initial wait times or commitment because it really made a difference in my life.

While it will take me more time to see if the increasing returns of Transcendental Meditation pay off- As for the staff of the David Lynch Foundation, I cannot speak any higher of my instructors [Names protected]. Personable, inviting, friendly, knowledgeable, happy to share information and help you seek out more scientific and scholarly sources on their program. A great team of instructors.