Military career caused Janne Lehtonen’s addiction that only became clear in pair therapy

Special forcesthe main trainer familiar from the program Janne Lehtonen42, has gone through things that many see only in the movies.

In his youth, Janne was part of the gang, who used to steal cars, among other things. At some point, the drugs took some of his friends.

Janne tells Iltalehti that she was seeking adrenaline and excitement at a young age.

– That’s why I probably also applied for a special group. I thirsted for the same feeling. I was able to experience the adrenaline -filled working life in the special forces, which I still miss, he ponders.

Janne says in May published in May Janne Lehtonen’s story –In his biography (WSOY), he left the gang lasting at the end of the eighth grade.

Now he says he is about to follow the news about the increased violence of young people.

– Young people may not understand, as I once did not, the consequences of what can be. Once you go to the foolishness properly, it will affect the rest of your life, the man says.

– After all, it is worrying about what young people are taking their own future. After all, that energy could be used for something else, he adds.

Bomb

In special forces, Janne was able to operate in Africa and Afghanistan. According to Janne, one of the most stopping situations happened in Afghanistan when one of their cars drove to the roadside bomb.

– We thought we had a fireplace assault at the same time, but it didn’t come. We drove to the roadside bomb. The situation was really excited when we were in front of the village of Taliban -like, Janne recalls.

– It was a pretty chaotic situation when three of our teams were wounded there. We asked for help from the QRF team (Quick Reaction Force). We sighed in relief when they arrived because we were able to help more of our friends then, he continues.

The situation became more chaotic as the other team ended up driving the roadside bomb next to them.

– We had to ask for air support in one place. It was a multi -hour incident that has been the most memorable, Janne says.

Occasionally, the operations made Janne question them who sent them to Afghanistan. This was the case, for example, when they were sent to the operation with gradual equipment and underpassing.

– It was thought that we only gather experience and could not think of that whole. We took such big risks when we were driven by uninspired cars in Afghanistan, which still had roadside bombs and others. We operated so far that we would not have received any help. So if someone had wanted to hurt us, it would have succeeded, Janne says.

These things grate Janne at the time, but nowadays he knows that the units have become more professional.

The work also made Janne experienced PTSD symptoms (post-traumatic stress disorder). In addition, it was sometimes difficult for Jannen to get rid of the anger and aggression in the military areas.

– I’m much more sensitive to getting certain stress symptoms. For example, in the fire department, I respond strongly to all tasks. On the other hand, it has also brought tranquility, and nothing really starts, he inches.

Janne also began to experience long periods of insomnia since 2009.

“The insomnia period brings me the same feelings that were after operations: irritability and anger,” he describes.

Marriage

According to Janne, his symptoms led to him and his wife Mia-Riitta Lehtonen ended up leaving temporarily in the fall.

– I managed to lose our relationship with positivity that had carried us far, Janne admits.

The difference made Janne experienced guilt. Janne hadn’t told her wife about her wild experiences in special forces because she didn’t want to cause stress to her spouse.

– I should have spoke openly about my feelings and situations. It would have helped another to understand better if I was sometimes absent or angry, he says.

In November, it was reported that Mia-Riitta had submitted a divorce application. However, according to Janne, they returned in early January. Janne says they are not going to apply for the second step in the divorce application.

Janne believes that her spiral would have continued without a momentary difference.

– Last fall was a stopping moment and for me a place for self -examination. I dared to get myself help, he says.

Dependence

After applying for help, Janne has been to extensive research and the Defense Forces Psychology Institute. According to the man, the studies found physiological issues that explain his insomnia.

– Blood tests could also be seen what chronic stress had caused me. The same symptoms that are caused by veterans in the world because of military work, Janne says without opening the details.

– They have now started to be repaired. We are going better all the time, he assures.

Janne feels that her military life also influenced her as a father. Lehtos has two children. Janne realized that long times away from home caused me to miss many parenting things except.

This caused Janne to become a stuck father and husband. The matter became clear to Janne last fall when she and Mia-Riitta went to couple therapy.

– My military career caused the thirst of intimacy and love while at home. My biggest trauma from operation times was home. The therapist said I was clearly dependent. I fully sign it, I can’t be alone, the man says.

– I have to have that particular person all the time – not that I should have someone all the time, he explains.

Janne says that the detachment of co -dependency was a really “sore” process.

Was it worth?

Despite the consequences, Janne feels that her military career has supported and would do it again. Career has helped him appreciate life and enjoy even small things.

Janne is still interested in utilizing her military career in different tasks. But would he go to the special forces again if the invitation came?

– I don’t know if I would go to this stage of life. I’ve already lived it and I know it would be a great experience, Janne says.

– But if there was, for example, a situation like Ukraine in Finland and would have a duty to leave, then of course I would go there to scream. But I don’t feel like a burning desire to go back to Afghanistan, for example, maybe someone else can do it, he adds.

At the moment, it is important for Janne to spend time with her family. Janne is eagerly dreaming of grandparents. Her 20-year-old daughter is married, but according to Janne, the child is not yet planned for the couple.

Janne says that they sometimes have planned to live abroad with their family.

-It would be great to be able to combine work and family life abroad. There are no certain countries in the mind yet, he reveals finally.