Self-Destruct: The Silent Battle of Combat Veterans and the Destruction of Personal Relationships
By Shawn Hibbard
What if the greatest threat to a combat veteran's life wasn't the enemy on the battlefield-but the war that follows them home?
Self-Destruct is a raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal look into the internal battles faced by many military veterans after service ends. Author Shawn Hibbard, a former combat veteran himself, opens a courageous dialogue about what happens when the discipline, danger, and adrenaline of military life are replaced by silence, confusion, and broken connections.
This book explores the devastating emotional ripple effects of trauma, PTSD, and unhealed wounds-especially how they sabotage the very relationships veterans want to preserve. Written at a fifth-grade reading level for accessibility and impact, Self-Destruct offers a message that is direct, powerful, and rooted in truth.
Across 13 riveting chapters, readers will walk through the inner world of a combat veteran struggling to maintain peace at home. From explosive anger and emotional shutdowns to substance use, guilt, and the craving for control, each chapter reveals a different layer of the veteran experience. These are not abstract concepts. They are the real, lived realities of thousands of warriors who returned home to face an invisible war within.
Key themes explored in the book include:
- The mask of normalcy - how many veterans hide their pain to blend in, yet feel completely alone.
- The fallout of trauma - the slow destruction of trust, connection, and love in relationships.
- Sabotaging what we love - why veterans often push away those closest to them without knowing why.
- The addiction to adrenaline and control - how the military wires the brain for intensity and structure, making everyday life feel meaningless or unbearable.
- The spiral of self-destruction - the behavioral patterns that isolate veterans and damage the families trying to hold on.
- The weight of guilt and regret - looking back at the wreckage and wondering if it's too late.
- Breaking the cycle - finding the courage to admit something is wrong and the strength to ask for help.
- Rebuilding presence and purpose - learning how to be emotionally present, to listen, to connect, and to heal.
- Treatment and support - real-world options for counseling, groups, and spiritual support that can guide the journey home.
Self-Destruct doesn't just describe the problem-it also points toward the path out. This book is a lifeline for veterans who feel they're losing themselves and their loved ones. It's also a resource for spouses, families, and friends who want to understand what their veteran is going through and how to stand by them without losing themselves in the process.
About the Author:
Shawn Hibbard is a U.S. Army combat veteran and the founder of Nautical Salute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic boating excursions for veterans battling PTSD. With a mission to restore peace and purpose through nature, brotherhood, and open dialogue, Hibbard uses his own experiences to lead others toward healing.
If you've ever felt like you're falling apart on the inside while trying to hold it together on the outside, this book was written for you.
You are not alone. And it's not too late to stop the cycle of self-destruction.
