Nudism for Veterans and First Responders.
For the purposes of this blog and the brevity of typing it I am going to refer to it as “Veterans” and “Responders” which includes: fire service, law enforcement, dispatchers, emergency medical personnel (EMT, Paramedics, Emergency Room, etc.), and our military in any form (active duty, reserve, national guard, veteran).
If you’re a Veteran or Responder odds are you are like me and have tried a lot of things to relieve the stress that our career choice has thrust upon us, both mentally and physically.
Therapy.
Medications.
Workouts.
Breathing exercises.
Substance Abuse of alcohol or pills
Ketamine treatments (more to follow on this as I am currently working with an amazing Doctor).
Some helped. Others didn’t. Some worked for a while but quietly faded back to a normal everyday routine. This blog isn’t about replacing any of those as they are all helpful.
Think of this as your quiet invitation to consider something much different —an additive of sorts and another tool that might help you feel more at ease in your own body and mind.
That thing is nudism.
I stumbled across it over 26 years ago and it has been my go-to for stress and life release ever since.
First, Let’s Kill the Myths
When most people hear “nudism,” their mind goes straight to the wrong place.
You probably think:
- Sexual
- Exhibitionist
- Perfect bodies
- “Not for people like me”
- A bunch of swingers conducting open sexual acts
That’s NOT what real nudism is. Take a look at this blog from way back on nudist and swingers.
Nudism is all about comfort, normalcy, vulnerability, and dropping the unnecessary armor we carry everyday (both consciously and subconsciously).
Just everyday people like you and I existing without uniforms, gear, layers, or pressure.
For Veterans and Responders that part matters more than most people realize.
Why Our Bodies Don’t Know How to Relax
If you’ve served in our military (combat deployment or not), or responded to emergencies, your nervous system learned to stay alert.
That training doesn’t shut off when we are done with our shift, or leave the military.
A lot of us live with:
- Constant tension
- Scanning rooms and people automatically
- Being “on” even when nothing’s wrong
- Trouble fully relaxing and giving our nervous system a break
While you can be in a safe and stable location, you are always stuck in “fight or flight” and I would bet many of you lean towards the “fight” mode most of the time.
That’s not weakness, it is pure conditioning and your life saving mechanism. However, overtime it wears even the best of us out both mentally and physically. This leads to quick tempers and outbursts, increased substance use, and isolation because it is easier to be alone in our thoughts than to talk to others about it.
Why Nudism Can Help
Being naked in a safe, respectful environment does something simple but powerful:
It removes layers of monitoring and scanning for threats.
No adjusting clothes.
No hiding.
No managing appearances.
Your body gets a rare message:
“Nothing is required of you right now but to release and relax”
For people used to constant readiness, that moment of standing down can feel unfamiliar — and deeply calming.
As someone who suffers from hypervigilance issues in most places I go outside of the house, and stuck in “fight” mode (that is the Marine in me) it is one of the only times I can truly relax. I don’t have to be stoic and emotionless to maintain a solid Marine Corps image.
Once I strip down, I can feel the stress melting away (literally). Once the stress is gone, I find myself smiling more and being in the moment where I enjoy the outdoor scenery verses escape routes. I can enjoy conversations with other naked people and not listen for my internal instinct and intuition to kick in, or look at pre-contact cues signaling an attack.
I can be…just me.
Body Image and Self-Consciousness
This is where most people hesitate, or opt to not try it all. The initial thoughts of nudism, and social nudism around other people, instantly turns to:
“I don’t have the body for that.”
“But first I need to lose weight first.”
“I don’t want people seeing my scars, stretch marks.”
And so many more.
Here’s the reality from someone who’s spent over 26 years in the nudist space being both ripped at 195 lbs. and 6% body fat and then currently at 230 lbs. at 27.8% body fat : No One Cares but you.
Nudists are just normal people who enjoy a clothes-free lifestyle. The grand majority are:
Older
Softer
Scarred
Non model material as described by societal standards (however, I think they are all beautiful just as they are!)
Once everyone is naked, comparison loses its power. Curiosity loses it grip. Your body stops being a problem to solve and becomes something you live in. And the more you do this, whether at home or socially, becomes much easier every time; ultimately, until you can really release the dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins.
Here is an awesome article I found on Psychology Today about how one study of 27 men and 24 women revealed that spending time in a social nudist setting improved body image.
Why This Resonates With Veterans and First Responders
Many of us spent years in environments where:
- Comfort didn’t matter
- The mission came first above personal and family needs
- Your body was a mere tool that was worked over time and time again
Nudism quietly flips that script.
It says:
- You’re allowed to be comfortable and truly destress and rest
- You’re allowed to exist without performing or upholding an image in the public eye
- You’re allowed to be…YOU
That message lands differently when you’ve spent years, or a lifetime of putting yourself last. It is unfamiliar territory that does take some time to work into. It isn’t a 5-minute fix (but at 5 minutes you will really begin to enjoy it).
You Don’t Have to Go All In
This isn’t a life commitment, it is a mere experiment to test the waters and see how it feels. If you are unsure, try to find a “clothing optional” resort or event where you don’t have to get naked and can take your time based on your comfort level. If you want to try a strictly nude resort, when you call them explain to them it is your first time and if you can work your way into it. If the answer is “no” you have to do it right away, feel free to look for another place.
Start small:
- Be naked at home, or take a little extra time after your shower before you get dressed
- Sit outside without clothes on if you have privacy (or a robe you can open up and close in a hurry)
- Visit a sauna or spa that allows for clothing optional time
- Look for small group get togethers that are clothing optional and non-sexual
If curiosity grows, there are true non-sexual nudist and clothing optional spaces that prioritize consent and boundaries. Still not sure if you want to do in front of others, find an optional clothing group or place so you can go at your own pace.
Cool thing is, if you don’t like you don’t have to keep going. However, I would recommend trying it out a few times before you say no for good as it does take time for the mind and body to connect and enjoy it.
Final Thought
Nudism won’t fix trauma and surely won’t erase the memories of the things you have seen or experienced. Also, it isn’t a standalone replacement for mental health care. Look at this as an additional tool you can put in your toolbox to help ease the burdens of life.
For me and thousands of Veterans and Responders, it becomes a place where the nervous system finally gets a break. And this break is priceless when you run in fight or flight mode all the time.
So don’t say “no” so fast, allow curiosity to sink in and give it a shot. What do you have to lose (besides your clothes)? Nothing. What do you have to gain? Potentially an increase in your mood, pain reduction, stress relief, nervous system rest, and opening up a new world of fun experiences. Hell yeah, sign me up please!
I can tell you from experience the one common thing I hear almost every time I meet a new nudist, or new nudist couple, at a resort “man I wish I/we would have done this years ago“. Don’t be that person and miss years of fun for a story you build in your head on why you couldn’t.
From one who’s been there (and still is there), just know I am in your corner and want the best for you and your mental health.
Ryan
Before you Leave
Before you close out this blog, I invite you to check out our other free blogs and if you are interested in supporting the page consider signing up for a subscription. My blogs are a great way to learn more about the nudist lifestyle, and how it can increase your self-esteem, self-confidence, mood, as well as life topics overall. Spend a few minutes, and then send me an email at everydaynudist@gmail.com and let me know what you think.