Voice of America
10 Oct 2019, 17:35 GMT+10
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - These U.S. military veterans are busy as a bee tending to beehives on the grounds of the veterans medical center in Manchester, New Hampshire.
"It's fun. I love doing it," says Oscar Toce. "I used to be afraid of bees, but now I feel more comfortable around them."
Toce is among about a dozen veterans who are learning beekeeping as part of recreation therapy to help relieve post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety.
Called Hives for Heroes, it is among the bee programs scattered across the U.S. to help veterans better their lives. Early research indicates that beekeeping provides therapeutic benefits for veterans by also helping them focus, relax and become more productive.
Since the New Hampshire program started six months ago, the veterans have been learning about the complex world of honeybees, which include queens, drones, and worker bees, and of course honey.
"Beekeeping is a lot more involved than I thought it would be," points out former marines Anthony Jenkins, who appreciates the crucial role bees play in the environment.
"I love coming here. It's just so exciting," says Vince Ylitalo, who spent nearly 40 years in the military, including two tours in Iraq where a roadside bomb blew up next to his convoy.
I had one of them actually blow up in my face and that upset me a lot, Ylitalo says. He quickly adds that he doesn't want to talk more about it because it hurts too much.
But what Ylitalo does like to talk about is the bees, which he finds soothing, especially since he can't tolerate loud noises due to post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental condition triggered by a terrifying event.
"I never knew I even had it until my mom told me two years later you got some serious problems," he explained. "I said no I don't, everybody else has the problem, not me."
Counseling and his service dog have helped relieve some of the anxiety and stress. However much to his surprise, it has been working with the bees that has been a lifesaver.
"It's crazy how much it helps you and your family life, and it's helped me the most over the longest period of time."
As veteran Wendi Zimmermann searches a beehive for the queen, she finds "the humming sounds of the bees calming and relaxing."
Beekeeping is helping her deal with trauma after a military colleague sexually assaulted her 25 years ago.
"It's affected my home life, my parenting, and it can be debilitating," she says.
Beekeeping keeps her focused and engaged in the present.
"I enjoy the teamwork and going past some of my stumbling blocks that I have within my anxiety and not let the outside buzz of the world get in there."
Recreation therapist Valerie Carter adds, "You can't focus on much else except the hives when you're in there with about 70,000 bees." She says the veterans often experience peace, calmness and a reduction of their mental health symptoms for several days after working with the bees.
The bees have changed Ylitalo's life by keeping him calm and giving him more confidence.
He is now passionate about beekeeping. "Oh boy, I look forward to seeing the bees again. I'm constantly thinking about the bees," he says with a big smile.
Get a daily dose of Iran Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iran Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: Filmmaker Peter Jackson's lifelong fascination with the extinct giant New Zealand flightless bird called the moa...
NEW DELHI, India: India has submitted a revised proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva to implement retaliatory tariffs...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Nvidia, the Silicon Valley chipmaker at the heart of the artificial intelligence boom, this week briefly...
REDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
Geneva [Switzerland], July 13 (ANI): A recent report by the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has revealed that...
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 13 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is scheduled to go on an official visit to...
The organization was banned last month after its members broke into an airbase and vandalized two military planes More than 70 people...
Kyiv [Ukraine], July 13 (ANI): As US President Donald Trump reaffirmed Washington's commitment to resuming weapons supply to Ukraine,...