Editor’s note: This article first appeared on The War Horse , an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter .

I’m not unique. Special to no degree whatsoever and adamant that I don’t deserve the success I’ve had in life so far. If life were fair, my stupidity and naivety would have been punished long ago. But it isn’t, and they weren’t. Instead, promotion and pay raises followed me to each duty station. Commendations, awards, and a “career with unlimited potential,” I was told, lay on the path before me. I told them I was happy, and I think they believed me.

Then one day, I tried to kill myself.

In hindsight, it was half-hearted at best. But my indifference to the outcome was surprising. Regret set

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