By Lindsey Schmidt.
For many in the special operations and intelligence communities, “standing down” isn’t just difficult. It can feel impossible. Years of sustained hypervigilance, stress, and adrenaline leave some operators unable to switch off the fight-or-flight response long after they’ve left the battlefield.
The Operator Relief Fund (ORF) exists to change that.
Founded to support current and former members of the special operations and intelligence communities, and their spouses, ORF connects participants with a specialized medical procedure not covered by private insurance, the VA, or traditional Military Treatment Facilities, known as a Dual Stellate Ganglion Block (DSGB). The treatment involves injecting medication around a bundle of nerves in the neck that regulates the sympathetic nervous system. For those whose systems have been locked in overdrive, the procedure effectively “resets” that response, helping to relieve symptoms such as anger, irritability, and hypervigilance associated with post-traumatic stress.
The result isn’t a cure, but it’s often a powerful catalyst.
The procedure creates a window of calm, allowing participants to engage more effectively in therapy and other treatments that may have previously felt out of reach. “It’s what you do during that calm that changes things,” one provider explained. “The reset gives people a chance to receive help, not just endure it.”
ORF fully funds both the procedure and travel to one of its partnered treatment centers in Cleveland, OH; Provo, UT; San Diego, CA; or Tampa, FL. The organization has streamlined access to care with providers who not only specialize in the SGB procedure but also understand the SOF community and its unique challenges.
Relief typically lasts four to six months for active-duty members and six to nine months for veterans. The difference often comes down to time—veterans can more easily engage in follow-on care, while active-duty members may use the procedure as a temporary reprieve during high-tempo operations.
Follow-on care is strongly encouraged and tailored to each participant. While ORF does not fund post-procedure therapies such as hormone therapy or counseling, the organization connects participants with trusted providers who do.
One of ORF’s most significant distinctions is its inclusion of spouses and direct support personnel. Many organizations focus exclusively on operators themselves, but ORF recognizes that the effects of service extend across the entire mission set. Direct support personnel, those who serve alongside operators in critical enabling roles, experience many of the same stressors and long-term impacts.
Nearly 40% of participants are spouses, many of whom return after seeing the difference the treatment made for their loved one. ORF’s model reflects a deep understanding that trauma doesn’t just affect the operator, it reverberates throughout the family and the broader community.
What the Procedure Feels Like—and What It Isn’t
A common misconception about the Dual Stellate Ganglion Block is that it’s just a quick fix—a single injection, repeated as needed. In reality, there’s a significant difference between a single block (one injection on one side of the neck) and a dual block, which targets both sides of the stellate ganglion. The dual block is not intended to be cyclical or repeated; it provides longer-lasting, more comprehensive relief.
While the DSGB is not a cure, it is an effective modality—one that offers time and space to work on what’s unique to each individual’s healing process.
The physical sensations following the procedure vary from person to person, but many describe an unmistakable feeling of stress leaving the body. Some have reported warmth spreading through their chest or a full-body sense of release. One participant compared it to “dropping from 8,000 RPM to 2,000,” where triggers don’t feel as sharp and constant. Others have experienced emotional reactions—crying or laughing uncontrollably—as their nervous systems finally downshift.
1,000 Lives (and Families) Impacted
This month, ORF celebrated its 1,000th participant served. This milestone represents both the reach of the program and the growing awareness of its availability. The spouses who make up nearly half of ORF’s participants often return after witnessing the transformation in their service member, seeking the same sense of calm and reconnection for themselves.
ORF’s impact is tangible: improved relationships, reduced anxiety, and a renewed sense of normalcy for those who have spent years operating in high-alert environments.
How to Get Involved
There are three ways to access ORF’s program:
1. Direct request through the website,
2. Referral from a partner organization, or
3. Referral from a past participant.
As ORF continues to expand its network and awareness, there are several ways to help:
1. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to ORF directly.
2. Share the mission. ORF is always looking for advocates and alumni to tell their stories and reach others in need.
3. Support the work. Thanks to three family foundations that cover 100% of overhead and administrative costs, every dollar donated by private supporters goes directly to treatment—funding life-changing care for the next participant in line.
Whether you’re an operator, a member of the intelligence community, a spouse, or direct support, the Operator Relief Fund offers more than treatment. It offers a chance to reclaim calm, connection, and control.
To learn more or apply for assistance, visit operatorrelieffund.org
**********
Image: Provided by Operator Relief Fund.
