I Tried to End It All: How John Rambo Helped Me See Mental Health as My Greatest Weapon
- Bruce Schutter
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
As the chaos of this month unfolds, I can’t help but remember one of the darkest chapters of my life — a time when I felt completely powerless. The weight of my mental health struggles crushed me until I saw no way out.
For years, I fought Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD from my time as an EMT in high school and college. My life wasn’t mine anymore — every thought and decision was dictated by the storm inside my mind.
At my lowest point, I truly believed the only escape was to end it all. That kind of hopelessness is suffocating — the air gets heavy, the world turns dark, and the thought of one more day feels unbearable.
I tried to end my life.
But I got a second chance. And that second chance became the catalyst for everything that came next.
My Revelation
That second chance brought a life-changing truth into focus: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge. Our emotions can be the source of our deepest pain — but they can also become the driving force that pulls us through the darkest moments.
I committed to rebuilding my mental health. Instead of letting my emotions control me, I learned to partner with them — to take back my life and rebuild it on my own terms.
That’s when I created the Mental Health Warrior Program, a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge! So you can take charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want.
But this wasn’t just my journey anymore. Along the way, I found unexpected allies — people who, despite having completely different battles, understood the fight.
One of those allies was John Rambo. Together, we had a conversation about the power of emotions — what they mean, how they shape us, and how they can become our greatest strength.
My Conversation with John Rambo
It was one of those unexpected moments you never forget. I was standing in line at the store, holding my book I Triumphed over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior, when none other than John Rambo stepped up beside me.
The legendary soldier — survivor of battles both on the field and within himself — glanced at my book, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “What’s the Mental Health Warrior Program?”
I told him the truth: that after 20 years of feeling powerless and nearly losing my life to mental health struggles, I discovered something life-changing — within our emotions lies the power to overcome any challenge. I shared how I used that power to take back my life… and now help others do the same.
Rambo listened in silence, his intense gaze softening just slightly. "I know that feeling," he said. "There were times when I was close to the edge too. I didn’t know if I could keep going.
But like you, I found out that emotions can either destroy you… or give you the strength to keep fighting."
Then he leaned in and shared three moments from his own life when he felt powerless—moments when his emotions nearly broke him, but ultimately became the fuel that pushed him to rise again.
Example 1: Haunted by the Past
Rambo began with a time right after his first mission. He came home expecting relief — only to find he didn’t belong anywhere. The noise of battle had stopped, but inside, the war raged on. Rage. Grief. Confusion. They wouldn’t turn off.
“There were nights when I thought it’d be easier just to end it,” he admitted. “But then I realized… those emotions, as terrible as they were, were also fuel. They reminded me I was still alive. Still fighting.
I used that pain to keep going — to make sense of what I’d been through.”
Our Turn:
The emotions rooted in our past can feel like a prison, locking us inside moments we wish we could erase. But those same emotions — rage, grief, confusion — can become the driving force that propels us forward.
When we face the ghosts of our past head-on, we can turn that pain into purpose, that struggle into strength! Every raw feeling becomes a tool in your warrior arsenal — one you can choose to wield instead of letting it wield you.
Your past is a chapter, not the whole story. Let it be the prologue to the warrior you’re becoming today — stronger, braver, and unbreakable.
Example 2: Transform Fear into Strength
Rambo told me about a mission deep in the jungle — surrounded by enemies, cut off from his team, staring down what felt like certain death.
“It was like the fear was in control,” he said. “I thought I was going to lose it.”
Then he remembered something an old commander once told him: Manage your emotions and the rest will follow.
Instead of shoving the fear away, he embraced it. He let it sharpen his focus, heighten his instincts, and push him to survive. In that moment, fear stopped being the enemy — and became the ally that carried him through.
Our Turn:
Fear can feel like a trap — paralyzing, consuming, inescapable. But when we reframe it, fear can become our sharpest tool.
The next time fear grips you, pause. Instead of seeing it as a wall, see it as a surge of power you can direct. Let it heighten your awareness, fuel decisive action and push you toward the life you want.
True Warriors don’t erase fear — they master it. They stand in it, move through it, and walk out stronger on the other side.
Example 3: Turning Struggle into Purpose
Rambo’s final story wasn’t about the battlefield — it was about what came after.
There was a time when he was just… surviving. Going through the motions, waking up without a reason to push forward. After everything he’d endured, the silence of “what now?” was deafening.
“I didn’t know what was next,” he said. “I had survived everything thrown at me—but for what? It wasn’t until I started helping others that I felt like I had a reason to keep going.”
He realized his battles, scars, and survival weren’t just his — they were a beacon. Sharing his story gave others hope. And in lifting them, he rediscovered his own will to fight.
Our Turn:
Purpose isn’t something you stumble across — it’s something you build.
When life knocks you flat, it’s easy to drift without direction. But often, the spark comes when we turn outward — when we help someone else climb out of the dark.
So if you feel lost, try this: Share your story. Offer a hand. Be the proof that survival is possible.
Because sometimes the moment you light the way for someone else… is the moment you find your own path again.
The Power of Mental Health
As we stood there talking, it hit me — different worlds, same path. We had both learned that managing emotions is the key to surviving even the darkest moments.
Rambo might be a warrior on the battlefield, but he’s also a Mental Health Warrior. He knows, as I do, that emotions aren’t the enemy — they’re the fuel for our strength, resilience, and ability to rise above any challenge.
Before we parted ways, Rambo gave me a look I won’t forget. “If you ever feel like you’re at the end again, remember — there’s always a way out. We’ve been there. We’re proof you can survive it!”
Wrap Up
My conversation with Rambo was a powerful reminder that even in the most extreme circumstances, hope and strength can still be found.
Before we parted ways, I handed him my copy of I Triumphed over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior. “This is for you,” I told him. “So you can keep spreading the message.”
If you’re struggling with your mental health and feeling powerless, know this — you are not alone! You are part of the Mental Health Warrior Tribe.
Rambo and I have both stood in those moments where it felt like there were no options left — when our emotions threatened to consume us. But we discovered something life-changing: those same emotions held the key to survival and growth.
In this chaotic time, remember — you are never as powerless as you feel. There is hope. There is help. And there is a future waiting for you!
Let your emotions guide you. Step into your strength. Become a Mental Health Warrior. Triumph over your challenges — just like Rambo and I did.
Bruce Schutter
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