HELP ABIDES –
Dec, 9, 2025 – To reach others who may be struggling this holiday season, Marine Corps Veteran Michael O’Dell, now Warriors Heart Command Center COO, is publicly sharing his story of pain, redemption, and purpose. Before dedicating his life to helping others break free from addiction, O’Dell spent years battling a personal darkness, especially during the holidays. While the holidays are often framed as the most joyful season of the year, it can be one of the most emotionally difficult periods for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. Relapses, alcohol misuse, trauma triggers, and overdose risks consistently rise between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, affecting millions of Americans across every walk of life. “I always hated the holidays,” O’Dell said. “Everybody else felt joy. I felt anger and depression. It was like trying to mix oil and water.”
In November 2006, O’Dell joined the Marine Corps and experienced a sober Christmas during boot camp. The next two Christmases were also sober for O’Dell while being deployed overseas.
O’Dell recalled, “During my second deployment, tragedy struck when a member of my unit, our saw gunner, died by suicide. The weight of that loss followed me home and deepened wounds that I was not yet able to confront.”
After separating from the military in 2010, O’Dell’s life began to unravel. One month later, O’Dell was rear-ended in a serious vehicle accident and faced a felony DWI. The woman involved, whose own son had recently left the Marine Corps and struggled with addiction, asked the judge not to press charges.
