Endurance Racing Helps Veteran Navigate Twists and Turns of Mental Health

Melissa McMahon's journey from energetic child to U.S. Air Force captain and dedicated nurse included many challenges. Her road to healing wasn’t a straight path. It was a winding road of sharp turns and detours, hard lessons and unexpected triumphs. Through counseling, peer support, and a lot of trust, Melissa found healing and rebuilt a new life rooted in strength and resilience.

Whether she shares her story through art or while racing down a track at 150 miles per hour, Melissa proves that despite unexpected detours, healing is possible—and that asking for help is one of the bravest things a warrior can do. 

A Family History of Care, Compassion, and Military Service

Melissa describes herself as a rambunctious and imaginative child. She loved singing, dancing, swimming, and being outdoors. As a teen, she was diagnosed with ADHD, which made school challenging. “I got in trouble a lot,” she said.

Melissa wasn’t sure what her future held, but she felt a sense of duty. Her dad was in the Navy during Vietnam, and she heard many stories about her grandfather’s service in World War II.

“In the back of my head, I always wanted to join the military," she said.

At the same time, Melissa found herself gravitating toward a career in health care. She had a strong bond with her grandmother, whose nurturing spirit influenced her and her desire to serve others.

“She took care of us all, whether we were sick or not,” said Melissa.  “I saw myself taking care of people. I had a desire to give back and become part of something bigger.”

Melissa explored various paths, including working as a massage therapist and physical therapy assistant. “Remembering being in the hospital as a kid and seeing what the nurses do, making you feel not so alone, made me realize I wanted to become a nurse.”

But the pull toward the military remained. Melissa participated in Navy Junior ROTC in high school and joined the Air Force ROTC program while attending Fresno State. “I wanted to be commissioned as an officer and a nurse once I graduated,” she said.

Deployment to Afghanistan

In 2013, after graduating with her degree, Melissa became part of the Air Force’s nurse transition program. It was a perfect blend of her passions.

By fall 2015, Melissa was deployed to Afghanistan to treat soldiers at Bagram Craig Joint Theater Hospital.

The environment was unlike any other she'd been in. There were no windows in the hospital. The constant threat of rocket attacks required her team to always be on high alert. 

"Not only are you worried about your patients, but you also have this outside threat where you have to have a weapon, a sidearm, and you are wearing armor and a helmet sometimes," she said, adding that there were times she didn’t sleep more than two hours a night.

The chaos of the war meant Melissa often worked constantly. "Depending on what area you were working in, you're working six and a half days a week, 12- to 13-hour shifts. You don’t have time to process the things that are going on,” she said.

“We used to joke that it felt like [the movie] Groundhog Day. Wake up, make coffee, eat something, do patient care, maybe get in a workout, repeat.”

The trauma Melissa witnessed, including mass casualties and severe physical injuries, left a lasting impact on her.

She recounts the story of a suicide bomber who attacked a unit during the holiday season, resulting in the loss of six lives. "It was hard because it happened days before Christmas," she said. Despite the trauma, Melissa found solace in the camaraderie of her fellow service members, sharing meals and playing music to lift their spirits.

“My body literally was giving me the middle finger.”

The following spring, Melissa returned stateside and began work at a Texas hospital. The physical toll of her time in Afghanistan weighed heavily on her. Back pain and hip issues, along with the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), made her transition far more difficult than she anticipated.

For a long time, she tried to fight through the physical pain and deny the PTSD.  “I knew I had some symptoms of PTSD, like sleep issues and nightmares, but I didn’t see combat; I saw the aftermath of it,” she said.

But trying to push past the pain made things worse.

Migraines were frequent. She held stress in her jaw, which caused her jaw to lock. “I couldn’t even open my mouth some days,” she recalled, adding that she even broke a tooth while trying to sleep.

Medications, including narcotics, brought unwanted side effects.

A hostile work environment further exacerbated Melissa’s PTSD. “The hospital itself became a trigger. I dreaded it … because [coworkers] would make it worse because they didn’t understand.”

She began experiencing panic attacks. "I couldn't even go to the grocery store with my husband," she admitted. “I would try, but my brain would freeze. Then I’d have to sit in the car.”

The day finally came, though, when Melissa knew she needed help.

“I was at the bedside of a patient who was in an immense amount of pain. I wanted to help him, so I went to get pain meds for him. But my hands were shaking. I couldn't read; I couldn't do math. My executive functioning started to slow down. My body literally was giving me the middle finger,” she recalled.

“When it started affecting patients, I realized this is bigger than me,” said Melissa. “It broke my heart, but I finally had to say that I couldn’t take care of patients safely anymore. I couldn't take care of them if I couldn't care of myself.”

Finding Strength in Vulnerability  

After being medically retired in March 2018, Melissa struggled with feelings of failure.

“I was self-isolating because I didn’t trust people. I didn’t know who to trust or talk to about my experiences. I felt useless and was mad at myself,” Melissa said. “There was one point I never knew if I'd actually, genuinely smile or feel happy again. I felt so overwhelmed and hopeless that I thought about ending my life."

Melissa and her husband moved from Texas to Las Vegas, hoping a fresh start would accelerate her healing. She began therapy, but says a commercial for Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is what changed the trajectory of her journey.

“It said not all wounds are visible. And that resonated with me because if I wasn’t walking with a cane, you wouldn’t know anything was wrong,” Melissa said. “But I realized there is more strength and bravery in asking for help than trying to do things by yourself.”

A Community of Healing

Melissa joined a WWP™ Physical Health & Wellness program. In addition to addressing nutrition, physical activity, and pain management, the program also helped Melissa connect with other veterans, which was crucial in her recovery.

“The biggest thing was meeting other warriors. I realized I wasn’t alone anymore. I had a community.”

Wounded Warrior Project can be that extra hand to guide you and show you that you're not alone.

She then attended an all-female retreat, which opened Melissa’s eyes to the possibilities of improving her mental health.

“Project Odyssey® was a turning point for me. Knowing you could lean on somebody who understood and wouldn't shame you for your experiences or thoughts.

”Project Odyssey is an adventure-based mental health program created to support wounded veterans who want to improve their mental resiliency and strength. 

The program gave Melissa new strategies to manage her PTSD, while the connections she made helped her feel even more supported.

Over time, she said, “I started having fun and enjoying life again.”

Melissa admits she still has ups and downs, but the twists are part of life. She relies on WWP to help her find her way back. Over the years, she has participated in WWP Talk – a series of weekly emotional support calls – and other programs to improve her well-being.

“Once I started working on my mental health, I noticed changes in my body, too. I started feeling better. I was able to do a little more and be more patient and kinder to myself,” Melissa said. 

“Wounded Warrior Project can be that extra hand to guide you and show you you’re not alone."

Racing Ahead: A Gift of Mental Health

In 2018, just before Melissa’s 34^th birthday, her husband, Maverick, arranged for Melissa to drive an exotic car at a local racetrack. He knew the adrenaline rush would appeal to her, but neither anticipated how transformative the experience would be.

The rush of the track reignited a spark of joy and excitement within Melissa that had been missing for years. "I had a blast. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face," Melissa said. “I don't think [Maverick] had seen me smile that big in a long time."

Amateur road racing became Melissa’s new passion – and a vital part of her mental health journey. She signed up for performance driving lessons, used a computerized simulator at home, and helped her husband build a race car. To date, she’s participated in five endurance races.

"Racing is fun and exciting,” said Melissa, adding that while driving at almost 150 mph, it certainly gives her a sense of freedom; racing is about more than speed. Endurance races, which can last up to 24 hours, focus on consistency, reliability, and strategy.

“It’s about reclaiming a part of myself that had been overshadowed by the challenges I faced,” she said.

“Racing requires intense focus and concentration. You can’t drive if you’re not mentally present. It helps me stay grounded and present in my body. It helps me manage my anxiety and PTSD because when you're racing, outside distractions don't matter.”

The camaraderie and teamwork in racing mirror her military experiences, giving Melissa a sense of belonging and support. "You can't race a race car without a team," she said.

The Right Tools to Heal Your Mental Health

Melissa compares healing to building and racing cars. “You can’t build a race car in a day. You have to put the work in. Like racing, there are hills and dips in life. You’re going to have to deal with a lot of things that come up unexpectedly. You have to use your tools,” she said.

“During active duty, we liked to reference our tools in the toolbox. Throughout your mental health journey, you accumulate multiple tools in your toolbox. It’s no different,” Melissa said.

“Depending on what’s happening, you don’t know what tool you need until you’re in the moment and can assess what’s needed. Sometimes, one tool won’t work. Sometimes, you have to adjust or pivot, find a new tool, or ask a friend, a teammate, or an expert. And sometimes you work on things again and again as our needs change and grow.”

Raising Awareness of Veterans’ Health One Lap at a Time

Melissa’s racecar carries the number 988. She calls it fate, as 988 is also the phone number for the veteran’s crisis line.

With each lap she drives, Melissa hopes to raise awareness about veteran suicide. In 2022, Veterans Affairs (VA) reported that about 17 veterans die by suicide each day.

“I race with 988 on my car because it helps spread awareness to those that might be hurting or suffering. Too many people are dying every day. Suicide is hard to talk about, but sometimes you need to ask for help,” she said.

“It wasn’t until I picked up the phone and asked for help that I saw a big difference in my life.”

Melissa also hopes to form an all-female veteran racing team where veterans can find camaraderie and purpose through motorsports. "I want to do more to guide warriors.”

Leading with Compassion and Service

Realizing how much she gained from Wounded Warrior Project, Melissa now serves as a peer leader, supporting fellow veterans on their paths to better health.

“Wounded Warrior Project has been there for me during some of my hardest times and some of the best times. The programs were helping me. I knew someone was supporting me and helping me not go down a one-way road. I wanted to help other veterans. To let them know they are not alone.”

Because of her experiences, Melissa is hoping to return to nursing. This time, she wants to focus on mental health, drawing on her experiences to support others on their journeys.

“No one's path is the same. We’re all individuals," she said. "You’ve got to make adjustments because things will come up. The more you work on yourself, the more positive things will come.”

Contact: Cynthia Weiss – Public Relations, cweiss@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.738.2589

About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers, helping them achieve their highest ambitions. Learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project.