The Team House From Marine to Army SMU Operator | Varpas De Sa Pereira | Ep. 382
Nov 26, 2025
Varpas De Sa Pereira, a decorated retired Marine Corps officer and Tier 1 special operations operator, shares his profound insights on transitioning from military to civilian life. He introduces his groundbreaking psychological model, Warrior Withdrawal, which links the emotional struggles of veterans to substance abuse symptoms. Varpas discusses the loss of identity and community post-service, advocating for mental health solutions and group support for veterans. His journey to clinical psychology also highlights the need for pre-separation mental health services in the military.
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Genesis Of 'Warrior Withdrawal'
- Varpas recounts feeling neither PTSD nor simple adjustment disorder after leaving the military and calls himself patient zero for that experience.
- He mapped his post-service struggles onto substance use disorder and coined the concept 'Warrior Withdrawal.'
Stopping A Mortar Mission
- Varpas describes stopping a planned mortar mission when the target turned out to be women and children looting a warehouse.
- He confronted his chain of command, was labeled insubordinate, and earned no awards while peers received combat decorations.
Clearing The Wild West North Of Fallujah
- On a 2007 tour north of Fallujah Varpas' unit cleared a hostile area under frequent IED and ambush fire.
- He used Cobras and creative tactics like igniting reed beds to flush and neutralize insurgents.
