Biz RV: Healing with RV Road Magic

When Angela Peacock hit the gas in her Winnebago View motorhome as a newly minted full-time RVer, she quickly regretted her decision to live on the road. “I said to myself, ‘I made the worst mistake of my life,’” recalls the US Army veteran about the 2019 life change that followed the expiration of her apartment lease. “I need to get a job, a real life. What am I thinking?”

But within a month of traveling across America, Angela changed her attitude. She began to experience what she calls “RV road magic.” This took the form of kindness and gifts from fellow RV travelers she met at campgrounds. RV road magic also manifested itself in the solitude and beauty of nature.

Significantly, RV road magic went a long way toward healing Angela’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which she suffered while serving as a sergeant in the US Army during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

“When you have PTS(D), you’re afraid of everything,” she explains. “When you’re a war vet, nobody understands you. But RV travel restored my faith in humanity again. There are nice people in the world.”

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work she earned after her discharge, Angela has made it her life’s mission to provide holistic healing for fellow veterans and others who suffer from PTSD (or other mental health concerns). Now driving a 2023 Winnebago Revel 4WD, the St. Louis native travels with her service dog, Raider. She follows a full schedule of participating as a panelist at mental health conferences, organizing veterans’ events, and meeting with clients over Zoom.

Angela also works with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to advocate for veterans suffering from PTS. She has also benefited from WWP programs, including equine therapy, yoga, and CrossFit. Angela chatted with RV Magazine recently to discuss the role RV travel has played in her healing journey.

RVM: Tell us how you went from being a member of the military to finding healing through RV travel.

Angela: I joined the army before 9/11, in 1998, right out of high school. I was waiting tables, but that was not what I had in mind. I wanted more. My grandparents had served in World War II, so it was in the back of my mind, and I joined.

I deployed to Iraq at the very beginning of the war in 2003. My friends who served with me in the military have [recently] been posting pictures commemorating the 20th anniversary. I got sick in Iraq because of bad food and water conditions and the high stress of participating in multiple convoys through Baghdad several times a week. I was hospitalized for a non-combat illness.

The next day, I found out that my unit was hit by an IED [improvised explosive device]. At that moment, I couldn’t take any more trauma; I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was medically retired in 2006 with full benefits and got my degrees at Washington University in St. Louis.

RVM: How has RV travel helped you in healing from PTS?

Angela: It has helped me reclaim my life, reclaim myself. I got over the hump; it was the best decision I ever made. It helps me visit some of my soldiers in person. I’ve had amazing moments.

[I’m] thinking of one particular veteran we met in Phoenix, Arizona, a woman who also served. Until you go in person, you can’t talk about what happened to you. I’ve done a lot of healing on my own, as well. I went to Sedona for energy work, hiking, and massage.

I coach a few vets, but mostly civilians who have made the decision they need other options for mental health. I’ve been through the process and know how bad you can feel.

RVM: How does being outdoors help the healing process?

Angela: Before hitting the road, I was living such a closed-door life, going to doctors, going to the pharmacy to get meds, the hopeless life that I was living. There was a lot of terror in full-time RVing; where do I go next? Where do I sleep tonight? Just me and the van with my dog.

But I’m in charge now. Brain injuries (that I sustained post-military) plus medication are not a good combination. I had to get my brain back.

Being in nature, and being quiet, is great for me. I can rest, go for a walk, and go right back to the RV. I’ve done bird-watching, surfing, mountain biking, and canyoneering. I like to walk around, and farmers’ markets are my addiction. I love the culture and what they sell. I’m always doing something—like meeting up with other RVers. I went to a PGA event—the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, which is something I would never [normally] do.

RVM: Before we go, we’d love to hear about some of your experiences with “RV road magic.”

Angela: During the first week on the road, I met my neighbor at the campground. Later, he made lunch and hung it on my doorknob. It was a ham sandwich with mustard packets—so kind.

In Austin, Texas, I was lying on the bed one day, and a woman walked over and gave me fresh-baked cookies. Another time, a woman offered her driveway as a place to stay.

I created the hashtag #rvroadmagic on Instagram [Angela’s screen name is @beinghumanrv]. I would share road magic stories and would post a little travel journal every day. It’s my way of sharing the magic healing moments that have happened on the road. It serves as a healing journal of sorts and brings hope and inspiration to anyone who stumbles on my pages.

Outdoor Therapy

Like many veterans, Angela discovered that participating in outdoor therapy— from nature hikes to equestrian rides—is an effective treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Angela is among the more than 15 percent of veterans deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (the Afghanistan operations after 9/11) that have screened positive for PTSD, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The Wounded Warrior Project organizes many beneficial outdoor-focused programs.