By Amber Capone, CEO & Co-Founder of VETS

I never imagined our family’s story would be shared in a global documentary. But In Waves and War is more than a film. It’s a mirror held up to the reality so many veteran families face behind closed doors. It’s raw. It’s honest. And it’s the kind of conversation we urgently need.

Before my husband, Marcus, sought treatment with ibogaine, we lived in a state of quiet chaos. Our home had become a battleground of unspoken pain, disconnection, and walking on eggshells. We isolated from each other just to preserve the peace. The outside world had no idea - and honestly, neither did we - just how much we were surviving instead of living.

The Weight of Invisible Wounds

Eighteen months before Marcus traveled for treatment, I began my own healing. I would sit in silence for hours, leaning heavily on my faith and working with a therapist who refused to let me stay stuck in a victim mindset. That work saved me. It gave me the strength to support Marcus, but also to hold boundaries and prioritize my own growth.

Living alongside PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) felt like being caught in a storm with no shelter. As a spouse, I felt overwhelming guilt. We had “survived the war,” yet life at home was filled with landmines and loneliness. The world expected us to be fine, but we were barely hanging on.

Ibogaine Wasn’t Just Marcus’s Journey - It Was Mine, Too

When a friend suggested ibogaine treatment, I was skeptical, but mostly, I was desperate. In Waves and War captures this turning point in our lives. I needed to know I had done everything in my power to save my family, even if it meant stepping into the unknown.

After treatment, Marcus came back to us. Not instantly, and not without struggle,but he was present. And that changed everything. Our family began to soften, to reconnect, to rebuild. For the first time in years, we could see a future.

Opening Our Lives to In Waves and War

Sharing our story in In Waves and War was not easy. We chose to be completely transparent - with the filmmakers, with ourselves, and with the public. Even our son participated. 

One moment stands out vividly: we chose to speak about a loaded gun incident that we had never even discussed privately. That decision weighed heavily on me. But we knew the power of vulnerability - of saying the hard things out loud.

This film gives voice to the spouses, the families, the children who are so often left out of the veteran healing narrative. And it affirms that their healing matters just as much.

Why Families Must Be Part of the Conversation

In Waves and War underscores something VETS has long believed: trauma doesn’t end with the veteran - it ripples through entire households. And healing must, too.

Spouses often carry the emotional load silently. We lead from the background. But in many cases, we are the ones who fight hardest for healing - for resources, for connection, for hope. That’s why it was so important to make space in this film to honor the women who are so often the unsung heroes.

There Is Hope - and You Are Not Alone

To every spouse or partner preparing to watch In Waves and War this November: I see you. I was you.

There is hope. But it starts with your own healing - not through self-sacrifice, but through self-nurturing. That’s how we lead with strength and clarity. This work is not about fixing someone else. It’s about each of us doing our part to heal individually, so we can reconnect as families.

Marcus being here today has changed not only our lives, but countless others. And none of it would have happened without ibogaine, without VETS, and without a willingness to tell the truth - even when it hurts.

In Waves and War Premieres November 3 on Netflix

This powerful new documentary follows the journeys of several veterans and their families as they bravely confront trauma, rediscover purpose, and reclaim life through psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Watch the official trailer now

Learn More About VETS

VETS is a nonprofit providing resources, research support, and advocacy to help U.S. military veterans access psychedelic-assisted therapies like ibogaine. Through our Foundational Healing Grants, we ensure veterans, and their families, have the support they need before, during, and after treatment.

Visit vetsolutions.org to learn more