At home, but not at peace: A soldier's struggle with PTSD

“He was a very good soldier ... a good friend”

Army Spc. Brandon Garrison is one among thousands of troops experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as they return from war zones. via Stars and Stripes

[Sgt Wilson]

Ya it happens, I got it myself, alot of guys do. Its very normal, you just gotta deal with it and overcome. Good luck to all of you out there with the same problems.

[keepinitreal]

If all soliders return with it, then that is probably an overstatement. However, when our troops come home, the american people best heed the fact that many of them are coming home with PTS and VA needs to step up on their treatment (if you can treat the trauma that has created the problem). It is real. Is it treatable? I don't know the answer to that. It is scary to me. Train them to defend themselves and in the process, we don't treat them for the cause and effect of that. They call it demobilization when they come home, these guys are not debriefed. How do you debrief someone from reliving horrors they have seen. We treat our police officers in this country, I see no difference here. Many of our troops come home and they will tell you, I may be home physically, but emotionally and mentally these guys are still fighting the fathoms. They don't feel like this is their home anymore. Patience, love and understanding is all their families can do for them. Please address these issues with returning military personnel and their families.

[ECHO COMPANY]

HEY BRANDON WE ARE ALL GLAD YOU ARE REAHING OUT BUT WHAT SUCKS IS THAT YOU HAVE MADE ALL THIS UP WE HAVE READ THE ARTICAL YOU SEND IN ALONG WITH THE REPORT YOU GAVE AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR A RETRACTION YOU DID NOT TAKE PART IN THESE EVENTS NOR DID YOU HAOLD A PRESSUER DRESSING ON WILSONS CHEST LIKE YOU SAID THESE ARTICALS YOU HAVE POSTED HAVE UP SET THIS UNIT AND WE WILL NOT SAY YOU DO NOT HAVE ISSUSES BUT YOU DID NOT DO THE THINGS YOU SAID AND WE ARE SORRY IF WE PUSHED YOU SO FAR AWAY THAT YOU FELT YOU NEED TO REACHOUT LIKE THIS