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Spanish Translation

PTSD: Finding Yourself Again

PTSD: Finding Yourself Again (00:02:37)
Video Transcript

PTSD is a condition that can be treated ...

It's not a weakness or something you have to live with.

And it's important to consider treatment because PTSD can affect every part of your life.

Without treatment, your symptoms may not go away.

Some people avoid treatment at first.

They may feel worried about facing the trauma or afraid of how a diagnosis may affect their life or a career.

[Justin] "I put it off for years. I thought people would think less of me.

I figured other guys had gone through something worse than I did, so why should I get help?"

[Meredith] "I'd spent half my life running from those feelings.

I didn't want to face the past."

Treatment can help you get your symptoms under control so you can find peace and focus on other parts of your life.

[Meredith] "It was hard, but talking about it allowed me to move forward.

It's like getting a part of yourself back.

I can focus on new goals without feeling suffocated by the past."

[Angie] "I was shocked that talking more about my crash could actually help.

I'm glad I finally found the courage to try therapy."

[Justin] "When I first met my counselor, I thought, 'What does he know?

... He wasn't over there. He's not military.' But when it came down to it, he'd helped a lot of people just like me and he understood me."

[Meredith] "I learned how to change guilty, shameful thoughts that weren't true.

It's been a huge weight lifted from me."

[Meredith's husband] "She's been more open.

We've found a connection we didn't used to have."

[Justin] "I try to let other vets know, 'There's a way out of this tunnel you're in.' And I've found peace. Even though I still have nightmares now and then, or have to tell myself to 'cool it' if I get angry, it's way less often now."

[Justin's wife] "I've seen a big change, especially with the kids.

It's like they have their dad back."

[Meredith] "Even if you've dealt with this for years, it's never too late to get help."

[Angie] "I can run errands, meet with friends, live my life.

I'm free now."

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