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I had nothing to do with my family and friends.

Ron Whitcomb, US Army 1968 - 1969, talks about how his PTSD affected his loved ones.

Transcript

I isolated to an incredible amount where I saw no one

but my cat and dog at home and the VA staff.

I had nothing to do with my family and friends

because I needed to ask them to step away

and let me heal myself.

It was really difficult back in those days

because I wanted my family around me, I wanted my friends,

and I knew I needed them but I also needed time by myself.

Looking back, I made all the right decisions.

I didn't isolate.

I didn't push them away from my life completely

but I needed isolation.

I needed them not to come to me with any of their baggage

because I was standing in a pile of baggage that was,

I could never imagine I would go to a place

that dark and that horrible.

I worked hard to get out of there and part

of that was isolating.

Not that I'm condoning isolation but I needed time away

from other people's issues.

I needed to concentrate on myself and my wellness

and my therapy for PTSD.

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