Transcript
Back when I was working I kept myself busy 110% of the time.
I would work sixty hours a week, a lot of times.
I'm usually out there earning, busting my butt,
working all this overtime, and working double time Sundays.
You know I didn't have any time to think about
what I went through in Vietnam.
After I quit work,
all of sudden, all of these memories came back.
Flashbacks,
nightmares of people that were just casualties of war,
innocent people, you know- collateral damage.
A lot of anger came out. Depression, loneliness, guilt.
And I was screaming and yelling all the time.
Sometimes it got a little physical.
And I would never, ever, hurt anybody in my family.
But there were some close calls.
I was about ready to end it all,
and my wife just says, "You need to get help."
I was told to go through an evaluation
and I was rated with PTSD.
Being idle enhanced my symptoms-
they were always there- but once it was brought out,
they seemed to get worse and worse and snowball.
(pool balls crack)
I started getting treatment,
I started going the programs,
I started gong to group therapy.
It was an older group,
mostly all Vietnam vets and all combat veterans.
I mean it was like looking in a mirror.
And I couldn't honestly tell you I probably would not be here
right now if I didn't get the help from the PTSD treatment.
I believe that PTSD treatment can work
after thirty, forty years.
I'm testimony.
Through church and family and the treatment,
I've got a better understanding
and can get ahold of my PTSD.
It's not an easy road.
I'm not cured, but I'm here today.