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My mom told me, “Pack your stuff and you got to get out."

 

Learn more about PTSD from Marlene Diaz and other Veterans who’ve been there: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/AboutFace

Transcript

I was very angry and I was very bitter

and I just couldn't understand why.

Here I am coming back to
the arms of loving parents

and a loving family and
siblings that I adored.

But I think for me,
the most hurtful thing,

but I understand why my mother did it,

was my younger sister.

I was a role model for her.

I came home, my sister was
maybe about 10 or 12 years old,

and here I am, this

epic hot mess.

I was a disaster.

And here it is, this tender
young girl is looking up to me,

looking up to what I'm
doing, how I'm behaving,

and I understand why my mother said,

"Okay, no, I can't have this."

And for all intent of
purposes, my mom told me,

"Pack your stuff and you gotta get out

because if I'm gonna lose
you three sheets to the wind,

I can't lose her as well.

So to protect her, you gotta go."

And as hurtful as that was, I understood,

I understood once I started
my recovery, why she did that.

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