Today is PTSD Awareness Day. It has been a day set aside to raise public awareness of the traumatic effect of war on the human soul. It is estimated that every day, 18 vets will commit suicide since having returned from war. That’s the heart breaking reality that many of our men and women in uniform carry inside as they return from the front lines of war. They may have left the battlefront, but they’ve brought the war home within.

Since working with two courageous vets who shared their hearts and stories with us last year as we produced our HFML videos on PTSD, I personally have become much more aware of the unique wound of PTSD that 11 to 30 percent  of our military personnel have been inflicted with since the Vietnam War.

One man’s story recently caught my attention for two reasons. He’s a vet who struggles with PTSD and there’s a dog involved . . . a Golden Retriever to be exact.

He’s former Army Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan who was discharged from the military after being diagnosed with PTSD and a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) because of the visible and invisible wounds he suffered during two tours of duty in Iraq. In his New York Times best selling book, Until Tuesday–A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him,  Luis chronicles his struggle to get help, the courage that it took to admit that he needed help, and the unique help and healing that came from a big-hearted golden that has become his constant companion.

In an interview, Montalvan commented on the alarming suicide rate of vets, “If our country’s toughest people, our warriors, succumb to suicide at that degree of frequency, then that’s significant.” And he’s right.

To better understand the impact of PTSD on the soul of the warrior, watch our video discussion with two vets who have struggled with PTSD and who share insights about their healing journey after war.

Let’s remember to pray for all those who have and are still honorably serving and especially for the ones who are fighting the PTSD war they brought home with them.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

3 Responses to “PTSD Awareness Day”

1. Andrea L Struble says:

   June 27, 2011 at 7:30 pm

   I have PTSD. I also have a Golden Retriever named Gideon. He is my golden fleece. I also have a pit bull and a border collie. I grew up surrounded by horses at an equestrian center. I love animals. They always know how you feel and that don’t say stupid things like people. Ty you for your article. Our vets deserve the best on and off the battle field.
2. tom says:

   June 28, 2011 at 11:13 am

   I am very proud of this mans ability to find away to be recognized and respected for the trauma he has been through. I am also of the same issues as the captian, but I lost hope years ago in finding any type of comfort. I Love God, and even though I am not reaping any personal benefits, for having this issue also, I am very happy for men and women like this man that are benefitting.
3. Tim Jackson says:

   June 28, 2011 at 11:43 am

   Tom,
   I’m saddened to hear that you’ve lost hope in your battle with PTSD. Please don’t give up. There are some great resources out there to help vets. Check out Military Ministry’s resources at http://www.militaryministry.org/families/bthm-2/resources/ Help is available. Please find a group of other wounded warriors who are seeking God’s healing from the wounds of war. They can lend you some of their courage so that together you all come home. Also, check out all our video resources on the HFML.org website under PTSD at: http://www.helpformylife.org/PostTraumaticStressDisorder.aspx