Ptsd Reflection

We all are aware of the term PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder but have you ever witnessed it? PTSD is a mental disorder that occurs when a person goes through a traumatic event or events like war. For me the answer to that question was no until two years ago. Being an air force kid I knew what it was but never really understood. When I moved to joint base McGuire Dix Lakehurst I met an army family. Their father was infantry in the army and had been in for almost 20 years. When I First met him he was a talkative funny and interesting guy. He once told me a story from when he was deployed and it shocked me. The thought of knowing a guy one day and, then waking up the next with him dying in your arms. The story he told me was about the death …show more content…
It scares me because, if someone that strong can change into someone full of fear. It could happen to anyone and change anyone. So what it taught me was to always be the best person you can be. It changed my view on the army and the men and women that protect this country. Also the way I viewed the children of those men and women. It made me appreciate how my father has been in the air force for almost 20 years and, how he has only grown from it into a great father and husband. The Thought of my father changing into the quiet kid scares me, but It also makes me cherish the time I’ve know him and the memories. But I also feel bad for my best friend whose dad has changed in so many ways. I could only imagine how it’s affected him through the years. The constant fear he had when his dad was gone. How every time his dad came how he might be a little different this time. To witness the pain that his dad goes through every day. All of this would kill me as a son. This man I always look up to just to see him fall and shatter on the ground then fight to pick up the pieces. Just To witness this the down fall of a man’s life it adds a lot to your life. It’s like witnessing the down fall of the Roman Empire in a first person view. You really have to gain compassion for the families that this affects. Personally through this it allowed me to gain an understanding that no book could ever teach. Most importantly this experience was a spark of inspiration for me. This keep a fire burring inside me to write this paper and express how extreme this really is. It’s a pain worse than a 3rd degree burn covering your body eating you alive. All I hope is that through reading this you have gained some what of what I