To Those Suffering in Silence:
You know who you are, but many may not realize why you’re no longer out and about like you used to be; why you keep coming up with excuses to remain alone in a solidarity you’ve come to trust instead; and why, truth be told, you no longer like people.
Far too often, you’re too quiet to raise awareness about what ails you. Instead, you sit silent in a Hell that leads to the worst possible outcomes, and that’s a primary reason why, on average, about 18 American veterans die by suicide each day in the United States.
Most often, “Military grade” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a result of a soldier’s extreme experiences at war, and those scars leave the triggers that make common life nearly impossible. The same is true for those in law enforcement, and for those who have endured any brand of terrifying trauma that changed you and has made you retreat from what was once considered your normal.
You avoid the pain, but for far too many, it chases, it corners, and it captures your existence without sirens or any other signs of seizure.
It’s likely most don’t know June is PTSD Awareness Month, and that’s because there’s still a stigma attached to the pain that imprisons those who are suffering. Too often, you are considered broken and unfixable, but that’s far from true. There is help, and we, as a society, must improve at spreading awareness instead of ignoring the real realities of life.
Sincerely,
Your Family & Friends
