Years after returning from Vietnam, David had nightmares and would startle and enter a defensive mode when woken up. Listening to other Veterans with the same challenges helped David realize he was not alone.
View Video TranscriptDavid:
I had a lot of nightmares in the beginning, the first 20 years. It's a little bit better now, but I cannot be woken up. I jump out of a dead sleep in a defensive mode immediately, regardless of whether I'm in a chair or a bed or anything, on the floor. If someone touches me when I'm asleep, I would jump up and be in attack mode.
When you have a problem, when you have a thought, why do you have it? What, what’s going on? How real is it and should you be outraged by this or should you just let it go by? Just listening to other guys with the same problems, with the same thoughts, with the same issues that we’re dealing with, with their personal lives, with their relationships, with their kids, with their jobs, I’m saying, “Well, I’m not alone. There are other people that are thinking these same thoughts and have these same nightmares and night sweats,” and it’s an illness and it can be cured.
No matter what you may be experiencing, there is support for getting your life on a better track. Many, many Veterans have found the strength to reach out and make the connection.
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