During our Warriors For Life session last Saturday evening with COL Mikel J. Burroughs, SSG Derrick Iozzio mentioned this story about a Brother battling PTSD. If you aren't familiar with Warriors For Life, our mission is to come alongside our Brothers and Sisters and help them in any way we can.

A PTSD Story
A Soldier with PTSD fell in a HOLE and couldn't get out. A Senior NCO went by and the Soldier with PTSD called out for help. The Senior NCO yelled at him and told him to suck it, dig deep and drive on, then threw him a shovel. But the Soldier with PTSD could not suck it up and drive on, so he dug the hole deeper.

A Senior Officer went by and the Soldier with PTSD called out for help. The Senior Officer told him to use the tools his Senior NCO had given him, then threw him a bucket. But, the Soldier with PTSD WAS using the tools his Senior NCO gave him, so he dug the hole deeper and filled the bucket.

A psychiatrist walked by. The Soldier with PTSD said, "Help! I can't get out!" The Psychiatrist gave him some drugs and said, "Take this. It will relieve the pain." The Soldier with PTSD said "Thanks", but when the pills ran out, he was still in the hole.

A well-known psychologist rode by and heard the Soldier with PTSD's cries for help. He stopped and asked, "How did you get there? Were you born there? Did your parents put you there? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness." So, the Soldier with PTSD talked with him for an hour, then the psychologist had to leave, but he said that he'd be back next week. The Soldier with PTSD thanked him, but he was still in the hole.

A Padre came by. The Soldier with PTSD called for help. The Padre gave him a Bible and said, "I'll say a prayer for you. He got down on his knees and prayed for the Soldier with PTSD, then he left. The Soldier with PTSD was very grateful, he read the Bible, but he was still stuck in the hole.

A recovering Soldier with PTSD happened to be passing by. The Soldier with PTSD cried out, "Hey, help me. I'm stuck in this hole!" Right away the recovering Soldier with PTSD jumped down in the hole with him. The Soldier with PTSD said, "What are you doing? Now we are both stuck here!" But the recovering Soldier with PTSD said, "Calm down. It's okay. I've been here before, and I know how to get out."