Loving the Broken: Three Women Coping with Marriage to a Military Man with PTSD - Click here to read this amazing and poignant article by Tucker Cummings!
Many of us have been touched by war in some way; whether it's because we've enlisted ourselves or know someone who has enlisted, the coping mechanisms can sometimes take years to master after seeing the effects of war. Not only on the towns and citizens of the affected areas, but it can be seen in the faces of the men and women who have defended their honor.
Currently, the United States has shown minimal efforts at protecting these men and women. The women in Tucker's article - Elizabeth, Lana and Ashley detail firsthand accounts of the damage done to the minds and hearts of those on the front lines during times of war. While they have chosen this duty as their burden, no one can be completely prepared to see the horrific scenes.
Ashley, fed up with the military's disinterest in helping her husband, posted a picture on her Facebook with a poem inked across her back:
"Broken by battle,
Wounded by war,
I love you forever,
To you this I swore:
I will quiet your silent screams,
Help heal your shattered soul
Until once again, my love, you are whole."
Ashley encouraged posts from other wives who had been affected by war, and whose husbands were struggling; all of this inspired the creation of an organization called Battling Bare. Battling Bare is currently seeking non-profit status and hopes to raise awareness and remove the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Do you know of any efforts in your area like this? I personally know of a few efforts that provide separate housing for inmates who are veterans and suffering from PTSD; here they provide counseling and a quiet environment without a lot of stimuli from unexpected sources. There are also a couple of support groups here for wives and family members of the deployed.
Would you be interested in participating in a fundraiser for Battling Bare?
