Dr. Galen M. Grant is a retired Army psychologist who has worked with many servicemembers and veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal behavior. His poem below comes from the Defense Centers of Excellence blog.
You come to me from war.
Some of you are scared. Some of you are angry. Some of you are intensely sad. Some of you are numb.
Some of you can't sleep. Some of you don't want to sleep. Some of you have bad dreams. Some of you drink too much hoping they'll go away.
Some of you want to be with your family. Some of you can't get close enough. Some of you run from intimacy. Some of you want to be left alone.
Some of you can't concentrate. Some of you can't remember. Some of you remember too much. Some of you don't want to remember.
Some of you have brains that have been shattered by concussions. Some of you have limbs shattered by weapons. Some of you have none. Some of you have spirits shattered by war.
Some of you want to live. Some of you do not. Some of you have hearts that are dying. Some of you have souls that have already died.
You come to me from war. I will do my very best to help you live.
