"What's wrong with me? Got PTSD. These pills ain't working, man, I still can't think."
Those are the words of Iraq War veteran Leo Dunson, a former Sergeant in the United States Army, who has found rapping about his inner war wounds helps him heal.
According to the Associated Press, Dunson was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when he was discharged from the Army in 2008. After leaving the military, Dunson returned to Alaska to be with his wife and child, but his symptoms put stress on the relationship, and the couple divorced. Dunson now lives in Las Vegas, attending college.
Dunson says doesn't want to use traditional methods like counseling to help treat his PTSD, instead depending on his music. He has recorded five albums in four years. He tells the AP:
"Music has always been my therapy."
Dunson has been writing poetry since he was twelve-years-old, according to his website. But with rap, Dunson is hoping to heal not only himself, but other vets hurting, too.
Here's the video for one of Dunson's songs, called "PTSD." A warning - the video has some violent images, and the song itself has several expletives:
