As a result of the misunderstanding of PTSD, a little voice in my head told me it was time to share my story. It was frustrating to hear people say, “He should just get over it.” If only it were so easy.

For a while, I toyed with the idea of sharing my story, and over time, with the help of a creative writing class and the encouragement of my teacher, I decided to move forward.

This is a real-life story of witnessing the aftereffects of war. My husband returned from war as a spiritless person. He no longer smiled or found happiness in life. Despite all my efforts—even to the point of thinking I was the cause of his struggles—nothing changed. He would wake up at night, gripped by flashbacks, believing he was still in Vietnam. He no longer trusted anyone. He always had to sit with his back to the wall. He couldn’t show affection to our sons, fearing that if he got too attached to them, they would die, just as his friends did in Vietnam.

It is important that people gain a deeper understanding of trauma. I share my story with you so that you may better comprehend trauma and, in turn, show compassion.