A story of validation from Jennifer Staten

First, I want to thank Jennifer for sharing her story with me.  She asked that I make a response to her comments in my blog.  Jennifer went through some rough times before she was diagnosed.  She got out of the military and ended up having to deliver a baby alone because her husband was overseas.  She was having a lot of issues coping and the VA kept on telling her that her issues were not service-connected.  She knew that this wasn't the right diagnosis and kept on searching until she found a private doctor who diagnosed her with PTSD and taught her how to keep the PTSD from controlling her life.  She searched for validation - that she wasn't crazy and that something was actually wrong and she found it.  She was not able to start healing until she got this validation.  So my message to all family members out there - do your loved ones with PTSD a favor and validate what they are feeling and suffering through.  Let them know that you may not understand what they are going through, but you recognize that it is real and will work with them to get them through it.