(Excerpt from The Endless Journey Home by Specialist Joe Collins)
With proper counseling and medical treatment and support, it is possible to make a complete recovery from PTSD and function as a normal member of society again. Although when I say “complete recovery”, I don’t mean that PTSD will magically disappear from your life. I mean that you will have the symptoms under control.
PTSD is something you will live with for the rest of your life, but you can learn tools and coping mechanisms through treatment to assist you when you are triggered by something. Plus, overtime, you will begin to know your own limitations and how far you can push yourself before symptoms will begin to arise.
Knowing this information and working with your local VA (who will assign you a disability rating for financial compensation) can allow you to still live a fulfilling life without having to worry about the financial loss this disability has/can cause.
The main thing to remember in order to make a full recovery is to keep hope, faith and to NEVER give up no matter how much pain you might be in. Believe me, I have been there, but I held on at all costs and sooner or later, if you don’t find help, then help will find you.