Veterans Families & Friends & Mother Fighting Ptsd

RSUFFERING ALONE -- WHAT ORGANIZATION TO COMING TO THEIR AIDE YOUR 6 OCLOCK NEWS STARTS NOW. SUMMERVILLE SUPPORT GROUP TO VETERANS DEALING WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER -- ALSO KNOWN AS P-T-S-D. ABC NEWS 4'S AVA WILHITE TALKED WITH THE FOUNDING MEMBERS. The Obligation is an oath of sorts for members of Veterans Family and Friends Military PTSD support group. Sometimes people are scared of the VA and there is a stigma around PTSD and calling it a disorder. Frank Ruse a retired Navy veteran, is a founding member of the group, which aims to open the dialogue about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the veterans who cope with it, their loved ones, and the community. What makes the group important is not only does it help the veteran but it helps the family members and the friends of the veteran understand whats going on. Maria Boehler is a group member and a mother of a marine who returned from battle with PTSD. Boehler says when he returned communication between them stopped and she had no one to talk to about PTSD. It said Family and Friends. I thought at the time I'm a mother I have no where else to go. Boehler found her way to the meetings then learned how to communicate with her son by just listening. Something she says she wouldn't have learned without the support group. its the family unit that you are trying to heal it's not just the veteran. Ruse says the group meetings are free, open to everyone and have no religious affiliation. Ava Wilhite ABC News 4. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED -- THE GROUP MEETS MONDAY NIGHTS AT 7 -- AT THE FELLOWSHIP OF OAKBROOK CHURCH IN SUMMERVILLE. THE MEETINGS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. A MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD TODAY -- IN HONOR OF A TEENAGER VING WITH POST TRAUMATIC LISTRESS DISORDER, CAN NOW BE A PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS, THANKS TO ONE LOWCOUNTRY GROUP VETERANS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS MILITARY PTSD SUPPORT GROUP SAYS THEIR DOORS IN SUMMERVILLE ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE THAT KNOWS SOMEONE WITH PTSD. THE MEETINGS ARE FREE AND HAVE NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. WE SPOKE TO A NAVY VET COPING WITH PTSD. HE SAYS THE GROUP HAS HELPED HIM AND HIS WIFE UNDERSTAND HOW TO LIVE WITH PTSD. We don't like people to know that we are vulnerable and this is a vulnerable thing. We dont like telling people that is a hard thing to do. NIMMICH SAYS THE GROUP HAS HELPED HIM COMMUNICATE. THE GROUP MEETS MONDAY NIGHTS AT THE FELLOWSHIP OF OAKBROOK CHURCH IN SUMMERVILLE. AN INUURED LOWCOUNTRY FIREFI AS OFE THEM WITH CLEAR SIGNS OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE VETS WHO STRUGGLE--IT CAN BE HARD FOR FAMILIES AS WELL. ABC NEWS 4'S AVA WILHITE HAS THE STORY OF ONE MOTHER WHO FOUND A WAY TO GET HELP FOR HERSELF--SO SHE COULD HELP HER SON. THE PEOPLE IN THIS STORY USUALLY PREFER TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, BUT THEY'VE AGREED TO SHARE NAMES AND STORIES--TO HELP FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH PTSD. Jonathan was just always very social, so he loved being in front of a camera.. Sharon Brown often finds herself looking back at childhood photos of her youngest son, Jonathan who's now 24 years-old. We really thought this was going to be a career for him. In 2009 Sharon agreed to let her son leave his full academic scholarship here at the College of Charleston to enlist in the United States Army. Shortly after boot camp Jonathan was sent to Iraq for his first mission. Jonathan did a really good job of telling me things that he wanted as a mom, wanted me to hear. Things like oh no, I'm very safe here. I never go outside of the area, which later on I found was not exactly true. Sharon says when her son returned from Iraq there were subtle changes in his behavior. Things like, he seemed very anxious, which was not really his personality. If we'd go out to restaurant, he would have to be sitting facing forward he would not let anyone sit behind him. Kind of always vigilant looking around. Sharon also noticed her son begin to drink heavily and a once outgoing Jonathan was now withdrawn from family and friends. Instead of kinda being able to talk to anybody about it, I think um, it just welled up inside of him, so he had kind of an episode of feeling that, you know he was not happy being here. Three months after returning from his tour in Iraq Jonathan attempted suicide. Brown was notified by a late night phone call. That's a call no mother, well no one ever wants to get, but totally totally sidelined me. I did not expect that at all. Sharon says Jonathan was admitted and spent 30 days in a recovery unit where he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress disorder. But as a mom, Sharon was struggling too. it started affecting my physical health and that's when I realized you know, I need someone I could talk to about it. : It was through these doors that Sharon Brown started to navigate the murky waters of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The support group Veterans families and friends offered her the space to talk about the disorder she wanted to understand. HI GUyS We believe our injury is also an injury to ones spirit. We are not a therapy group, but we do have one purpose. Every Monday night, Frank leads the group at this summerville church, where they meet and talk openly about what it's like living with PTSD. The great thing about this group is that it's completely anonymous. Michelle Knight's partner is currently serving over seas but like Sharon Brown, she came to the meetings to learn what's going on inside the mind of her soldier. Just to hear both sides of the stories, because a lot of times spouses and partners and parents don't understand what that soldier has gone through ad on the flip side the soldier doesn't understand what the family has gone through. So it really does help to open the lines of communication for both sides. For Sharon the meetings are life changing for her family and her son approves of her attendance. Sharon: I think it gave me a much greater, not only sense of understanding but calm and reassurance as a mother that you know, this is normal, that this is the natural progression of working through this process of ptsd. Sharon says her son is in what's called a warrior transition unit, where he has decided to leave the life of military combat. Sharon says he's made it clear he never wants to go to war again. : He has a new zest for living, you know it was quite a deep depression, he's picking up things like fishing and golfing instead of sitting in his room you know kind of having flashbacks. Brown says she shared their journey, so other PTSD families will understand. Sharon: You don't have to suffer alone. THE GROUP VETERANS FAMILY AND FRIENDS MEETS EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AT 7 INSIDE FELLOWSHIP OF OAKBROOK CHURCH IN SUMMERVILLE. THE ADDRESS IS 1400 OLD TROLLEY ROAD. TO COME TO THE MEETINGS YOU DONT HAVE TO HAVE ANY TIES TO THE V-A, YOU CAN BE A FRIEND, SIGNIFIGANT OTHER, FAMILY MEMBER, ACTIVE DUTY OR RETIRED MILITARY WHO NEEDS TO TALK. THE GROUP HAS NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND YOU DONT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME. FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE..ABC NEWS 4 DOT COM. ONE VETERAN ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES BETWEEN 500 AND 800 THOUSAND VETERANS WILL BE HOMELESS SOMETIME THROUGH THE YEAR.. SO THE RED CARPET WAS ROLLED OUT TODAY FOR SOME LOWCOUNTRY VETS WHO ARE STRUGGLING -- THANKS TO THE V-A MEDICAL CENTER THE VETS WERE TREATED TO HAIRCUTS, FOOD AND EVEN GIVEN FREE SERVICES LIKE LEGAL COUNSELING AND HEALTH SCREENINGS. IT WAS ALL PART OF THE V-A'S ANNUAL STAND DOWN TO HOMELESSNESS. WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS STORY TONIGHT AT 7. STILL TO COME ON ABC NEWS 4 AT 6-- THEY LOOK CALM NOW..BUT GIVE IT A FEW SECONDS.. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO BROTHERS WIN A WII.. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THEIR REACTION.. VETERANS DEALING WITH PTSD NOW TO THAT GROUP MEANT TO HELP VETERANS DEALING WITH PTSD AND THEIR FAMILIES. ABC NEWS 4'S AVA WILHITE SPOKE WITH GROUP LEADERS AND ONE MOTHER WHO FOUND A WAY TO GET HELP FOR HERSELF--SO SHE COULD HELP HER SON. Jonathan was just always very social, so he loved being in front of a camera.. Sharon Brown often finds herself looking back at childhood photos of her youngest son, Jonathan who's now 24 years-old. We really thought this was going to be a career for him. In 2009 Sharon agreed to let her son leave his full academic scholarship here at the College of Charleston to enlist in the United States Army. Shortly after boot camp Jonathan was sent to Iraq for his first mission. Jonathan did a really good job of telling me things that he wanted as a mom, wanted me to hear. Things like oh no, I'm very safe here. I never go outside of the area, which later on I found was not exactly true. Sharon says when her son returned from Iraq there were subtle changes in his behavior. Things like, he seemed very anxious, which was not really his personality. If we'd go out to restaurant, he would have to be sitting facing forward he would not let anyone sit behind him. Kind of always vigilant looking around. Sharon also noticed her son begin to drink heavily and a once outgoing Jonathan was now withdrawn from family and friends. Instead of kinda being able to talk to anybody about it, I think um, it just welled up inside of him, so he had kind of an episode of feeling that, you know he was not happy being here. Three months after returning from his tour in Iraq Jonathan attempted suicide. Brown was notified by a late night phone call. That's a call no mother, well no one ever wants to get, but totally totally sidelined me. I did not expect that at all. Sharon says Jonathan was admitted and spent 30 days in a recovery unit where he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress disorder. But as a mom, Sharon was struggling too. it started affecting my physical health and that's when I realized you know, I need someone I could talk to about it. : It was through these doors that Sharon Brown started to navigate the murky waters of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The support group Veterans families and friends offered her the space to talk about the disorder she wanted to understand. HI GUyS We believe our injury is also an injury to ones spirit. We are not a therapy group, but we do have one purpose. Every Monday night, Frank leads the group at this summerville church, where they meet and talk openly about what it's like living with PTSD. The great thing about this group is that it's completely anonymous. Michelle Knight's partner is currently serving over seas but like Sharon Brown, she came to the meetings to learn what's going on inside the mind of her soldier. Just to hear both sides of the stories, because a lot of times spouses and partners and parents don't understand what that soldier has gone through ad on the flip side the soldier doesn't understand what the family has gone through. So it really does help to open the lines of communication for both sides. For Sharon the meetings are life changing for her family and her son approves of her attendance. Sharon: I think it gave me a much greater, not only sense of understanding but calm and reassurance as a mother that you know, this is normal, that this is the natural progression of working through this process of ptsd. Sharon says her son is in what's called a warrior transition unit, where he has decided to leave the life of military combat. Sharon says he's made it clear he never wants to go to war again. : He has a new zest for living, you know it was quite a deep depression, he's : He has a new zest for living, you know it was quite a deep depression, he's picking up things like fishing and golfing instead of sitting in his room you know kind of having flashbacks. having flashbacks. Brown says she shared their journey, so other PTSD families will understand. Sharon: You don't have to suffer alone. THE GROUP VETERANS FAMILY AND FRIENDS MEETS EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AT 7 INSIDE FELLOWSHIP OF OAKBROOK CHURCH IN SUMMERVILLE. THE ADDRESS IS 1400 OLD TROLLEY ROAD. TO COME TO THE MEETINGS YOU DONT HAVE TO HAVE ANY TIES TO THE V-A, YOU CAN BE A FRIEND, SIGNIFIGANT OTHER, FAMILY MEMBER, ACTIVE DUTY OR RETIRED MILITARY WHO NEEDS TO TALK. THE GROUP HAS NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND YOU DONT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME.