According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, posttraumatic stress disorder can happen to anyone. Their statistics show about seven or eight out of 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Men and women will experience at least one trauma in their lives. Leah Courtney expressed how she used to deal with trauma constantly when she was an emergency medical technician.
"Dealing with PTSD is not easy, it's not a easy thing at all," Courtney said. "No one understood what I was going through."
For a moment, Courtney couldn't stand the sound of sirens, thinking it meant she was getting 'called in' for an emergency. She expressed how looked for help and she came across the Warrior Peer Group in at the Lone Star Church. For one hour each week, many veterans and first responders meet and create a safe space for themselves. Some attending, clutch on to items that make them feel comfortable: play dough and stress balls. Counselors say it helps keep them calm. The peer group has been around in Tyler for nearly two years and Brenda McBride counsels them. She described the meetings as "911 for the 911".
"They're used to giving the aid, they're used to giving the care." McBride said.
The small group of people have something in common for that one hour. They have a desire to win the battle with PTSD. Marvin Hollingsworth, an Army veteran, told CBS 19 he knew people who felt guilty for being alive after serving. Something he is working on himself too.
"PTSD is not just one thing," Hollingsworth said. "It's a whole bunch of other things piled up together."
Despite what they face, dealing with the trauma is challenge, but they're not alone. To Leah Courtney, they're taking back their lives.
"There's other people like me and to know what I'm going through its wonderful," she said.
Warrior Peer Groups meet every Thursday from 11 to Noon.
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