 I sighed with relief on Monday morning as I watched my book go live on Amazon.
From the time Patrick reached out to me, until the time Wars End With Me went live on Monday, it's been four long years. With the help - and patience - of a lot of people, we've finally brought Patrick's dream to tell his story to fruition. When we started this book nearly four years ago, we had no idea where the journey would lead us – or that it would take so long to get there. But, like the daily battle our veterans and active military personnel who have been diagnosed with PTSD face, we made the commitment to continue on until every word we wanted to share was included somewhere in the pages of this book. First and foremost, we would like to thank our families. Our mothers, fathers, siblings, children and spouses have been our biggest cheerleaders throughout this entire process. You have been there for us, encouraging us when we felt like quitting, and supporting our efforts to bring hope to other veterans struggling with PTSD. We love and appreciate each and every one of you. This book also would not be possible without the assistance and participation of the veterans and medical professionals who agreed to share their stories and their advice to others struggling with PTSD in the pages of this book. Thank you for your bravery and for your honesty in chronicling your ongoing battle with PTSD. To Dr. Sudip Bose, a heartfelt thank you for not only sharing your efforts to bring awareness to PTSD and abolish the stigma surrounding it, but for continuing to fight for the health and well-being of our veterans. Our readers will want to check out The Battle Continues, Dr. Bose’s nonprofit organization that is dedicated to raising awareness and providing assistance to veterans who have returned from war. Information about the organization can be found in the Resources section of this book. To Kate Dahlstedt, co-founder of Soldier’s Heart clinical psychologist, your candidness about women veterans and PTSD is greatly appreciated. Oftentimes, women veterans struggling with PTSD can be overlooked. But the trauma is just as real and devastating for them as it is for their male counterparts. Additionally, your sharing of the Soldier’s Heart program protocol for the book is something we especially appreciate, as we feel it is something that truly can make a difference in the lives of those who have picked up this book in their quest to be understood and helped. Information about Soldier’s Heart can be found in the Resources section of this book. To Dr. Roger Brooke, a licensed psychologist and Director of the Military Psychological Services at the Duquesne University Psychology Clinic, thank you for sharing your perspective on how PTSD not only affects the mind, but also the soul. Your words, combined with those of Kate Dahlstedt, provide powerful credence to the belief that PTSD trauma resides not in the mind, but in the soul. It is our hope that your words encourage veterans to consider tackling their PTSD in a way that they may not have previously considered. To Samantha Supernaw, a licensed therapist who shared her successes with a specific form of counseling protocol for individuals with PTSD, thank you for taking the time to share this groundbreaking therapy method with our readers, and for your willingness to continue to hone your skills and expertise so that you may be a resource for our veterans. To our editor, Peter Bosak, who helped us to bring this manuscript to life in a readable format, thank you for being a part of this journey. Your wordsmithing abilities have been truly appreciated. And lastly, to the veterans and their families who have dedicated their lives in service to this country, we appreciate you the most. We hope those of you who are struggling with PTSD – whether you are an active military member, a veteran or a loved one – find the contents of this book to be helpful to you, providing a sense of peace in knowing that others share in your journey, and the encouragement to continue the battle. Find our book here on Amazon.
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