Tennessee Helping Hearts host a PTSD clinic

Tenn.'s Helping Hearts host a PTSD clinic
Behind closed doors, the unshown side of war is out in the open.
Posted: 6:21 PM Jul 22, 2010
Reporter: Sara Shookman

SEVIER CO., Tenn. (WVLT) -- As East Tennessee expects more of our friends and neighbors' return Friday, a Sevier County group is trying to help those already back deal cope with Post Traumatic Stress. They're inviting anyone who serves in the military to come by.

Behind closed doors, the unshown side of war is out in the open.

"I've done two tours in Afghanistan. Two tours in Iraq," said Spc. Darrell Pearson. "I didn't know anything was wrong with me for a while. I didn't know I had PTSD...I was having problems with anger, solitude, depression and everything else."

Pearson was injured in Iraq in 2004. Six years later, he's dealing with the mental aftermath, and trying to help other veterans with PTSD do the same.

"We're always taught to man up, internalize it, and do your job, you are a solider. Don't show weakness," he said. "It takes more of a man, or more of a solider, to admit that he has a problem, and desires help than to does to deny you have a problem."

Tennessee's Helping Hearts is taking over American Legion Post 104 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, encouraging veterans to just talk or even just listen.
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Helping Hearts host a PTSD clinic