Soldiers back from combat get help dealing with stress disorder

Soldiers back from combat get help dealing with stress disorder

by SHELLY SLATER

WFAA
Posted on May 11, 2011 at 10:41 PM


DALLAS — When you see a piece of trash in the road, you probably don't think twice.

But for many service members returning from combat, that litter can look like an improvised explosive device — an IED.

It's a gut reaction, triggering memories that are often part of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

"I went from Iraq to Dallas," said Joseph Pedersen. And just like that, Joseph Pedersen's world changed.

It all happened more quickly than he was prepared for.

"You name it, it was different — how you ate; woke up; what you did in your free time; how you rested; who you associated with," he said.

Pedersen suffers from PTSD. Shortly after starting our interview, we chose to stop after he began having a hard time talking about it.

"When you come back, you deserve... you more than earned... to be taken care of," said Dr. John Hart at the Center for Brain Health. And it's with that passion that he approaches a cutting-edge magnet therapy for soldiers.

"Unfortunately, the cells in the brain are not working right," he explained.

The Department of Defense just granted $3 million for Dr. Hart to help soldiers like Pedersen, because with PTSD, there is damage to the brain.
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Soldiers back from combat get help dealing with stress disorder