Mother of Fallen Soldier Speaks Out About PTSD

Mother of Fallen Soldier Speaks Out About PTSD
WSILTV.com
By Hilary LeHew
Story Created: Jun 22, 2013

WSIL TV -- A Sesser mom speaks out about post-traumatic stress disorder after suffering through the death of her son.

In honor of National PTSD Awareness Day, many are hoping to teach others how to visibly recognize the invisible wounds.

There's a street sign along Route 148 that bears the name of a soldier who died as a result of PTSD, but there are other signs of the disorder that local professionals are hoping others will learn to see.

"They were going to re-deploy him in January," says Tammie Severs about her son. "He was ready to go. He wanted to finish his job."

Severs became the mother of a fallen soldier the day before Veterans Day in 2009.

"He died on about 12 medications in less than 72 hours," she says.

Her son, Travis Picantine, died at 23 of an acute intoxication of prescription medications while seeking rehab for PTSD.

"Travis trained for two years to be frontline on infantry," Severs explains. "You go, you do your job, then you come home to a small town like this and there's nothing here for you."
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