Combat PTSD: That Which I Love Destroys Me

Return the Service

That Which I Love Destroys Me is a unique and powerful film by director Ric Roman Waugh.

TWILDM is an uncensored look at the current epidemic of PTSD and severe mental trauma that create tremendous challenges for returning service members. A five-year labor of love, TWILDM followed two Special Operations Soldiers as they returned home after fighting in the longest combat campaign in American history only to face a new battle; the effects and stigma of PTSD and reintegration as a whole. But more importantly, the documentary addresses how they're overcoming these issues.

That Which I Love Destroys Me premieres Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7e/4p, only on Pivot TV.

Pivot to Premiere
'That Which I Love Destroys Me' on Veteran's Day
Written By Amanda Kondolojy
November 7th, 2014

PIVOT TO PREMIERE ‘THAT WHICH I LOVE DESTROYS ME’

ON VETERANS DAY

Director Ric Roman Waugh Spotlights Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Through the Eyes of Two Returning Veterans

Los Angeles, CA – November 7, 2014– Participant Media’s television network Pivot will premiere Ric Roman Waugh’s moving documentary, That Which I Love Destroys Me on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The film offers an uncensored look at the current epidemic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the eyes of two returning veterans –Tyler Grey (Delta Force) and Jayson Floyd (Army Ranger) – and investigates the disorders effects on Grey and Floyd’s daily lives, the impact on their family and friends, and shows how Grey and Floyd face and overcome the unseen scars of war.

“You take enough things to happen to a person, enough negative things…anyone, and everyone, can be broken.” – Tyler Grey (That Which I Love Destroys Me)

When Grey returned home after nearly losing his arm in an explosion in Baghdad, he started a personal video diary to privately document his surgeries and recovery. Filled with traumatic memories and unable to mentally disconnect himself from the war mindset, Grey used his camera as an outlet to share his most personal thoughts which are now included in the film.

“I saw what war was. It wasn’t what you see in books or the Hollywood stories. It was just this guy just trying to stay alive.” – Jayson Floyd (That Which I Love Destroys Me)

Grey and Floyd met during a mission in Afghanistan and have been best friends since, sharing a common bond. Their journey back to civilian life, as reflected in the film, was shot over a period of three years and includes interviews with Grey and Floyd and their family members, Patricia Driscoll, president of the Armed Forces Foundation, and other veterans. This heartbreaking documentary shows the effects of PTSD through a previously untold first-person narrative.

“When I started the documentary, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of the challenges post 9/11 veterans face every day trying to go back to a ‘normal’ life, especially after fighting in the longest combat campaign in American history.” said Ric Roman Waugh, director. “I’m honored that Tyler and Jayson let me share their personal stories.”

The documentary is a part of Pivot’s year-long, multiplatform initiative Return the Service, that celebrates the bravery, resilience and contributions of our service men and women, while taking an in-depth look at the challenges they face upon returning home. The initiative also offers viewers avenues to take action to address important issues facing veterans.

“With millions of young veterans facing serious health issues following their return from war, this is an important story to share with our audience,” said Kent Rees, general manager, Pivot. “Through Jayson and Tyler’s personal stories we hope to shed light on PTSD and help remove the stigma so that other veterans, and their families and friends will seek the help and support they deserve.”

“When you consider that on average, a veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes, the cost of war to our service men and women is staggering,” said Chad Boettcher, EVP, Social Action for Participant Media. “We’re proud to support Ric, Tyler and Jayson and hope that by sharing their personal stories, improving access to health care for veterans becomes an urgent priority.”

Following the premiere of the film on Pivot, Waugh, Grey, and Floyd – with support from the Armed Forces Foundation and Participant Media – will embark on a nationwide 10-city tour to screen the film for service men and women and state representatives. The goal of the tour is to encourage veterans to share their stories and to educate others on how to cope with PTSD.

That Which I Love Destroys Me is directed by Ric Roman Waugh, produced by Waugh, Patricia Driscoll, Jonathan Chibnall and Dana Gonzales and funded by the Armed Forces Foundation.

For more information on That Which I Love Destroys Me and Pivot’s Return the Service campaign please visit: www.takepart.com/vets