On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cease of combat, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the World War I. Beginning the following year, November 11 became a legal federal holiday, Armistice Day, in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Why do we celebrate Veteran’s Day? We celebrate to show our gratitude to the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything to make this world a safer place for the rest of us. They have risked their lives in order to serve our country and protect our freedoms.

A sad truth that comes along with Veteran’s Day is recognizing a problem that so many veterans have to live with on a daily basis. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is the result of experiencing traumatic events. For veterans this can include, but is not limited to, being in life-threatening situations, watching a friend get shot or die, or having to kill someone else.

Those suffering from PTSD often find it difficult to talk about their war experiences. Just the thought of what happened to them can bring tears to their eyes, or even cause a meltdown. Many veterans experience night terrors and will attack someone that touches them in their sleep. Some cases are so severe that veterans believe the only way out is suicide.