Trauma is a powerful force on the human mind, whether it is a vehicle accident, discovering an unfaithful spouse, a terrible fire, a shooting or events experienced in a combat zone. By the time a traumatic experience occurs, a person is often changed forever. Dan is a person who has been dramatically affected by trauma. He is an Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq. During his second tour in Iraq, Dan and his comrades were traveling in a Humvee when it set off a roadside bomb. Several of Dan's friends were killed or seriously injured. Dan finished his final tour and returned home near Fort Hood, Texas, where he felt constantly nervous. He felt distant and detached from his wife, Heather. He was relieved to be home but had difficulty relating to the daily activities of those around him. Dan found himself lacking the sense of belonging and purpose he felt while on tour. He often saw his deceased friend's face when he closed his eyes and felt guilty for surviving his rounds. He never let his guard down and felt anxious around groups of people. He began self-medicating with marijuana and alcohol. Fights with his wife became more and more frequent (Beckner 16). Dan and thousands like him suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, a term used to summarize all of Dan's struggles. Over the past ten years, Dan and more than 200,000 other soldiers and Marines have been afflicted with this devastating disorder (Aikins par. 6). This is why the United States government must do more about the epidemic of post-traumatic stress disorder in the military, because it has negative military effects, negative social effects, and negative health... . middle of paper...... Rainy dogs help them cope with war » Cape Cod Times. October 5, 2013, p. 1. October 5, 2013.Web,2013.Klien, Joe. “Can service save us? " Time. July 1, 2013. Global Issues in Context. Internet. October 15, 2013.Maguire,Siobhan. “How to map the brain to reduce stress.” » Sunday Times, London, England, October 13, 2013: 6. Global issues in context. Web. October 15, 2013. Silver, Diane. “Many veterans struggle to heal from moral wounds. "Are Veterans Getting Adequate Health Care? Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Spiegel, David. "Suffering Differently. " The New York Times Magazine August 26, 2007: 10 (L). Global Issues in Context. Web, October 15, 2013. Tanielian, Terri. The Invisible Wounds of War Santa Monica, California: Rand Corperation, October 23, 2013. Zoroya, Gregg and Meghan Hoyer September 26, 2013: 01A... 2013.