How have you managed your PTSD? Do you employ specific strategies? If so, what strategy?

What helps me are playing video games, listen music, and staying by myself. crazy as it is that works for me. But my number one thing is to call my battles that deployed with me and talk about those days like it was yesteday.

I don't have as bad of a case, and most of mine is the nightmares. I find that having a "point of reference" in those instances helps. When I have one of those nightmares, as I wake up, I look for two things, my dog (since he is always around), and then my wife (she works off shifts, so she isn't always). Once I see either of those, I know I am safe at home, and can calm down.

Breathing exercises can help a lot too. It takes the focus off of the situation at hand and forces you to focus on breathing.

Ernest Hemingway said if you are broken, you need to see the light.