There was a time, not that long ago, when Charlie Wilcox could not walk into a store alone. The effects of post-traumatic stress disorder were so severe that he simply could not be around large groups of people.

“It was pretty bad,” the retired U.S. Army Sgt. said. “Between my anxiety and my anger, I just couldn’t. I couldn’t have a conversation with anyone. I was so pissed off about everything. I can laugh now, but I’m thankful for all the help I got from everyone around me. My sister, my family, my father and friends said, ‘We love you, but you either figure this out or you end up dead.’”