PTSD is often misunderstood because it does not look like a wound people can see. It is not a flaw in character or a lack of strength, it is the result of being pushed beyond normal human limits. Veterans adapted their minds to survive situations most people will never encounter. What kept them alive in war does not always turn off at home. Heightened awareness, guarded reactions, and restless sleep are not choices, they are learned responses. These patterns were shaped by necessity, not weaknes