July Spotlight: Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act - July 26, 2024

Hello, my name is Scott Davidson. I am currently a Program Manager working in Jefferson County, Alabama. I also consider myself a family man with a little girl that is two years old that means the world to me. I am a disabled combat veteran that currently serves with the Mississippi National Guard in a part-time capacity. I enlisted in 2014 when I was 18 years old as an airborne infantryman. I was assigned to Apache Co.  2-501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st brigade, 82nd airborne Division. Following my combat deployment in Afghanistan from 2017-2018 I was honorably discharged from the active-duty military and soon after was diagnosed with PTSD.

My father and his father were in the military. I have had some experience with PTSD as my grandfather had struggled with this disorder his entire life after his tours in Vietnam. At first, I didn’t realize that I had PTSD due to the many ways it can manifest.

PTSD has affected me in ways that cause me to be anti-social, forgetful, anxious, and highly responsive to certain situations. After a few years learning how to handle PTSD, I’ve found things such as daily routines, checklists, family activities, and having a strong support system helps me minimize symptoms.

 A big component of PTSD is feeling like you are alone and/or lost. Something I’ve learned since leaving the active-duty military is that I am not alone, and there are many other people that also struggle with this disorder from all walks of life, military and civilian. The best thing I’ve done for myself was to open up to others and be kind to everyone, as we all have battles that we don’t speak of. Many people reading this, including maybe you, may or do struggle with this disorder or know someone who does. The most important thing we can do is to treat others how we would want to be treated.

Something I want everyone to know is that no matter what you are going through you are not alone. Find a good co-worker, friend, or family member you can talk to and if you feel like you do not have one, take a chance and you will be surprised who might listen. We are all trying to navigate life from different start points, and the most important thing we can do is be there for one another.

These days I consider myself a very happy man with a great family and a great career. I still have my struggles, but I get better with dealing with them one day at a time.