Air Force veteran’s PTSD triggered by familiar office ringtone
DAYTON, Ohio — Air Force veteran Blake Miller is reported to be in "stable condition" after his PTSD was triggered by a ringtone that reminded him of his active duty days.
"It happened so suddenly, like flipping a switch," says Yara Parsons, who works in the cubicle next to Miller's at his civilian job. "One moment, Blake and I were chatting right after clocking in, then next thing I knew he was having a meltdown."
Sources indicate that medically retired Senior Airman Miller, a former Health Services Management Specialist out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, was behaving as he would any other morning during the business week — drinking coffee, BSing with his coworkers while ignoring social distancing, and being in a generally cheerful mood. That all changed when one of the newly-installed VOIP phones rang loudly within his earshot. He reportedly became detached from his environment and quickly panicked as he was overwhelmed by what he described as "memories of the 88th Medical Group."
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