WATCH: War Vet Hikes to Heal With Help From His Cat and Dog

Stephen turned to running and hiking in Oregon's high mountains with his loving pets - a dog named Puppi and a cat named Burma. Adventure therapy revealed to him that beneath the depression, he really did care what happened to his life.
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This Chicken Soup For The Moment brings you a war vet and his hiking companions. They might not be who you think...

When Stephen Simmons came home from the Iraq War, he struggled to find his place in society. Fighting overseas had conditioned him to expect adrenaline-filled days, so returning to a quiet civilian life was a challenge. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) only compounded the struggle. Stephen turned to running and hiking in Oregon's high mountains with his loving pets - a dog named Puppi and a cat named Burma. Adventure therapy revealed to him that beneath the depression, he really did care what happened to his life. He says, "Adventure therapy has given me immense hope for the future, and a new-found determination to overcome my situation."

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