This veteran’s PTSD recovery story is the most uplifting video we’ve seen all day

PTSD is the slow, silent killer crippling many of our returning veterans.

It is a serious public health challenge affecting 8 million people — 2.5 percent of the total population — every year, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Related: Every warrior should have access to this PTS healing experience

Individuals suffering from PTSD may lose their families, careers, or even commit suicide. These were the challenges JJ Selvig was facing as it crept into his life seven years into his service.

And the death of his friend put Selvig over the edge.

"An unauthorized absence and an other than honorable discharge, I went home," Selvig said in the video below. "I blamed the Marines, my family, myself, my destroyed relationships; then Sam committed suicide, and my narrative changed."

Building on his military service as a foundation, he deployed to Hurricane Sandy with Team Rubicon to honor his friend's death.

"The cuts and scrapes from broken wood and shingles covered me while uncovering me at the same time, a light began to flicker inside," he said.

With each Team Rubicon deployment, the feelings of sadness and anger faded as he as he became a leader again. He was creating positive change in people's lives, and it was helping him become a better person inside and out.

"I'm still human; I'm never going to not have rough edges," he said. "But Team Rubicon helped sand them down as much as possible."

Watch Selvig tell his uplifting story in this short three-minute video: