Sherrie Lawson, 43, Denver. Washington Navy Yard, Sept. 16, 2013.

Sherrie Lawson was in a meeting with colleagues when she heard gunshots ring out. At first she assumed they were the sounds of dropped tables and chairs, but soon she realized there was a gunman in the building, and ran outdoors with her colleagues. She had just returned to work after a surgery, and as she scaled a brick wall, she remembers hoping her stitches would hold.

I just remember having nightmares every night after the shooting that were really really dark. I was constantly terrified, and constantly running in my sleep when I was sleeping. I was having a lot of problems sleeping. I was crying every day on my way to work. I would wake up in the morning and have this sense of dread over me. I had to get myself together enough to get the train and get the bus. I just remember wearing shades all the time because I would cry on the way to work on the train. It was pretty brutal.

At work, there was this sense of, were strong, were Navy, were fine, everyones good. I didnt feel like I could really not be OK or show that I was struggling. And then after the three-month mark, the new therapist that I was working with told me that she could no longer help me and that I should go see a psychiatrist. She thought that I was clinically depressed and may have PTSD. She wasnt a doctor so she couldnt diagnose me. She had consulted with the head of the practice, who recommended that I find a psychiatrist.

Even though I was experiencing all of that, it was hard for me to hear that.

At the time it made me feel like I was weak and that I hadnt been able to push forward or move through this. Here I was, a wreck, emotionally, still having nightmares, still anxious, still having panic attacks almost daily from seeing a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I couldnt go into a Starbucks. I couldnt eat Greek yogurt. But to actually hear somebody else tell me that I needed to see a doctor made me feel like I wasnt strong enough to be able to handle it on my own.

I did go see a psychiatrist and was officially diagnosed with PTSD, severe anxiety and major depressive disorder. That happened January 2014, just a few months after the shooting.

[After the shooting] I was going at least weekly to therapy, and at the time I was using my insurance. But by the time I was actually diagnosed with PTSD, I had maxed out my behavioral health benefits with my insurance company, so I was beginning to pay out of pocket. I just remember sessions were anywhere from $90 to $150 a pop. That was beginning to drain me.

I had a friend of mine who was an attorney who recommended I file a workers comp claim. They were like, Youre spending a lot of money on this, and its just in the beginning stages. This has the potential to be financially devastating for you. You did get hurt on the job. You have the right to file workers compensation.