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Articles ...Escaping the Prison of PTSD It was in 1980 that the American Psychiatric Association added a clinical diagnosis for PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to its classification system in the DSM-III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It's not that people didn't experience PTSD prior to 1980, but it was then that a label was finally given to a set of symptoms experienced by persons who had endured significant forms of trauma in their lives, such as combat, torture, severe abuse, accidents, natural disasters, and the like. Sometimes the onset of these types of symptoms can be delayed months and even years after an event. If these kinds of symptoms persist for more than four weeks, cause you significant distress, and interfere with your work or home life, then you may have PTSD and would do well to seek professional help. It is not uncommon for those who have suffered severe trauma to attempt to alleviate the pain in self-destructive and counterproductive ways, such as abusing alcohol, taking drugs, gambling, risky sexual behavior, avoidance of responsibility, severing relationships, among others. While unhealthy ways of coping with extreme levels of stress and anxiety are common, a person can make choices for themselves that can keep them on higher ground. Positive coping choices include things like talking with a counselor or your pastor, seeing your doctor, taking prescribed medicine, staying connected with family and friends, learning all you can about PTSD, connecting with other survivors for support, practicing relaxation techniques, seeking positive and productive activities, hobbies and involvements, helping others who have experienced similar trauma, committing yourself to an exercise routine. Traumatic experiences in life can shake your faith in God. "If God is there and cares about me, why didn't he keep this from happening?" "If God loves me, why doesn't he take this pain away?" "Why is God punishing me in this way?" These and many other questions are common responses to catastrophic life events. Have you read the Psalms lately? People have always had questions about God and where God is in the face of human suffering. Here's what I know. God is not a disinterested bystander when it comes to your pain and mine. He is familiar with grief, tragedy, pain, suffering, and man's worst inhumanity to man. Do you remember the baby in the manger? The baby Jesus grew up only to face severe trauma. The Bible says that Jesus is God in the flesh who came from heaven to earth to rescue us from our greatest catastrophe, sin and its potential eternal consequences-separation from God and His love forever. The God-man Jesus suffered the worst trauma the human body and soul can be put through. He endured torture at the hands of evil men, so that you and I could have hope in our times of trouble. He died to pay for our sins. He rose from the dead and says we too will rise as we trust Him. He wants to take your pain and replace it with comfort and peace. You are not alone in your suffering. You have One who understands and cares. Call out to Him. He will answer.
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