I’m admittedly diving into an area of mental health that I know very little about, but I got a tiny taste of it this week.
I took our garbage out to the dumpster and came up to the wet spot you can see in my Focus Friday graphic. I slowed down and stepped cautiously into the water, and felt an instant surge of adrenaline. I took another step and I was through it, and I continued on to the dumpster.
I chuckled and shook my head, feeling silly for my reaction, but as I turned around and had to go through the water again, I realized that I had just experienced a very small episode of PTSD.
A few months ago, I had carried my garbage through that very same spot, but that day there was a thin layer of ice on top of the water. Before I knew what was happening, I was flat on my back and my head hit the cement with enough force to make me see stars. I was okay, but I cried because of the pain and the shock.
So this week I felt some fear as I took that step, even though I knew it was just water. The unreasonable fear I felt, the surge of adrenaline I felt as my body tried to prepare me for a fall which would never happen, and the shakiness I felt after I passed that spot were very real symptoms. I’m sure my symptoms will disappear after a few more times walking through the water without incident, but for many people it’s not that easy.
PTSD is a serious disorder, causing a multitude of distressing symptoms for the people who deal with it. I can only imagine the feelings and emotions experienced by someone who develops PTSD after being in combat, facing a traumatic situation, living with chronic pain, experiencing the sudden death of a loved one, or being in a car accident. Not everyone who faces those situations develops PTSD, but many people do.
If you or someone you love suffers from PTSD, I highly recommend an article I found (https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-PTSD.html ) that addresses the topic and offers some biblical counsel for those who have it.
Of course, as with any mental illness, we can’t make it go away with just a Bible verse and a prayer, but meditating on scripture and talking to God about it can be part of the recovery process.
My mini-PTSD episode will always remind me of the seriousness of this illness and how real those feelings are to the people experiencing it.
“…whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:33 ESV)
Have you ever experienced PTSD? How can focusing on God help you to move forward in faith as you recover from a traumatic experience?