How To Survive: Life With PTSD

Imagine driving down the road talking and hanging with friends. Suddenly glass is smashing, bones are breaking, and in the distance people are screaming. This is what the feeling is like to survive a disaster and then the realization of being a survivor sinks in. Guilt starts to form and episodes occur. This is just some of the signs of PTSD, a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event. In the world today there are many people who suffer from this horrifying disorder. The road to recovery is long and ferine. The question is “ How does one survive life with PTSD?”

One way to deal with PTSD is to talk about the experience. Joseph (no last name given) talks in the article “ A PTSD Survivors Story: A Soldier's Account” about what he went through on the day of March. In his rencount he tells about how the day went from bad to worse. He and his partners had become part of an attack in the Iraqi streets with only two to three round left for their weaponry. After the experience he had to stay in the area where the attack had happened. When reliving the experience in his dreams, he decided he needed help by becoming part of a group that tells about their stories to the world and gain help along the way. Another patient of PTSD is Mrs. P.K. Philips, according to a website “ My Story of Survival: Battling PTSD”. She was attacked at knifepoint. This caused a trigger that whenever she even closed her eyes she would see the face of her attacker. After years of refusing treatment and another trigger she decided to talk. Being diagnosed with PTSD was a peremptorily relief because she felt she had discovered her condition “was real and treatable.” Undergoing behavioral therapy made a point in her regaining control to her life. With talking to somebody both of these people and many others were able to be part of a semi-normal life again.

Another way to deal is by living with reliable support. Derek (no last name) comments in “For Soldiers with PTSD: A Profound Daily Struggle” about how life was after his accident. He had many sign that indicated that he had PTSD. For example, some of the signs hurt his family and friend time because “ his fear of crowds was so bad that he could not go to the grocery store, to the mall, to Six Flags with their kids.” He had his wife’s help in everything. When Derek talks he says “ She busted me a lot.” Laticia, his wife, continues with what Derek says by adding that she was sad that she could not understand his reasoning. In the novel Call of the Wild the main character, a dog by the name of Buck, gets the support of a human called John Thornton when he could have stood by and been apathetically. Instead he takes Buck and slowly helps him recover. Like John Thornton, supporting a person with PTSD can help the road to recovery.

To add, realizing that someone with PTSD that what they went through is serious to them. According to an article in the Batesville Daily Guard there are many people around here that are not happy with the way things that happen. They say that days like Veterans Day are not that important. They make the workers that are veterans work. "they are unable to leave their job to attend a wreath ceremony to post does every year." I say that not only should veteran's be allowed to leave on this day but that they should be thanked more often. Actions as simple as these can be very important. This shows that we are appreciative of what they have done for us.

Ten to eighteen percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have PTSD. These are people that we see everyday. All that they ask for respect that is rarely given. We do not see what they have gone through and do not know how to deal with such but next time you see someone, anyone really, that has PTSD ask yourself "How would I feel if that was me?"

Works Cited

Finley, Erin P. "For Soldiers With PTSD, A Profound Daily Struggle." NPR. NPR, 02 June 2011. Web. 02 May 2012. <http://www.npr.org/2011/06/02/136895807/the-profound-daily-struggle-of-soldiers-with-ptsd>.

London, Jack. The Call of the Wild. Clayton, Delaware: Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Classics, 1993. Print.

Philips, P. K. "My Story of Survival: Battling PTSD | Anxiety Disorders Association of America, ADAA." Anxiety Disorders Association of America, ADAA. ADAA. Web. 02 May 2012. <http://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/personal-stories/my-story-survival-battling-ptsd>.

Stecker, Dr. Tracy. "PTSD: A Survivor's Story | Behavioral Health Evolution." Behavioral Health Evolution. Hazelden, 2011. Web. 02 May 2012. <http://www.bhevolution.org/public/five_survivors.page>.

Sterling, Donetta. "The War Within Helping Our Soldiers with the Battle." The Batesville Daily Guard [Batesville] 2 May 2012: 1-7. Print.