Overcoming PTSD

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

I want to preface this by saying that I am not a specialist of PTSD. I do not have any specialized training. Therefore, I want to look at what the Christian experts have to say.

According to the Biblical Counseling Center

70 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s 223.4 million people.Up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop PTSD. As of today, that’s 31.3 million people who did or are struggling with PTSD.An estimated 8 percent of Americans – that’s 24.4 million people – have PTSD at any given time.An estimated 1 out of 10 women develops PTSD; women are about twice as likely as men.Among people who are victims of a severe traumatic experience 60 to 80 percent will develop PTSD.

Dr. Henry Wright says,

When we say PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, most people will automatically think of traumatized war veterans. However, in reality, not everyone who goes to war and experiences a traumatic event or events gets PTSD. In fact, only a small percentage of people who struggle with PTSD are war vets. According to PTSD statistics, 70% of adults in the United States have experienced some kind of traumatic event or events. Of that percentage, 20% of those people develop PTSD. Usually these people are told that it will be a life-long challenge for them.

Furthermore, he goes on to say that trauma itself is not the determining factor if a person gets PTSD. Rather, it is a learned response from childhood. Thus, it often is due to the way we have learned to respond with fear.

The events that lead to this are usually: verbal abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, and drivenness and performance to meet the expectation of a demanding parent in order to receive love.

According to the Virginia department of mental health, In 2020 there were 6,146 veteran suicide deaths.

Last year there were approximately 49,500 suicide deaths in the U.S.

While we are discussing this sad reality I want to make something clear, Nowhere in the Bible does it teach that a person that has committed suicide must go to Hell.

I understand why people want to say this as a deterrent. However, it is just not scriptural.

We are not saved by our good works.

Titus 3:5 NKJV

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

God saved us in spite of our weaknesses

Romans 5:6 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

M.I. Moral injury

Jan Grimell

Faculty of Religion and Theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands, list four types of Combat Veterans.

Saul.

They are, metaphorically speaking, wounded in combat and have an increased risk of ultimately deciding to end their lives, like Saul.

1 Samuel 31:4 NKJV

Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

David.

David did not grow hardened in himself over the course of combat and war; instead he sustained his emotional self and expressed himself through dance, music, and by composing lyrics. David interpreted different episodes in life such as sadness and happiness through dance, music, and lyrics. David had the capacity to forgive others and re-evaluate a decision, and even to change his mind.

Joab

Contemporary veterans who are proposed as fitting the Joab type are understood to be loyal and efficient combat veterans who at some point in their service perceive a betrayal in a high-stakes situation. This betrayal may develop internally into an MI, which in turn may be externally expressed as rage, revenge, and disobedience.

Uriah.

This is the fourth type found within the Books of Samuel, and this type illustrates the unfalteringly loyal type of a warrior. Like Uriah, the Uriah type is committed to battle buddies, commanders, and missions. The bond between battle buddies has been illustrated to have a psychological strength that may be best described in terms of a sacred commitment.

II. The Symptoms

Job 3:25–26 NKJV

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”

Job 7:14 NKJV

Then You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions,

According to the Mayo Clinic the symptoms include:

Intrusive memories

Avoidance

Changes in thinking/negative mood

Changes in physical and emotional reactions

I have known men who served in Vietnam and have experienced PTSD as a result of the things they witnessed and did. Some of these men still wake up with nightmares these 60 years later.

Others may not have nightmares, but are still on edge and easily angered or startled.

These issues are a result of persistent unaddressed PTSD.

I know that some laugh at PTSD. However, just because previous generations may have denied it, does not mean they did not suffer from it.

Estimates say that between 50,000-100,000 Vietnam vets have commited suicide.

In April of 2022 a 95 yr old WWII vet used a gun from the war on himself. His family stated that there were no signs of depression. Yet, on the inside there was a war still waging.

Sometimes there are signs for everyone to see. This is evident with the mass shooters that have obvious mental issues. Yet, sometimes people have become experts at concealing the internal struggles they face.

I want to clarify something and say that PTSD, depression, M.I., and shell-shock, do not always, nor should they ever, lead to suicide. However, I mention this because to often that is the end result of not seeking help.

III. The Cure

The right thoughts

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Trust in God’s forgiveness, if you are the perpetrator of evil

Colossians 1:21–23 NKJV

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Fear is overcome with the Joy of the Lord

Romans 8:15 NKJV

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Know that victory can be found on Jesus

Romans 8:37 NKJV

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

There is peace in knowing Jesus

Galatians 1:4 NKJV

who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

You are not alone. Their is strength in numbers, so don’t fight this alone.

Proverbs 27:17 NKJV

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Related Media

Related Sermons