Hope in PTSD
In life, we all struggle at one time or another. Life can be difficult, and while we are instructed to consider facing trials as pure joy because it tests our faith and produces perseverance, (James 1:2-4) as humans, that can be very hard.
This is especially true when we experience acute or chronic trauma. Ongoing trauma can result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental disorder that can result from exposure to traumatic events. Trauma happens when a person experiences, witnesses, or has otherwise been confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to one’s physical integrity. Exposure does not always lead to PTSD, however when the individual experiences intense fear, helplessness, or horror, it is more likely to develop.
When I am counseling someone who has been exposed to a traumatic event, my first goal is to build a safe space in order for them to process what they have encountered. While working with them, I am looking for symptoms of PTSD. Below are the types of symptoms that are commonplace with PTSD:
Re-experiencing symptoms - vividly experiencing trauma often in intrusive ways;
Avoidance and numbing symptoms - avoiding trauma that leads to numbness and depressive state; and
Physiological hyperarousal - a constant state of “fight or flight,” which means the body may be feeling similar to how it felt during actual trauma.
About six of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime, according to the National Center for PTSD.
If you or someone you care about has been exposed to a traumatic event and appears to have some of these symptoms, restoration is available. One of the many names of God is “El Roi,” which means “the God who sees.” He sees our pain and hears our cries. Psalm 58 shares that He keeps track of all of our sorrows, and Psalm 137 shares that He heals us and binds up wounds. He knows the pain of the trauma and cares deeply about it.
I also remember that we serve a God who is intimately acquainted with our grief, sorrow and pain, as seen in Isaiah 53. This verse references how Jesus was despised, rejected, and ultimately put to death. Our Father knows these pains and He heals from a position of understanding.
Oftentimes, counseling is needed to help find hope and healing in trauma. I’m always honored when I have the opportunity to help someone navigate through their trauma. This is something I never take lightly. When restoration happens, it builds faith for so many.