PTSD Spirituality

Hello All,

Since my last post I have been through the health industry again.  I am still in the game.  Just makes things tough and painful.  My hands are still hard to use and my voice processing software remains a challenge.  I can still teach and from time to time write, for which I am grateful. 

That all said, I would like to mention two groups that many of you are probably already aware of, but if not, please check them out.

Guitars for Vets, can be found at http://www.guitarsforvets.org/home.html  They provide guitars for veterans.  I can attest that music is one of the things which saved my life when the PTSD was devastating my soul.  The joy of music, the joy of creation, and the joy of being identified with something as wonderful as music has done my soul a lot of good.

DRY HOOTCH, can be found at http://www.dryhootch.org/  They understand how veterans need to connect to one another and the real value of peer to peer dialogue.  They also understand that veterans are conditioned by our service to use alcohol as a coping device, especially with our PTSD.  As you can, take a moment and visit them and see the great work they are doing to help veterans cope with PTSD and the spider web of secondary problems that come from it.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continues to ravage our ranks.  PTSD ravages our souls.  I have benefited immensely from the love, patience, and prayers of others.  I have also benefited from the forgiveness of others - sometimes as the results of a PTSD behavior and other times because I can be a selfish dork.  As you can, please pray, forgive, love and be patient with each other, and also with our own individual selves.  We all have value and we can keep the PTSD dragon from destroying that.

Semper Pax, Dr. Z

Please accept my apologies for being away from the writing.  Combination of ill health and a lot of grading diverted me from what is really important, healing souls afflicted with PTSD.

 I want to inform you of a wonderful program that is designed for healing souls wounded by Combat PTSD.  It is called Vets Journey Home.  It used to be called the Bamboo Bridge prior to the current activities in Afghanistan and Iraq.  You may link directly to them at http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/index.html

I have lifted the following from their website: “Some veterans return home feeling unappreciated and hide their service from others. It’s finally time to come home–in a good way—and, all the way.

“The Vet’s Journey Home invites veterans to come all the way home and find out that they are not alone. There are many who care about you–who are willing to walk point, be at your side, and cover your back. This time, you’ll be coming home together with other veterans, and welcomed with respect and honor.

“All combat veterans are urged to attend. The Vet’s Journey Homeis also recommended for incountry and offshore non combatant Vietnam veterans.

“Additionally, all combat zone veterans from any era are urged to consider attending. Both men and women vets may attend the Vet’s Journey Home.

“Our intention is to turn away no vet. Scholarships are available. Registration closes one week prior to the event.”

Upcoming session are as followed:

a. Houston, TX., May 31/June 1, 2008 and August 29-31, 2008.

b. Mt. Airy, MD., April 11-13, 2008.

c. Milwaukee, WI, August 22-24, 2008. 

I expect to be at the upcoming Milwaukee session.  I know one of the co-directors of Vets Journey Home and am very impressed with the compassion and expertise in helping women and men heal from PTSD.  Compassion and expertise are a rare combination in my experience when it comes to dealing with the soul wounds of PTSD.

The Vets Journey Home is focused upon combat veterans.  My own focus is broader, endeavoring to heal whoever is wounded by PTSD and trauma, Vets Journey Home are doing exemplary work that will serve as a model for others.  They also desire to train volunteers to help with the healing and as with all missions where compassion and expertise are combined, they can certainly use a donation to help offer scholarships to veterans seeking healing.

http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/index.html

Semper Pax, Dr. Z