Comments on: PTSD Spirituality: Dating God Reduces PTSD

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:45:25 +0000

Ouch….

By: Dr. Z

Dr. Z — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:49:59 +0000

Thank you, Michelle. Your idea about “molding that grief in all its stages” is excellent. As we seek to find meaning in our grief and suffering we also find that the meaning develops and grows as we travel through our stages of grief. Your comments provide further inspiration for me to try and figure out how to establish a secure forum on this website so these kind of discussions can be developed further. Thank You and Semper Pax, Dr. Z

By: michele

michele — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:33:50 +0000

Thank you, Dr. Zemler, for your thoughtful and prompt response to my own thoughts on this issue. You helped to clarify a complex topic, emotional anger in PTSD sufferers, which again, to my mind falls into one of the stages of grief and so to be understood in that context–with reconciling–in some fashion, with God as well as others in our tangible orbit–as a possible endpoint to that pain. Then, even in anger, we can perhaps find in ourselves a not-always clear pathway to molding that grief in all its stages, (denial, anger, depression, resignation, acceptance) over time.

By: Dr. Z

Dr. Z — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:33:17 +0000

Hello Michelle, Thank you for visiting and commenting. Your insights are cogent and to the point.

In regards to your second comment first: Yes, the anger is not to be acted on in a way which could possibly harm another. I was speaking yesterday with someone who is involved in a case where PTSD resulted in physical violence towards another. Part of the conversation was that I understood the violence. I don’t condone it, but I understand how the PTSD-Identity often resorts to violence or other destructive behaviors. Understanding that helps us to not be controlled by it and your comments are spot on.

Your first comment brings up the excellent point that God can be challenged. Very true. I like to think of it as “God Welcomes Our Comments.” The Book of Job is a wonderful example of how we are allowed, if not actually called, to question God about what is happening in our lives. Finding meaning in our suffering only occurs when we bring that inquiry to God. Expressing anger at God or challenging God is also a form of prayer as it seeks communication with the divine.

While I am most fully versed in Christian scriptures (OT/NT) (pun intended), I am aware of the Jewish traditions (Rivka and the kicking twins is great!) of bring up our challenges to God and I am glad you made that point. Paul, in 2 Cor 12, can be understood in a similar vein, although his purpose there is not really theodicy. A mature Christianity allows for a robust challenge of God to help me make sense of my experience, whether it is suffering or joy.

Your comments are wonderful, thank you and Semper Pax, Dr. Z

By: michele

michele — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:07:28 +0000

just to clarify earlier comments–my suggestion to not censor emotions when engaging with God is NOT an advocacy of angry ACTIONS in ANY form. The PTSD sufferer should feel free to voice and be heard, write and be read, gather and grieve, but anger in this context is an anger that must not harm, only be held. A PTSD sufferer should never be feared–fear ends every conversation, and never repairs.

By: michele

michele — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:55:03 +0000

referred to your website and interested in your take on our 12-year-old versus adult notion/readjustment to God. You might want to add that in other religions besides Christianity (ie: Judiasm, old testament etc.) it is wholly allowed and even encouraged to challenge God in His actions–this is what everyone from Abraham to Moses to Noah did, without penalty. God seems to welcome (verbally)-expressed anger, debate, engagement–for these are all forms of love, not hate, that can aid in our understanding of a more mature God than the simple black/white-authoritative/all-loving one-dimensional view of God we might hold in our youth. “Hate” seems, in the end to me, on its worst face indifference and lack of thought and engagement, while love, even (especially! the pained love of a PTSD sufferer) is registered in the constant argument arising in the soul which demands attention and focus on God, ourselves and with others–simultaneously. Often, this engagement is an exhausting yet rewarding exercise if we are able to hear not only our own voices raised in pain, frustration and yes, even outrage, but also those of others willing and ready to respond.

By: Dr. Z

Dr. Z — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:39:55 +0000

Hello Steve, Thank you for visiting and your kind remarks. You are absolutely right that healthy relationships have ups and downs. Many of us have been conditioned to think that God only loves us, or we only have value, if things are going great, if we are prospering. Yet, God loves us regardless of how life treats us. We engage God in all of our experiences, not only the happy ones. I am (I hope) helping some poeple this week to learn and then internalize your point about ups and downs. When we live in a fuller, mature relationship with God, and value our own lives and those of others, then we are better able to heal from the soul wound of PTSD. Semper Pax, Dr. Z

By: Steven | The Emotion Machine

Steven | The Emotion Machine — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:58:11 +0000

Beautiful post. It is true that many people often only go to God when they are in trouble and desire something. Imagine if you had a girlfriend who you only went to when you wanted sex? The relationship probably won’t last that long. Healthy relationships have both UPs and downs. We need to learn how to celebrate life with God, show him our happiness, and give things to him through our gratitude and our expression of love towards others.

Great post!

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Tweets that mention PTSD Spirituality: Dating God Reduces PTSD -- Topsy.com — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:31:32 +0000

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