Comments on: PTSD Spirituality: Identity Damage Causes PTSD Soul Wound

By: Dr. Z

Dr. Z — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:39:04 +0000

We can recover from our bad choices. We often engage in some negative behaviors in an attempt to simply quit feeling the pain and numbness that results from our trauma. Illicit sex, drugs, alcohol, recklessness, you name it; people try to use them to nullify the memories and the lingering pain of our traumas. The problem, of course is that they help us less and less and we react by doing them more and more until we have an addiction problem on top of everything else.

Recognition that we have fundamental value, that God values us, that we can repair relationships with God and others, is a pathway to healing. Odd as it may sound, Hope can generate hope. If I rely solely on my own will power, then I will fail. If I combine my will power with the knowledge that God wants us to succeed, then I will have a better chance of dealing with adversity and finding what positive elements that I can.
Semper Pax, Dr. Z

By: Troy Graves

Troy Graves — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:06:24 +0000

Dr. Z
I appreciate your candor. I have recently begun researching more on the subject of PTSD because I have personal experience with using negative coping to dull the memory of traumatic events in an attempt to find my own identity, or rather escape. While at times the negative coping did provide some immediate gratification it wasn’t lasting

After 28 years of bad choices I gave up trying and decided to allow God to show me. It was then that for the first time I literally felt a weight lifted off my shoulders like a yoke. During the time when I was “coping” I just assumed I had dealt with it. I had no clue that I actually spent 28 years in bondage. Your message will help people get free.

By: Dr. Z

Dr. Z — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:22:02 +0000

Thank you , Michelle. Not letting ourselves be defined by our trauma and the resulting PTSD is crucial to healing. Oddly enough, many folks want to define us by our health rather than our being and inherent self-worth. We can regain our dignity as we realize we have value no matter what has happened to us. This realization decreases the grip that the PTSD-Identity has upon us. Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment. Semper Pax, Dr. Z

By: Michele Rosenthal

Michele Rosenthal — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:15:42 +0000

Dr. Z — Thank you for writing about the PTSD-Identity! I don’t think enough is said about this, or how we can combat it. I struggled with PTSD for over 25 years. At the core of my healing was learning to define myself (and find my worth) outside of and despite what I had survived.

Thank you, too, for what is, I think, the most important sentence of your whole piece: “The PTSD soul wound is not a life sentence.” Not enough people say or believe this. But I do, and it’s nice to know someone else does, too!