Christian PTSD - Recommended Reading and Resources from a Pastor
New! For the first time in many years, Pastor Roland has just made a beautiful new meditation for stress, anxiety and PTSD. The meditation and reading resources are free (donation suggested).Hi, my name is Roland Trujillo. I am a pastor and counselor. I would like to recommend a couple of books.
These books, all page turners which I highly recommend you buy or get from your library, have a common theme-- victory over their mental health issues. They also have common methodologies--getting busy, helping others, overcoming physical obstacles (like climbing a mountain or running a race), and having experienced the touch of God.
These guys also had a fighting spirit, even a rebellious one, which somehow held them in good stead.
The first book I would like to recommend is Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, the Louis Zamperini story, by Laura Hillenbrand.
In case you don't know, she is the author of Seabiscuit (from her story they made the movie Seabiscuit). This book is very popular. It is a good story. It is inspirational. Its author is also famous. It's a great World War II story.
But don't overlook a very, very important fact-- Louis Zamperini completely recovered from PTSD. This is very important. And it's not just a story - it is a true real life story
I'm going to repeat it one more time to make sure it does not get lost in the shuffle:
Don't overlook a very, very important fact-- Louis Zamperini completely recovered from PTSD. This is very important. And it's not just a story - it is a true real life story.
Nor did he merely survive, he fully recovered.
Louis was held as a prisoner of war in a slave labor camp in World War II. Starving for months, he developed beriberi, dysentery, and scurvy. But the worst part is that he was beaten viciously by a sadistic prison officer, and he was beaten every day for months. He saw others tortured and die, even as he himself was about to die from starvation, disease, and daily beatings with fists, clubs, and belt buckles.
After the war, he suffered post traumatic stress disorder, started drinking and was getting worse and worse. I won't tell you the whole story so you can read it yourself (I got the book at the free public library). Here's the thing. He was confronted by someone who brought a Christian message. He began to see that he was full of hate. He encountered the God of conscience.
He let go of the hate, had a change of heart, and he never again had a flashback. In my opinion, this rapid and complete repair had little to do with the particular individual who brought the message, but was the result of an inner action on the soul. The messenger was the catalyst; the repair was the work of God upon a soul ready and receptive to repent.
Today he is in his 90's, still active and moving forward.
I forgot to mention: he got active speaking to others and bringing a positive message. He also started an outdoor camp for wayward boys.
The touch of God, a change of heart, getting out of self preoccupation, helping others, being active - an unbeatable combination.
