You, God, and PTSD (ePub)

As the nation advances in combat technology and personal protective armor, more people are wounded on the battlefield than killed. By far, the most common of all injuries are psychological and the damage of core beliefs which persist long after the horrific experience when the individuals have gone home. The most corrosive impact of horrific emotional trauma is to be found in the spiritual fabric of persons, and that, the condition of PTSD is spiritual at its deepest level (Sinclair, 1993). While some individuals are capable of processing traumatic events and moving onto posttraumatic growth, others become "stuck" on the trauma, which can inflict such deep psychological wounds that it threatens their very existence. In April of 2010, the Army Times reported that an average of 950 suicide attempts take place every month among veterans already receiving support for their PTSD, 18 of which are successful (Maze, 2010). Clergy are often sought first due to their availability, their services being free, their nonjudgmental stance, and their expertise on sin, guilt, and forgiveness, all of which are common issues for those struggling with psychological trauma. Military chaplains often work on or near the front lines and are the first-and sometimes only-line of support these men and women receive. Periodic training on traumatic stress does take place for the chaplain corps, but unfortunately, this training is primarily clinical in nature. While several studies have been conducted providing empirical evidence of the success in faith-based healing techniques, most chaplains receive little to no continuing education in this area on how to diagnose and treat members suffering from the effects of war. This book, along with the website located at www.chaplainsandptsd.com, will address this important issue and provide both chaplains and pastors several resources to improve their skills in spiritual healing.