contributed by
Rev. Lowell Dean Allen
retired United Methodist pastor
PTSD is a very real concern for service personnel in the Military and their families. There is increased awareness that PTSD in not limited to the trauma occurring to fighting men and women. It affects their families and is also present in non-military segments of our society.
Finally, the Defense Department is giving more attention to this issue and the short comings in the ways it has been handled in the past. The impact on the families of those serving on the battle lines is part of the situation, especially when men and women return from the battle zones with PTSD. Families just don't and cannot pick up where they were when personnel left to go to War.
Consider the trauma that occurs when women are battered or raped. Consider the impact of continual verbal abuse of parents or spouses/partners. What happens to teens when peers decide to use Facebook and Twitter to communicate very nasty things over and over about and directed to them?
As a faith community, we must become aware of persons in our congregations suffering PTSD.
Finally, the Defense Department is giving more attention to this issue and the short comings in the ways it has been handled in the past. The impact on the families of those serving on the battle lines is part of the situation, especially when men and women return from the battle zones with PTSD. Families just don't and cannot pick up where they were when personnel left to go to War.
Consider the trauma that occurs when women are battered or raped. Consider the impact of continual verbal abuse of parents or spouses/partners. What happens to teens when peers decide to use Facebook and Twitter to communicate very nasty things over and over about and directed to them?
As a faith community, we must become aware of persons in our congregations suffering PTSD.
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