Re “Police recognizing PTSD scourge” (Mark Bonokoski, Oct. 14):
On the issue
of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I can speak from personal experience, as I
suffered PTSD after I tried to revive my disabled son, Logan. Unfortunately I
was not successful, may he rest in peace. This particular illness can have
devastating effects, for the persons suffering it and their families. It got to
the point I couldn’t remember how to fill my car with gas. I was pretty messed
up. With proper medical care and therapy, PTSD can be beaten. Life is good for
me now. Mental illness can strike anyone, but soldiers, police officers or fire
fighters, of any gender, can suffer PTSD as they see many shocking things, day
in and day out. They should get the life-saving treatment they deserve for
keeping us safe from harm.
Mark-Alan Whittle
Hamilton
(Without question)
2 comments:
Thank you for your great courage in sharing this part of your story with us, Mark. I think that you say a great many very important things here.
I have no idea on the personal level what it would be like to go through the kind of devastating person experience you describe here. I can certainly attest to the crippling power of PTSD, however. I see it every day in my practice, in exactly the kinds of graphic and debilitating ways that you describe.
I am so glad that you were able to get the help that you needed, and also that you had the courage and resolve to persist with your trauma work,and to get things in your life to the place that you describe today.
I am with you 150% on the issue of police, fire, paramedics, military and others who deal with traumatic situations getting ready and easy access to the care they need to deal with acute stress these people to do their duty in such situations, then we owe it to them to take care of them -- and to do it right.
As a society, we also need to make sure that everyone who suffers trauma gets good care, because the social, human and even economic costs of PTSD are so, so great.
Thanks again for this wonderful post, Mark!
Thank's Brian, my lovely wife Laurie helped and supported my recovery. I have great empathy for other people who have been through this, and I hope sharing my experience helps others get the help they need. You have saved many lives through your work with PTSD patients.
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