Page Overview
Everyone’s Biggest Trauma – Spiritual Trauma, Separation from God
When we take a step back and look at our lives, everyone suffers from PTSD initially, as we are born separated from God because of sin, as we discussed in page 8. God made a way to repair our relationship with Him, through Jesus’ death on the cross. Now we don’t have to struggle with PTSD caused by sin when we trust the love and salvation of God. However, we are still sinful and still try to walk on our own path through life, ignoring God’s call for us to follow Him. Our pulling away from God causes reverberations even after re-connecting with God, and we again experience the symptoms of trauma. This can leave us anxious, tired, isolated, and looking for ways to make ourselves feel part of something, like drug and alcohol abuse, hanging with the wrong crowd, or destructive behavior. Only through continued re-connecting with God can we get our lives back on the path to peace and joy.
Effects of PTSD
There are lasting effects of trauma and PTSD. If not processed and managed well, many psychological, physical, and spiritual problems emerge. Typical symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, fear, and irritability. If the person continues to suffer with PTSD without getting help, they run the risk of drug and alcohol addiction because they try to self medicate, as well as other life-altering ripples and consequences, such as loss of job, broken relationships, physical illness, other mental illnesses, spiritual confusion, despair, hopelessness, and suicide. As we discussed on page 3, there are many conditions that can be caused by untreated PTSD, including:
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Heartburn or Reflux
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Crohn’s Disease
- Stomach Ulcers
- Headaches
- Back and joint issues
- Pain syndromes
- Sexual Pain
- Sexual impotence
- Cancers
- Endocrine (hormonal) issues
- Endometriosis
- Thyroid problems
- Immune system issues
- Stress worsened disorders
- Asthma
- Psoriasis
- Chronic infections
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Chronic Fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
- Diarrhea
- Obesity
- Certain Arthritis Conditions
- Psychosomatic disorders
Find Lasting Peace
Recovering from past and present traumas is not easy and it will not happen overnight. But with the right kind of help, you will find that you can heal and be free from the past to begin living a renewed and transformed life. Treatment for PTSD also helps as you step into the future, to be better prepared and equipped to handle and thrive through whatever future adversities God allows into your life. Building your spiritual life and awareness will allow you to be resilient to the upcoming trials and tribulations of this world as we discussed on page 5.
For anyone struggling with PTSD, please know and hear this loud and clear – hope, joy, and peace are readily available for you. Healing won’t come easily, but it will happen if we include God in the processing and healing of our past and present traumas. The most efficient and thorough way to access a completely healed, or renewed, mind is through professional Christian counseling. Professional expertise which combines God-centered principles with psychological and medical wisdom will expedite a full healing experience to occur. It is necessary for someone with mental illness, whether it is PTSD, depression, or any other condition, to find a trusted therapist or residential facility where they can receive help for the all 3 spheres of their being. Mind, body, and spirit can be healed through psychotherapy and talk therapy, the use of approved medication, and a focus on spiritual renewal through God and His instruction manual, The Holy BIBLE.
God Delivers Answers And Keeps His Promises
He gives Him perfect peace whose mind is fixed on Thee. Isaiah 26:3
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, Isaiah 61:1
Please know God gave us many promises in His instruction manual called the Bible. Please read, know, and grow close to Him and He will deliver the hope, joy, peace, and abundant life He promises.