Today in Denver I had the opportunity to teach and meet some incredible police officers from around the country. As always, I left with far more than I’m sure I was able to return. One officer shared his struggle with PTSD and told me a very inspiring story. We must never forget that police officers with PTSD is a real issue we must respond to.
A good friend he grew up with suffered from PTSD after two incidents as a police officer where two children died in horrific fashions and the officer carried a mountain of guilt and helplessness although there was nothing he could have done to help. Coupled with some other issues, he was eventually disability retired from the state troopers.
The story could have ended there, but the officer’s wife was upset that there was no type of peer support for her husband, who was a state trooper, that might have intervened and helped him deal with his PTSD before it resulted in a psychiatrist and retirement. She made it a personal battle and after time was able to get a peer support program established for the troopers of their state.
Something like PTSD while horrific, is also an opportunity for a new beginning. PTSD destroys, but like a fire, it can leave us with a blank slate upon which we really can create a beautiful picture. Besides helping to establish the peer support program, the officer found a passion for creating custom knives and is now one of the most in demand knife makers in the country. You can truly overcome PTSD and live better than you ever imagined. Fire can destroy you or create the fuel for a rebirth.
Life can break anyone. But it doesn’t mean it has to break our spirit, and it doesn’t mean we can’t live again.
Look out for each other, and never give up dreaming. No matter what life throws your way.
Discover more from The Book of Silouan
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.