According to the medical professionals, P.T.S.D stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Thankfully, it is not contagious, but it does have an effect on those around you.  Whether it’s family at home, your church family or strangers you encounter daily in your daily travels.  P.T.S.D effects everyone differently for the most part but there are some “symptoms” that seem to be common in each one that have it.

Most people have no real idea of its effects much less the “whys” of the reactions it causes its sufferers to have in any given situation like sudden loud noises, screaming babies, or slamming cabinet doors.  It’s not just combat veterans that get it, although most combat veterans do have it.  People from all walks of life suffer from it and have never seen combat except for on television, if even then.  Firefighters, first res ponders, nurses are very susceptible to it.  People who have witnessed a fatality can have it or seeing a loved one die in their bed.  It’s a very ugly thing to have.  I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

I have my own definition for P.T.S.D.  When I have talked to other veterans with P.T.S.D., they all seem to agree with my definition of it.  And that definition is persistent torment and sadistic demons.  The torment usually is mental and so are the demons.  Let me explain.  Anxiety and depression are two things that are common is anger caused the smallest of things. These include “triggers” that are not always  Christ-like. 

P.T.S.D. seems to control the person instead of the other way around.  It is very easy to offend people when you have it due to the angry response, even though that angry response is not warranted.  Which leads those you interact with to believe you to be an always mad, mean and uncaring person when this is not the case.  It’s very hard to control even with medication.  In fact, a lot of the time those medications make things worse.

It can be very hard to be a good Christian when you suffer from P.T.S.D even if you work hard at it.  If your faith is weak, it is near impossible.  It’s kind of like that in life without P.T.S.D too.  If your faith is weak, your road in life is going to be bumpy and not very enjoyable.  That’s why it is so important to put God first and keep him there.  The more you lean on God, the easier it is to walk down life’s road.  Praying without ceasing sure helps too.