Healing from PTSD is a continuous journey that we must support and embrace

Recently I bought some stamps with an image of a green plant — surrounded by dead leaves, but still rising up from the ground — along with the words “Healing PTSD.”

I showed the stamps to my husband, who is a retired naval officer and attaché with 31 years of military service.

And then I put them in the kitchen drawer.

Several days later I went to bed one evening with thoughts of those guarding the home front while loved ones guarded the American bases that were targeted for missile attacks by Iran. Soon it was 2 a.m. and I was wide awake: I suddenly felt overwhelmed with feelings of fear, helplessness and uncertainty.

What was wrong with me?

Why were vivid memories of my husband’s deployments to the Middle East during the Tanker War of 1987 — and later during Operation Desert Storm — suddenly flooding my mind and filling it with distress? Wondering why I was so upset, I started to pray.

There is no flag of red and white — with a gold star in the center — on display in the window of our home.

Nor does a placard with the blue silhouette of a wheelchair hang from the rear view mirror of our vehicle.

My husband and family are home, safe and sound.

So why was I so restless and ill at ease?

I went down to the kitchen to prepare some tea, and pulled open the drawer to get a spoon. I had pulled that drawer open a thousand times before without a second thought.

But this time a sudden thought hit me:

I was reaching into the same drawer where I had put the “Healing PTSD” stamps.

As I sat on the couch with my tea, Hunley — my sweet Lhasa Apso — came over to sit with me just as he had so many countless times in the past.

But this time a sudden thought hit me:

The comfort of Hunley’s presence brought back memories of all the therapy dogs that I have seen accompanying wounded warriors.

And that’s when it all came together.

My anxious thoughts of potential war in the future — and my still-raw memories of fearing for my husband’s safety during wars of the past — had triggered something similar to a PTSD episode in me. And it made me realize that though we get through traumatic events, we never completely get over them.

They will forever be a part of us.

Bouncing back from the unwanted events of life takes time and healing; it is a continuous and ongoing process.

That’s why I’m thankful that the Apostle Paul wrote this in his letter to the churches of Macedonia:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God..” (Philippians 4:6)

So if you are feeling anxious — about anything — why not pray and ask God to give you His peace? And then stop by the post office and buy a sheet of stamps that will help raise funds for anyone who is living with PTSD.

Penny Hunt is an author and blogger who lives in Trenton.

(Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of articles in The State supporting mental health awareness.)

This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 9:15 AM.