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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental-health condition caused by trauma, such as combat, sexual assault, child abuse, terrorism, traffic accidents, or any other event in which one experiences a serious threat to life or limb. This can include being the direct victim of the trauma or being a witness to it.

PTSD was called “shell shock” in WWI and “combat stress reaction” in WWII. In 1952, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders First Edition (DSM-I) called this “gross stress reaction.” It wasn’t until 1980 and the DSM-III that the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was first used.

The current diagnostic criteria (DSM-V) for PTSD includes the following:

Exposure to actual or threatened death or serious injury. This would include being the victim of such trauma, but also witnessing the event or learning of trauma to a close family member, and also personnel, such as emergency workers, who are exposed to repeated traumatic situations.

Not everyone who is exposed to a traumatic experience develops PTSD, but for those who do, the symptoms include:

A. Presence of one or more of the following:

  1. Recurrent involuntary intrusive distressing memories.
  2. Recurrent distressing dreams.
  3. Feeling or acting as if the event is happening again.
  4. Intense prolonged psych distress at exposure or cues of the trauma.
  5. Marked emotional reaction to internal or external cues of the trauma.

B. Persistent avoidance (one or more.)

  1. Avoidance of memories, thoughts, or feelings of the trauma.
  2. Avoidance of reminders, people, and places related to the trauma.

C. Negative Alteration in mood/cognition (two or more.)

  1. Inability to remember details of trauma.
  2. Persistent exaggerated negative beliefs.
  3. Persistent distorted cognition about cause or consequences.
  4. Persistent negative emotions, guilt, horror, shame.
  5. Decreased interest.
  6. Inability to experience positive emotions.

D. Alterations arousal (two or more.)

  1. Irritability, anger outbursts.
  2. Reckless or self-destructive behavior (heavy drinking, drugs, suicidal thoughts or attempts, etc.)
  3. Hypervigilance (continual alertness for potential threats.)
  4. Exaggerated startle response.
  5. Impaired concentration.
  6. Sleep disturbance.

One of the reasons some people develop PTSD when exposed to trauma and others do not is their genetic makeup. Research shows that in the human genome, there are different versions of our genes. Some versions make a person more vulnerable to PTSD than other versions.[1] This is important to recognize because the development of PTSD is not about how “strong” one is; rather, it has its roots in our biology.

Other factors in developing PTSD include how the event is understood and processed. The greater sense of isolation, abandonment, betrayal, and helplessness when going through a traumatic experience, the greater likelihood of developing PTSD. This is why so much emphasis is placed on unit morale and cohesion in the military. The greater the bonds of brotherhood, the less the sense of isolation and abandonment, which in turn diminishes the risk of PTSD in the face of real trauma.

Families in which there is strong cohesion—bonds of support, love, encouragement, open communication to talk about life’s stresses—is protective against PTSD when traumatic events occur. Conversely, homes in which there is ongoing family conflict—arguments, lack of support, no one to talk to about life’s stresses—increases the risk of PTSD. And, of course, PTSD risk is magnified when violence or abuse occurs in the home. Homes without cohesion create atmospheres that magnify the sense of isolation, thereby increasing PTSD risk. And when a parent is the source of the trauma, PTSD risk is extremely high as elements of betrayal are also included in the trauma. This would cause a traumatized child to grow up distrusting others and experiencing typical sources of support or security as unreliable (spouses, clergy, police), thereby magnifying the sense of fear, isolation, and threat.

When one is in a high-trauma experience, the brain’s alarm circuit fires at a very high intensity. This causes sensory input and memories to be distorted. The mind becomes hyper-focused on the perceived danger, which can magnify the perceived threat. For instance, an assailant might be remembered as bigger or a gun as larger than it really was. Time and distance are often distorted in how events are remembered. A soldier in combat whose friend is killed may remembers being 3 feet away, when in fact he was 30 yards away. Or, significant events may not be remembered at all.

In the aftermath of a trauma, a person wants to make sense of what happened, so the mind will attempt to sort and explain the experience to the self. The younger a person is when the trauma occurs, the greater likelihood the event will be internalized with inaccuracies or distortions, particularly toward the self.

Trauma survivors often experience false guilt in the aftermath of the event. A person may blame themselves: “I should have never gone down that street.” “If I wouldn’t have stopped at that rest stop, this would have never happened,” etc. The younger a person is at the time of the trauma, the greater the likelihood of such false narratives and the more likely the distortion will not simply be about the event but about the self—“I’m ugly. I’m dirty. I’m bad,” etc.

One of the reasons this happens is because we don’t like to feel vulnerable or helpless, so in the aftermath of the traumatic event, the mind seeks to identify choices we can make to ensure we are never vulnerable to such an experience again. Thus, the mind searches for things we did “wrong” in order to fix them so that we can be safe in the future. This, of course, is all based on a false premise, that the trauma was the fault of the one traumatized. Such false internal narratives perpetuate and sustain the PTSD symptomology and is why successful treatments include reprocessing therapies in order to remove distorted narratives and replace them with accurate ones.

Treatments for PTSD

Talk-Therapies for PTSD with the strongest evidence of success include:

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE.)
    Involves working with a trained provider to face the feelings or activities that you have been avoiding in order to work through the intense emotions, resolve the trauma memories, and stop the automatic responses.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT.)
    Focuses on working with your provider to reprocess and reframe the trauma. This involves writing assignments, learning to identify how the trauma has been labeled in your thinking, and moving away from exaggerated and inflammatory labels to fact-based ways of remembering.
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR.)
    Helps you reprocess and resolve the trauma by talking through the memories with a provider while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like a finger waving side to side, a light, or a tone).

Sometimes medications are used to help manage symptoms, but the medications do not resolve the disorder because resolution requires changing the internal narrative about the event. Medications, however, can help sleep, reduce the emotional reactivity, decrease some of the intrusive thoughts, decrease irritability and the impending sense of fear. Here is a partial list of medications that are used to treat PTSD:

For depression and anxiety:

  • Sertraline (Zoloft).
  • Paroxetine (Paxil).
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor).
  • Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac).

For nightmares:

  • Prazosin (Minipress).

For mood stabilization:

  • Quetiapine (Seroquel).
  • Lamotrigine (Lamictal).
  • Aripiprazole (Ablify).

Recent research has demonstrated the potential therapeutic benefit of psychedelic drugs, such as Ecstasy or Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), when used in small, single doses in conjunction with a trained therapist to reprocess the trauma memories. The early results suggest these compounds make the brain’s memory pathways uniquely susceptible to rapid rewiring that, when utilized with a trained clinician, can reprocess the narrative and result in same-day marked reduction in symptoms that have persisted for months. WebMD has a summary article giving an overview of the current findings. It wouldn’t surprise me if such treatments become standardized in the near future. Using psychedelic drugs on one’s own is dangerous and could result in worsening as the drugs make one more susceptible to rewiring; thus the importance of working with a specialist.

PTSD is a real condition caused by real traumatizing life events that, if unresolved, interferes with our ability to function across the landscape of human experiences (vocational, relational, psychological). But this condition is treatable. If you are struggling with PTSD, I encourage you to seek out a trained provider and get treatment.

We cannot change history. We cannot undo the traumas of our past, but we can heal the wounds so that we don’t have to continue to experience the ongoing pain from those past events. So, get help—you are worth it!


[1] Bradley et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008;65:190–200.


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I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 66

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact you’ve had on my life, and words cannot fully express my appreciation. Over the years, I have been an avid listener and follower of C&R and extend my heartfelt thanks for creating the C&R mobile app. It has allowed me to immerse myself in your lessons repeatedly, enabling me to grasp the profound significance about the Character of God, Design Law, the protocols for life, the reasons behind the current chaos, and Christ’s mission to restore everything. They have deeply touched me. Having studied with various churches, I came away with the perception that God is no different from the deities of ancient Greek or Roman mythology—demanding sacrifices and taking pleasure in bloodshed. Thanks to your transformative teachings, I have experienced a profound awakening to the true nature of God and the immense power of His love. It is truly a remarkable and liberating sensation to finally grasp the truth and embrace the empowering nature of God’s laws. My self-perception has become brighter and more infused with love. My journey of growth continues on a daily basis.

Chris P., Lake Mary, FL, USA

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

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Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 27

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

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Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA