Preview

Personal Narrative: Living With PTSD

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
363 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Personal Narrative: Living With PTSD
Living with PTSD is a daily conflict that creates obstacles in life specific to the individual.

After I returned home from Iraq nothing was the same. Everything became artificial. The events and activities I once found pleasure in become generic and lacked the zest I once sought after. My days quickly transformed into hour after hour of depression, survivors guilt, and anger. I was tangled in a downward spiral of self-loathing obsessing over intrusive thoughts that played me like a puppet.

The VA tried to help me but failed after the third round of chemical concoctions pressured upon me by my mental health doctor. I started to feel like a lab rat. I felt like nothing and no one could help me. I was now looking for anyway out of my personal
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Soft Spots
    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Summary Of Soft Spots

    Previously, I thought PTSD was only related to ducking when you heard a loud noise or being paranoid. However, this book taught me that it is much more than that. The people affected by this disorder are constantly reminded of their trauma through recurring flashbacks and unpleasant memories that can seem very real. The health care system for veterans is disappointing, how can someone that has served our country be shoveled through a system only to receive a stamp of a disorder and given medication just to move on to the next person? Veterans deserve the best care simply for their sacrifice that keeps our country free.…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    PTSD: Choarateristics In The Recovery Environment
    • 199 Words
    • 1 Page

    PTSD: Choarateristics In The Recovery Environment

    PTSD is not only something I have personally been through but it is something I have done quite a bit of research on, so most of this was like a review for me. There were a few things those that stuck out of my that I actually had no idea about. Like when the training class talked about "Recovery environment" because at first I had no idea what it meant, but after watching I realized it was about the charateristics in the recovery environment. Some charateristics were social support following the event and life stress, the more life stress someone has in the more likely they are to develope PTSD. One example the training class gave ways a soldier coming home and not being able to find and job, which results in not being able to support ones…

    • 199 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Psychological Issues In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried
    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Psychological Issues In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

    “I am left with basically nothing. Too trapped in a war to be at peace, to damaged to be at war.” Army veteran Daniel Somers, talks about how when one is forced into war, they lose everything, including their mind, and are unable to get the peace they desire. This relates to the topic because the soldiers outlined in Tim O’Brien’s book, The Things They Carried, have gone through the feeling of being caught in a war while at the same time, dealing with psychological issues. This paper will go into detail about the soldiers struggle to retain their humanity and how specific traumatic events lead to the soldiers undoing. Events in the Vietnam War caused the soldiers immense psychological problems and forced them to give up their pre-war life.…

    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Mr. Galavant Character Analysis
    • 1828 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Mr. Galavant Character Analysis

    Most nights when a restless Theo Galavant , a former marine, finally became somnolent he found himself back on the battlefields of Iraq. He would awake in a cold sweat, then struggle fruitless to return to sleep. Days were rarely better. Loud noises such as Car alarms shattered his nerves. Flashbacks came unexpectedly at the smallest triggers like a whiff of certain cleaning chemicals. Bar fights seemed unavoidable; he nearly attacked a man for not washing his hands in the bathroom. Desperate for sleep and relief, Mr.Galavant turned to bottles of alcohol to comfort him and to drown his woes in. One morning, his parents found him in the driveway slumped over the wheel of his car, the door wide open, wipers scraping back and forth. Another time, they found him curled in a fetal position in his closet. In denial of the obvious problem he had, it took his drunken driving causing the death of a 16-year-old cheerleader for Mr.Galavant to acknowledge the depth of his problem: His eight months at war had profoundly damaged his psyche.“I was trying to be the tough marine I was trained to be — not to talk about problems, not to cry,” said Mr. Galavant, who has since been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. “I imprisoned myself in my own mind.(Alvarez par 1). Mr. Galavant is not the only one struggling with with problems like this, PTSD affects about 7.7 million adults in just america…

    • 1828 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Horace Whaley Causes
    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Horace Whaley Causes

    According to statistics it is estimated that one in twenty of the surviving World War II veterans suffer from some level of post-traumatic stress disorder. Also known as PTSD, it occurs when one experiences a tragic, petrifying moment. War veterans suffer from this condition all the time. There are many ways to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, but not to completely get rid of it. Some treatments consist of medication, stress management classes, as well as different therapies. In war, you see and live through traumatic events. You foresee individuals that get there arm or legs blown off, on top of ones that lose their lives. Gunshots and explosions are implanted in your brain; there is no way to forget.…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    PTSD And Iraq Summary
    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages

    PTSD And Iraq Summary

    This book defines PTSD as a chronic, debilitating psychological condition that occurs in a subset of persons who experience or witness, life-threatening traumatic events. PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms that occur over time and lead to significant disruption of one’s life. during a course of treatment using prolonged exposure, typically four treatment components are administered over 9-12 sessions lasting 90 to 120 minutes each: (1) psychoeducation about the symptoms of PTSD and…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ptd In American Sniper
    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ptd In American Sniper

    Most people who suffer from PTSD can regain a normal life over time with help from doctors and therapist. This disorder can be determined by biological factors as well as psychological and can often paired with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. PTSD is not something that goes away over night or ever, many have triggers that can cause flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty sleeping, and being emotionally void. These side effects can wreck a person’s life is left untreated; until my dad sought help it almost ruined his…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD In The Military
    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD In The Military

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or otherwise known as PTSD, is a disorder that affects many who have served in the military or those whov had a bad upbringing such as abuse. It is a “debilitating anxiety disorder”(HealthLine) that happens after observing or suffering through a distressing event. This occurrence may have put the onlooker or victim at risk of impairment or death. The symptoms of PTSD can range from reexperiencing the traumatic event to avoiding others so the likelihood of the event has no chance of reoccuring but therapies are available in order to help these victims to cope with everyday life.…

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Unit 2 Post Traumatic Stress Research Paper
    • 1827 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Unit 2 Post Traumatic Stress Research Paper

    Family members of people diagnosed with PTSD have reported many of the same reactions to the disorder. Sympathy for their loved one’s suffering. This may present itself in a harmful manner. Sometimes familied treat their loved one like a permanently disabled person. Losing hope for rehabilitation. Symptoms of PTSD have been treated successfully and it is important to support the patient in…

    • 1827 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Personal Narrative: My Military Life
    • 64 Words
    • 1 Page

    Personal Narrative: My Military Life

    Hi Amber, great to "see" you in another class! Thank you and your family for the years of service. The military life has its own culture, but as you have mentioned the frequent moves allow you to experience numerous geographical locations and their cultures. My grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island from Scotland and I have been fortunate to visit where they lived several times.…

    • 64 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Personal Narrative-Deployment To Iraq
    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Personal Narrative-Deployment To Iraq

    “You are order to active duty as a member of your reserve component unit for the period indicated unless sooner released or unless extended. Proceed from your current location in sufficient time to report by the date specified. You enter active duty upon reporting to unit home station”. These were the words telling me that I was going to Iraq, to fight and destroy the enemies of the United States of America and face one of my biggest challenges yet. Soon after I received my orders in the mail I had a dilemma, what’s going to happen when I tell my mother and the rest of my family? Have I been taking my family and friends for granted, now that I have this situation in front of me I realize that maybe I should have tried…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    PTSD In The Military Essay
    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages

    PTSD In The Military Essay

    Military OneSource offers confidential counseling free of charge to both family and service members alike. Since their help is completely confidential, service members do not need to worry about the stigma that has been previously associated with seeking mental health assistance. While this is a great resource to take advantage of, it is non-medical counseling, which means that service members or their family may still need to see a Psychiatrist for diagnosis of PTSD, or to receive medication for any effects that the PTSD, (or stress from caring for the individual who is suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder), may be…

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Personal Narrative-Traumatic Events In My Life
    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Personal Narrative-Traumatic Events In My Life

    It’s extraordinary to think about how we take so much for granted - another belief we take for granted is that every night the stars will shine. When you wake up in the morning and make plans for the day, you never really contemplate those plans changing entirely in the blink of an eye. I had never thought much about it, personally, until I was faced with Death himself. I don't think anyone really contemplates tragedy until it knocks on their front door. In fact, it doesn’t even knock – it forces itself in and threatens to leave you with nothing but heartache and suffering for the remainder of your miserable life. Traumatic events can occur in numerous ways, at any time in one’s life. Some are lucky enough to get away with them. Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky.…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Speech
    • 909 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Persuasive Speech

    PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as the military combat, natural disasters, terrorism incidents, or any major tragedy. This is common in the life of veterans and is the leading cause of suicide among veterans. A VA patient who survived in Baghdad shares his experience with PTSD and explains how he knew he had this disability. Many veterans speak out about this issue and describe their continuous anger, alcohol addiction, and constantly wanted to fight. They usually feel very isolated and distant from their loved ones. One patient states, “PTSD involves rocketing into extreme states of stress re-activity; in the form of terror, rage, and uncontrollable impulses, and plunging into equally extreme states of being shut-down—exhaustion, emotional numbing, despair, and dissociation”. PTSD is about having fear and anxiety, allowing veterans to rage with anger and different emotion. There are many factors to PTSD, which affects others in different ways; or example, using video games to keep them occupied, spending money due to the lack of impulse control because of changes in their brain, and even not obtaining another job.…

    • 909 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Personal Narrative: How Trauma Changed My Life
    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Personal Narrative: How Trauma Changed My Life

    Trauma: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time. Have you ever experienced a trauma? I made it nearly nineteen years without enduring a traumatic experience. Yes, an affair leading into a divorce is considered a trauma. When the man I grew up idolizing left my family for a twenty-year-old girl, it left me mentally and emotionally unstable. As many times as my parents told me that their problems were their problems and that they shouldn’t affect me; this affected me. My life before the affair was great and carefree, however, now I’m not sure that I’ll ever get back there. It is literally as if I lived a different life before the trauma.…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More