Moving Past PTSD by Jaime B. Parent

Author:Jaime B. Parent
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781538127056
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

11

YOU CURED MY PTSD?

Being strong means taking one more step toward the top of the hill, no matter how weary you may be. It means letting the tears flow through the grief. It means to keep looking for the answer, though the darkness of despair is all around you.1

—Historian John M. Marshall III

OK, I will be the first to admit that the title of this chapter is pretty strong and misleading. And it would appear that there is significant evidence in the literature that PTSD cannot be cured.2 Nothing can change or erase the traumatic event or events that triggered PTSD in the first place.

After speaking with several psychologists and psychologists, I understand that PTSD cannot be cured, but the symptoms and potential triggers can be effectively managed by medication, therapy, and support. What I didn’t realize was that workplace support can also be a strategy in minimizing the effects of PTSD—not as a standalone and certainly not a cure—but a warm, receptive, and caring environment, found in most hospitals and other service types of organizations, can be an adjunct to each other.

Such is the story of Bea.

“My name is Bogumila Kenny and I am in the EN-Abled Veteran Internship. My friends call me “Bea.” I am from Eastern Europe where I was a potato farmer. I went to a small school there where pitching in on a farm was more important than studying. But I always wanted to learn.

“I moved to Chicago with my family when I was thirteen, which was a great culture shock for me. I spoke no English, so I would study seven days a week and I worked very hard to learn the language. I had a great teacher that would help me with English and math written problems. I wanted to study hard and be everything American.

“I joined the Marine Corps for the love of this country. I couldn’t believe it when the Marines took me in and accepted me, so I wanted to give something back. I was in the Marines for six years. I wanted to make a career out of service, but in 2012 I was medically boarded out of the service with an honorable discharge.

“Transitioning out of the Marines was very difficult as I was the only person in my unit who was deployed. Consequently, my command did not know how to deal with me. After a number of counselling and psychiatry appointments, I knew I couldn’t do what they wanted me to do anymore.

“As I transitioned, the only advice I really got was ‘Don’t wear a loud suit to the interview. Wear green, it is the safest color and make sure you wear a bobbed haircut, because it makes you look more professional.’ I did get some resume training, but I thought the resume wasn’t good enough to get me a job. We did work together to change some military lingo so that others could understand, but that was about it.

“I did end up going to school but I had difficulties with my PTSD and anxiety.

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