Shown in the photo are Stephen Ministers, Bruce Reid and Jim Norris; Guest Speaker, James P. Brown, HMC, FMF, USN (Ret.); and Rich Killian, Stephen Ministry Leader. Submitted photo.
Stephen Ministers at Mesquite United Methodist Church learned about causes and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from guest speaker, James P. Brown, HMC, FMF, USN (Ret.) He is President/Veterans Service Officer and currently is helping veterans through the Mesquite Veterans Center.
Having been in the Navy during the Viet Nam War, he can relate to many of the experiences our returning veterans describe. PTSD presents itself in a variety of symptoms, such as anger, depression, or irritability. It can cause the person to have flashbacks of extremely traumatic situations. The flashbacks are be triggered by something associated with the trauma experience, such as an aroma, a noise, or a person’s name on a memorial. While it frequently is caused by one or more wartime experiences, anyone who faces an extreme trauma in life which created a feeling of fear, horror, and helplessness may experience PTSD.
Fortunately, as Jim Brown explained, help is available for veterans through our Mesquite Veterans Center. He added that family members can also get help as they cope with a loved one suffering with PTSD.
Stephen Ministers offer distinctively Christian care to those who need a person with whom they can share concerns during a difficult time in their life. Confidentiality is key to the relationship, and because the Care Receiver’s experiences vary widely, Stephen Ministers are always eager to learn about local resources that can help specific problems.
