Lydia

I entered the women’s PTSD program after I finished the First Step Program, which was for the drug abuse addiction caused by my PTSD (which at first, I didn’t know I had). I’m a 46-year-old veteran with two years of college and service in the US Navy. While on tour, I also served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. My trauma is combat related and I suffered sexual trauma.

The PTSD program did not cure me, what it did was allow me to start living my life again: showing me a way to live with my trauma without the isolation, and when the triggers happen, how to deal with them. It taught me how to keep myself safe without the help of drugs or any other forms to self-medicate myself or hurt myself.

Most of us with PTSD find ways to hurt ourselves so that we do not have to deal with real issues of what is going on with us. The program has helped me tell my family members what is going on with me, to learn how to do relationships, whether it is friendship or a one-on-one. To be able to communicate, with what I need for myself and what I need from them without offending them. Do not get me wrong - this is not an easy task for us with this disease. It takes practice, patience, and a lot of not feeling guilty, and knowing that you are not at fault. It takes a lot of passion for yourself, and willingness, keeping your doctor appointments, and taking your medicine if you have to in order to stay on the right path.

Those who have PTSD can live a normal life (whatever you consider normal) if you work on it. Stop being locked in your own mind and thoughts. You must do the work to keep yourself safe.

I encourage women who have had sexual or combat trauma to seek out treatment as soon as possible. Even though you may think that you are okay, eventually the symptoms will catch up with you. Do not destroy yourself and those around you. What will it hurt for you to seek help and prevent your life from a destructive path?

I now can walk again with my head up, the confidence I lost, I’ve regained, as well as my self-respect. And I no longer struggle with mistrusting others because I trust myself to be safe.