Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Recovering Hope

The Gospel for Real Life #8

by Jeremy Lelek

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a profoundly intense response to profoundly dangerous experiences, manifests itself in fear, terrifying vulnerability, and lack of a sense of control. While these responses are often involuntary, Jeremy Lelek reminds us that they are still responses . . . and, thus, different responses are possible.

Here he relates the narrative of creation, fall, and redemption to the experiences of PTSD, reminding us that the gospel speaks to our experiences with danger as part of its redemptive message. He points to the wisdom of God in our suffering and reminds us of the saving grace offered by Jesus, guiding readers to the peace and contentment found in seeking God's glory.

The Gospel for Real Life booklet series by the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) applies the timeless hope of Christ to the unique struggles of modern believers.

Genres: Counselling, Nonfiction, Theology

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Jeremy Lelek, PhD, is the president of both the Association of Biblical Counselors and Metroplex Counseling (a local center for biblical soul care in Dallas/Fort Worth). He is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas. He lectures frequently in area churches, training believers with ABC s Equipped to Counsel curriculum. Jeremy is married to Lynne, and they have four children. He and his wife are active members of Fort Worth Presbyterian Church (PCA).

Reviews

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Overview

This mini-book (also known as a booklet) is a straight-to-the-point look at what Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is and how you can recover hope of overcoming the symptoms that make up PTSD. In this short book you will get a brief, yet in-depth look into what PTSD is, what the Bible says about it, and how you can heal from the pain that has caused the onset of this mental disorder that causes both emotional and physical symptoms. Not only does this book give you the Biblical explanation and hope, but it offers many practical applications of how Scripture can and will guide you in this journey of healing. While Lelek is very frank and tells it like it is, he also is kind and takes the time to explain why some of the harder things to hear are truly comforting when you understand them in light of the whole Bible. (This subject is a great example of why it's dangerous to pull verses out of content!) As I read this book I realized that the extreme fear I have dealt with since being in an automobile accident 13 years ago is really PTSD and reading this mini-book excited me to see how - through the grace of God - I have overcome so much already and can continue to find freedom from PTSD. This was just the dose of truth I needed and I am sure that many suffering through the symptoms of PTSD will be encouraged after working their way through this helpful resource as well.

The Readability

This mini-book is extremely easy to read seeing as it's only 56 pages. It's broken up into shorter sections including several bullet-point lists that make it easier to digest than just continuous paragraphs of thought. The Principles of Perseverance sections are a great blend of practical application to the theology discussed in this book. If you work through those exercises you will be training yourself in what you just learned. For the counselor using this book as a resource for their counselee, these sections make great homework assignments which the next counseling session can jump off of. While the book is not at a 3rd grade reading level, neither is it too academic - it sits somewhere in the middle.

The Highlights

Two highlights stand out. The first being it's short. You don't have to spend hours to understand this distressing issue, rather only an hour or two at most. The second best thing is that this little resources does a great job of teaching and then following it up with how you connect that specific passage to your life.

The Downside

I want to say none, but there is one little, itsy-bitsy thought that comes to mind. For those not familiar with nouthetic counseling this book's briefness could frustrate them because they may feel that it's too forward and not gentle enough. I highly advise it be used in conjunction with live counseling sessions. This is not necessarily the best resource to hand out like a cough drop, use discernment in the openness of the potential reader.

The Recommendation

Obviously from all the above comments you know I highly recommend this book. I personally think it's a great tool for a counselor to work through with the counselee and also a great starting point for the counselor to gain a better understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

* * *

This mini-book was provided courtesy of P&R Publishing for review purposes only. The above review is my personal opinion of this book.

[Nathanael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful little booklet on “PTSD.“ I like that Lelek is very Gospel focused in what he sees as the real solution to those who have experienced trauma. It’s refreshing to read a Christian-based booklet on how to work through post traumatic stress. I like that he does not focus on the issues experienced after a traumatic event making people somehow disordered, but acknowledges a lack of trust and focus in what Jesus has suffered for us on the cross and a failure to look towards the future glories that await us in the presence of Christ for eternity, as a major contributing factor to why many continue to be controlled by past traumatic events in their lives. One quote near the end that I really liked was “Trauma does not determine your destiny— God does!” I only gave it four stars, because for a little booklet it is pretty good, but it still does not address aspects of “PTSD “that I think some Christian author needs to address more in depth. Like the controversial question of “are those who suffer from post traumatic stress really disordered?” “Is there a physiological change that affects them beyond their control? Or is it truly and essentially a spiritual/emotional/mental problem as a result of traumatic events?” I’d really like to see someone deal with this aspect of “PTSD “ in addition to what this booklet already talked about. I think I would like to see a greater emphasis on the role of Christian Pastors, Military Chaplains and the Christian Fellowship of the local church, and how these people can and should be instrumental in helping those who have been “diagnosed” and/or labeled as “having PTSD.“ I don’t believe he uses these exact words, but he has a huge emphasis on the Bible, I just think he could’ve been a little bit stronger and emphasizing the sufficiency of Scripture. And, one final note, I did appreciate his emphasis at the end that these truths really only work for those who are Christians. Overall, very good read, highly recommend to all!

[Ashley Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with biblical counselors who write on topics that they seem to not fully understand. It seems that this author has a lack of true understanding about PTSD as a whole and even admits early on that he was not going to write from a well-rounded point of view, which is alarming to me. I give this book 2 stars due to his throwing out of prosperity gospel, which seems to be the other gutter that many fall into. I also appreciated how he referred to the care Jesus has for those who struggle.

What I do not like is that he approaches PTSD as a controllable response, but the response that he talks about being controllable is what happens AFTER a PTSD flashback, not during. He labels any negative response (including nightmares, panic attacks, etc.) as sinful responses and/or becuase one has given into deceit.

Overall, I would never recommend this to someone struggling with trauma or PTSD unless they just really want to feel worse about the whole situation. Where are the writers who talk about simultaneously living with struggles AND trusting God?!

Edited to add: I'm SO confused. I went to look up this author after reading and was shocked to find that he runs a holistic counseling center that utilizes various forms of therapeutic practices. This was several years after this book was written, so I wonder if some of his stances have softened.

[Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five chapters to reorient one to the over arching story of God's grace. A traumatic event(s) don't have to be the dominating one-sentence focus of one's life. Within God's greater story, one can find home with trauma being part of, the fierce focus on one's life.

Helpful but not easy to grasp. By God's grace one can learn and relearn that the Gospel can replace the re-occurring traumatic focus.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't have PTSD, but I still found this book helpful. It seems that some of the principles are transferable to other things. Anyway, this book is very readable with exercises and questions every so often to help illustrate and apply what the book teaches.

[Michelle Earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This is probably the most amazing book I have ever read. Packed full of Scripture Jeremy Lelek takes a real issue and puts it in a Biblical light. I have struggled with PTSD and many other mental issues and I wish I would have read it sooner. The Gospel really does apply to real life, and that gives me hope for tomorrow.

[Mike Banh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a bit more substance, but I guess it's difficult to say much in such a short book. As a Christian who suffers with PTSD, I wish the author were a bit more gentler. I understood where he was coming from and do agree with his theological views, but still felt a lack of compassion and empathy. I think he focused too much on the fact that we're sinners and not enough on the fact that we're also sufferers. There needs to be both and for such a short book, the danger is its brevity. For people who are suffering, it may not be comforting to read and can actually be damaging for those who aren't theologically grounded.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some good spiritual counsel here, but it did not give the medical side of things sufficient attention in my opinion.