Helping Your Family through PTSD

by Greg E. Gifford, John Babler (Foreword)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is everywhere. It is increasing in regards to those who are being diagnosed with PTSD and those whom are ministering to ones with PTSD. The good news is that God speaks into the complexities of PTSD through Scripture and helps us orient ourselves and our families towards his purposes in PTSD. As you will see, God offers us perspective on how we should view PTSD and the trauma that started it all. "Any good Christian counselor knows that trauma assaults the life of those who experience it and people can be deeply marked by such a life-shattering experience. Often PTSD is the diagnosis. Greg Gifford has done an outstanding job in both breaking down the complexity of this problem and demonstrating how the Bible provides substantive and lasting answers. This book is a valuable help for both the counselor and the sufferer! I highly recommend it to those who want real answers." --John D. Street, The Master's University & Seminary, President, Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) "Placing PTSD in the broader context of suffering, Greg Gifford skillfully balances compassion for the sufferer with a relentless commitment to Truth. This thoroughly biblical work draws on the wisdom of the full breadth of the canon to set the reader's sights on a much higher pursuit than that of simple namely, growth in Christ. Focused and refreshing! It's a must-read for anyone seeking to serve those suffering through PTSD." --Greg Smith, US Navy Chaplain and Lead Pastor of Grace on the Ashley, Charleston, South Carolina "In Helping Your Family through PTSD, Greg Gifford shares a biblical understanding of the experience of trauma, engages in a biblical analysis of PTSD, and shows how to move toward traumatized people with the care and wisdom of Jesus. This is biblical counseling at its best." --Heath Lambert, Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida Greg E. Gifford is Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California. He is a former US Army Captain, and certified biblical counselor.

Genres: Counselling

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2017

Reviews

[Mak]

Useful! Loving tone, uncompromising insight

[Margo Berendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book, and I love how Christ-centered it is! However more real life examples would have been helpful. There were some examples, one of combat related PTSD of course, one of a tragic accident, a couple of children who had experienced trauma... but it would have been so much more helpful if more examples were given, including more in depth examples of how a family member might approach different scenarios.

Some things that were especially helpful to me:

From the chapter on "Disassembling the Complexities of PTSD":

PTSD is marked by fear, of course, but also a compulsion to avoid places or situations that trigger them, or to become hyper vigilant in the attempt to control places/situations. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You (Psalm 56:3) Those suffering from PTSD must learn to re-orient fear, honor, and reverence to God - not to their circumstances, past or emotions."

Another mark of PTSD is paranoia and other manifestations of the wrong interpretation of reality. "The Bible is in the business of helping us interpret reality: that is part of why it exists. The Bible wants to teach us right thoughts about God and ourselves in response to those thoughts: this is the very essence of interpretation. In fact, Scripture is always superior to our experience or experiences (cf. 2 Peter 1:19). Meaning those with PTSD must interpret their flashbacks, nightmares, and feelings of vulnerability through the lens of God's word."

This is followed by chapter 3 A History of PTSD; Chapter 4 Helping Our Family Member Interpret Reality; Chapter 5 Peering Through the Fog of Interpretation; Chapter 6 Instilling Hope; Chapter 7 The Mind Life of PTSD; Chapter 8 Orienting Your Family for Ministry; Chapter 9 Practical Steps for Family Ministry.

I loved this wonderful biblical summary of hope:

"Hope is seen as essential (I Peter 1:3-9), as an anchor (Hebrews 6:19), and as one of the main elements of Christian character (I Cor 13:13) along with faith and love. Perhaps this adds clarity to the fact that faith and love are said to originate in hope (Col 1:4-5)... Hope is defined as an effectual confidence i who God is and an eager anticipation of God's promise to bring us to Himself, even in the face of very difficult circumstances.... Scripture often refers to hope as being formed in the furnace of adversity (Rom 5:3-4), kindled by the Scriptures (Romans 15:4) and applied by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)."

In the chapter on practical steps to take, there is good advice on observing and recognizing patterns (such as keeping a log of when and where episodes are triggered) and coming up with a plan according to these patterns. Advice on getting accountability partners, avoiding long periods of free time (stay busy so they don't sit around and rehash painful memories), and fulfilling daily responsibilities even when they don't feel like it (live by faith, not feeling). Above all, keep returning to the redemptive perspective: the main goal is not relief from PTSD; the main goal is Christlikeness. "Feel the weight of this observation for just a moment more: your goal is not to remove suffering, minimize suffering, or ignore suffering but rather to contextualize suffering. A redemptive posture sees that suffering should lead to greater Christlikeness (1 Peter 2-3; James 1:5; Romans 8:28-29).

Make an effort to recognize and applaud growth. "When your diligence and patience are waning, these hope-inducing observations of growth will be vital."

Near the end of the book, the focus shifts from the family of one suffering with PTSD and addresses the person suffering with PTSD directly.

You may be thinking, "They do not know what I went through, they were not there." Can I agree with you for a moment? You are right. They were not there. And maybe they have pretty tidy lives compared to what you have experienced. But let me ask you a question: would you really wnat them to have been there? Would you want that trauma to be experienced by anyone else? ... to keep up this guarded mentality of "how could you know" is a mild form of pride. Pride says, "You don't know, therefore you can't help me." Whereas humility recognizes that there is truly nothing new under the sun, including your suffering..... PTSD is not the determining factor of your life and your future. I pray you find your identity in Christ and not in your suffering (Col 3:3). Do not let the VA, your counselor, the medical doctor, or even your peers convince you otherwise. You are a new creature who in is Christ if you are believer and that should be your identity, not PTSD.

While reading this book, I was also reading Suffering Is Never for Nothing by Elizabeth Elliot. Between these two books, and also work in a 12 step program, my thoughts on suffering and why God allows it distilled into this:

Either God is powerless to stop suffering, he just can't be bothered to stop it, or he allows it for a purpose we can't see. Our views on what is good for us are different than God's view of what is good for us. My conclusion is that suffering is good for us, though we usually don't see it as such. So God allows it. What do you want most when you are suffering? Relief. What is the best form of relief? Not numbing or escaping the pain through drugs or running away, though those are tempting. No, the best form of relief is usually found through relationships with others. People who hug you and sit with you and don't judge you and listen to you. They can help with secondary things to offer some relief, but they can't give you any answers to relieve the pain. People can't always be there for us, and often aren't there for us in a way that is helpful. God is always there for us, though sometimes there are blocks so that we can't sense his presence or get any relief from His presence. But if we remember that He is there, that the best relief from suffering will come from relationship with Him, then we can work on removing those blocks and find the comfort we need. And the process of removing those blocks is what is good for us. We might not be motivated to work on removing those blocks if it were not for suffering. So then, the conclusion is, suffering is good for us. I hate to write that, but it is true. What would a world REALLY look like without suffering? It might be a world without compassion. It could potentially be a world of extreme self absorption, without self-sacrificing love. It would certainly be a world with less gratitude. Unless it was a world populated by people who had seen the darkness, they would be unable to appreciate the light.

[David King · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, helpful book that can apply to a multitude of life situations. It is not written to those who have experienced the trauma, but is very helpful for those who are seeking to know how best to help.

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful for understanding PTSD from a biblical standpoint and how to help with scripture.

[Chad Grindstaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, concise, biblically balanced, and helpful.