There is no doubt that PTSD is a real issue that demands attention, but is it really something that ex-offenders deal with? You might be sitting there thinking this very thought while reading this. I mean, I didn't know that I suffered from a form of PTSD until diagnosed. I always assumed my anger or thoughts were just who I was. I had no idea that my life in prison had such an impact on my emotional well-being. You also might be thinking that it's probably not a lot of people who suffer from PTSD from being in prisons. Well, let's look at the statistics. Of the over 2 million people incarcerated, over half of them have some form of PTSD. These numbers only show those who have been diagnosed. Ex-offenders who suffer from PTSD even before prison is up to 76% of the inmate population. Men and women incarcerated are more likely to suffer from PTSD even more so than armed service members. More than 35% of male offenders suffer from some form of violence in prison and don't get to escape the constant fear of a violent attack or trauma. While their male counter parts in the armed forces do suffer from many forms of PTSD, only 10% of them actually see combat. Believe it or not, women have a higher chance of violent sexual abuse in prison. Sometimes these traumatic experiences can be very hard to talk about and often times get pushed to the deepest darkest shadows of our minds. This then leads to feelings of paranoia, violent outbreaks, suicidal tendencies, and self destructive behaviors. Imagine all the crimes that could have possibly been avoided just by being aware of these statistics and acknowledging symptoms of PTSD. Our goal is to help educate men and women who might be suffering from PTSD or other associated illnesses, and educate the communities that they are transitioning back into. There are many people who treat these men and women as outcast or just refuse to acknowledge this community of people. PTSD is treatable with proper assessment and therapy. My success in recovery is a combination of therapy and Jesus Christ. By chasing a relationship with God I have coped through many things that normally would cause me to self destruct or become angry. In my darkest valleys I have found a profound deep peace that I could not find anywhere else. I tried to numb my pain with drugs and alcohol. I tried meditation, self-help, and many other things. If you find yourself reading this and have been experiencing something similar to what has been written about in this blog, I want you to know that there is hope! God loves you and there are people that will help you.
