Healing for Veterans and Their FamiliesSample

Fighting Stress and PTSD

If you are suffering from stress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), take your concerns, worries, and fears to God. He can take much better care of them than you can. God is always thinking about you. Lay all of your cares and issues at the foot of the cross. Don’t sneak back and pick them up again. Nothing ever alters or changes until you lay it on the altar. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed, your doctor can recommend a therapist or counselor, group therapy, or perhaps medications. Many churches have specially designed groups to help others, so whether you need help or want to help others, a church is always a good place to start.

Avoid situations that you know can trigger high-powered emotions of anger or frustration. Walk away before things get out of control. Nothing positive gets accomplished in the heat of anger. 

What you allow into your life, your mind, or your body must eventually come out. Concentrate on positive things and reject the negative. That includes people, TV, radio, books, and everything else. Keep your mind focused on the goodness of God.

Here are some questions to ask yourself during each day:

· Can I glorify Christ by listening to this song? Watching this program? Looking at this website?

· Are the people around me helping me or dragging me downward? 

· What is the best and most productive thing I can do today?

· Am I keeping my mind fixed on the Lord or am I getting distracted by the enemy? 

Victory with healing, recovery, and life in general comes with a commitment to and faith in God. When you need encouragement, go to His Word. It is available 24/7 when your mentor, friend, or spouse is not. Read the daily suggested Scripture passages. It is best to read them out loud so you hear the words as well as see them. This is not an extensive listing of God’s beautiful promises. You can certainly do your own research and find other verses from the Bible that fit your situation.