Mary had always been a fierce and determined woman. So when news of war broke out in Iraq, she eagerly volunteered to serve in the military, leaving her husband, children, and friends behind. For months, she fought tirelessly on the battlefield, putting herself in harm’s way to protect her country.
But when Mary returned home, she was a different person. The sights and sounds of war had left an indelible mark on her psyche, causing her to suffer from severe PTSD. She was constantly in pain, both physical and emotional, and found it hard to connect with those around her.
Her marriage was also falling apart. Her husband, who had waited patiently for her return, didn’t understand the demons that haunted Mary every day. They argued constantly, and Mary became easily angered, even lashing out at him and their children.
It was then that the pastor’s wife from Mary’s local church reached out to her. She had heard about Mary’s struggles and wanted to offer support. But despite the woman’s best efforts, Mary was resistant. She had lost her faith during the war, and no amount of prayer or scripture could bring it back.
Feeling lost and alone, Mary began to isolate herself from the world. She rarely left home, ignoring calls from friends and family. She knew she needed help, but didn’t know where to turn or how to ask for it.
One day, while flipping through an old photo album, Mary came across a picture of herself from before the war. In the picture, she was happy and carefree, surrounded by loved ones. Looking at it now, she realized how much she had changed.
Determined to find a way to heal, Mary reached out to a support group for veterans suffering from PTSD. It was there that she met others who had gone through similar experiences and understood her pain. She also started attending therapy sessions and taking medication to help manage her symptoms.
Over time, Mary began to slowly rebuild her life. She reconnected with her husband and children, and started to find joy in the small things again. Although she still had bad days, she knew that she was not alone in her struggles. And even though her faith was still a work in progress, she knew that she was on the path to finding her way back to it.
After a set back during a 4th of July fireworks show- Mary found herself alone in her living room, feeling overwhelmed by her PTSD demons. She called out to God, tears streaming down her face, asking for help and guidance.
As she sat there in silence, a soft, warm breeze blew through the open window, and a beautiful white dove appeared: It perched on her windowsill and looked at Mary with its gentle eyes.
Mary felt a calming presence wash over her, as if all her worries and fears were lifted away. She knew in that moment that God had answered her prayers.
The dove stayed with Mary throughout the night, offering her comfort and companionship. And every time she started to feel scared or alone, the dove would gently coo, reminding her that she was not alone.
In the days and weeks that followed, Mary found that her PTSD symptoms had lessened. She didn’t know whether it was because of the dove’s presence or the renewed faith and hope she felt, but either way, she felt grateful.
Eventually, the dove flew away, leaving Mary feeling stronger and more capable than ever before. Her journey to healing was far from over, but she knew that with God and her newfound inner strength, she would be able to overcome anything.
It’s never too late to get help for PTSD. Treatment can help you manage symptoms or even cure PTSD. VA provides PTSD trainings for mental health care providers, more than half of whom are women. VA also has Women’s Mental Health Champions at every VA medical center. They are mental health clinicians with specific training and expertise in women Veterans’ mental health. Women’s Mental Health Champions can connect you with local resources and support.
What services does VA provide for PTSD?
Your VA health care provider can give referrals to PTSD specialists or therapy or prescribe certain medications. Services and treatments for PTSD include:
- Mental health assessment and screening
- Therapy: Trauma-focused psychotherapies are highly effective treatments for PTSD. “Trauma-focused” means they focus on your memory of the trauma.
If you have questions or can’t find what you’re looking for, you can call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in your area.
Joyful-Echoes 